Exploring Mac Screenshot Basics. As there’s no dedicated button for print screen on Apple products, there are a few different commands associated with screen capture on Mac that vary slightly depending on your setup. It makes sense to divide the world of how to take a screenshot on a Mac into pre and post-Mojave, since it was with this. We will explain each and every method for taking the screenshot on the mac. Let’s first start with the first method for taking the screenshot on the mac. Using Keyboard Shortcuts To Take Screenshot on Mac. Selection: Hold the keys Command+Shift+4, drag, and click the cursor mouse to make the selection of the screenshot. Press the Escape key. May 15, 2020 Exploring Mac Screenshot Basics. As there’s no dedicated button for print screen on Apple products, there are a few different commands associated with screen capture on Mac that vary slightly depending on your setup. It makes sense to divide the world of how to take a screenshot on a Mac into pre and post-Mojave, since it was with this. Command-shift-3 is the basic keyboard shortcut to screen capture on a Mac, but Griffin also shows how to use keystrokes to copy and paste the screen, set a s.
Summary :
Taking screenshots is very useful; it’s an important way to guide people through a new application/program/system, capture essential information, and record the error they met. But the question is how to take a screenshot properly. MiniTool Solution provides this post to guide users how to take a screenshot on a Mac in several different ways.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac in 4 Different Ways
It’s necessary to take a screenshot on your computer in the following cases:
- Record & report problems to the tech support.
- Capture the information that is important to you.
- Guide people how to use a new product/app/program/system.
- Etc.
Though there’s a straightforward Print Screen key on the keyboard of Mac computer, Apple still provides users with a number of options to capture & edit their screen. The following content focuses on how to take a screenshot on Mac (different methods and steps).
Use Keyboard Commands
There are several keyboard commands for taking a screenshot on Mac. I’ll divide them into 3 types to show you how to take a photo on a Mac.
One: Capture the Entire Screen on Mac
You should press Command + Shift + 3 simultaneously on the keyboard until you hear a brief camera sound. This will take a picture of the whole screen, including the dock, the toolbar (at the top), and any windows that are opening at that moment.
Where are screenshots saved? By default, the screenshot will be saved to the Mac desktop with the name format of Screen Shot [date] at [time]. png. You are allowed to change the storage location manually.
What about Mac screenshot to clipboard? You can press Command + Shift + 3 + Control at the same time.
Tip: Your screenshots saved on the desktop may be deleted by mistake easily. Please don't worry; they can be recovered after you read Mac file recovery. To recover files on Windows, you should download the software below.
Two: Capture a Part of the Screen
This method works if you want to take a picture of a selected area on Mac screen. Office for mac preview download.
How to make screenshot on Mac:
- Press Command + Shift + 4 simultaneously.
- Click and drag the mouse cursor that has become a crosshair.
- Define the area you want to screenshot.
- Release the mouse and the screenshot will be saved to the desktop.
Where do screenshots go? They’ll also be saved on the desktop by default. Likewise, if you want to get Mac screenshot to clipboard, you should press Command + Shift + 4 + Control.
Three: Capture a Window on the Screen
Sometimes, you only want to screenshot an opening window on the Mac screen. Luckily, it’s easy.
How to crop a screenshot on Mac:
- Also, press Command + Shift + 4 and your cursor will become a crosshair.
- Press the Spacebar and the cursor will turn to camera icon
- Hover over any opening window (menu, bar, or dock) and click on the one you want to capture.
- Release the mouse.
Where do Mac screenshots go? They’re saved on the desktop.
Save Mac screenshot to clipboard: press Command + Shift + 4 + Spacebar + Control.
Is there any other ways to take a screenshot on a Mac? Of course, yes. Please move on.
Take Screenshot with Preview
- Navigate to the Applications folder of the Finder -> double click on its icon to run Preview.
- Select File from the menu bar -> choose Take Screen Shot from the drop-down menu.
- Select an option: From Selection, From Window, or From Entire Screen.
- Navigate to File menu again -> choose Save.
- Give the screenshot a name -> select a location to keep it -> select a file type -> click Save.
Take Screenshot with Screenshot App
This method works for MacOS Mojave and later versions.
- Open the Other folder on the Launchpad or press Command + Shift + 5.
- Select an option from Entire Screen, Selected Window, or Selected Portion.
- Finish the rest steps and release.
How to find screenshots on Mac? You should also look for them on the desktop unless you have pressed Command + Shift + 5 + Control to save them to clipboard.
In addition, you can take a screenshot easily by using other snipping tools for Mac like Grab.
macOS has excellent in-built screenshot support. If you are in a hurry, let me tell you straight up that to take a screenshot on your Mac, press together Command + Shift + 3. However, if your job demands to take screenshots frequently, learn more options to become super productive at this.
Note: The keyboard shortcuts to do screenshots work the same way on MacBook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, Mac Mini, or any other Mac.
4 Keyboard Shortcuts to Take Screenshots on Mac
Capture the Full Screen
Mac Screenshot Tool
To take a screenshot of the full Mac screen, including the Dock, top menu bar and everything else: Press together Command + Shift + 3.
Capture Selected Portion of Screen
To take a screenshot of a selected portion: Press together Command + Shift + 4. You may leave the keys when you see the crosshair. Next, drag it to select a portion of the screen. When you are done with the selection, release the mouse key or trackpad touch. The Mac captures a screenshot and saves it.
Pro Tip: Suppose you make a selection of the wrong portion. You do not press the esc button and restart. Press and hold the Space bar to move the selection. Press and hold Shift to change the selection area only in one direction. And, press the Option key to increase or decrease the sides in proportion. Try it! You will love these.
Capture Any Open Window
To capture only an open window on Mac: Press together Command + Shift + 4. Leave the keys when you get the selection cursor.
Now, press the Space bar once.
Next, take the camera icon on any open window and click. Using this, you can even do a screenshot of just the Dock or the menu bar and so on. These screenshot files have a nice grey shading on their edges that look great.
Using Screenshot Tools
One button for all: Can not remember all the above keys? Just remember one set, and then you can use the tools you see to take a screenshot or even screen recording on Mac running macOS Mojave or later. For this, press together Command + Shift + 5.
After you take a screenshot using any method, you might see its thumbnail in the lower right corner. It will automatically disappear after a few seconds and get saved. Or, you may also click on it to make edits like crop, markup, share, etc.
How to Use Preview App to Take a Screenshot on Mac
- Use Launchpad or go to Finder → Applications and open the Preview app.
- Click on File from the top menu bar.
- Choose Take Screenshot and then select one of the options.
Note: Suppose you want to take a screenshot of Chrome using Preview. For this, open the Preview app from the Dock or Launchpad. Then you will see the menu for Preview in the top bar. Do not click on the Chrome window. If you click on it or any other app window, its menu will take the place on the top bar.
How to Save Screenshots Directly to the Clipboard on Mac
When you do a screenshot, it is saved to the desktop or place decided by you. However, there is an additional throwaway method to grab a screenshot and get it copied automatically to the clipboard. This won’t save the actual file. You can paste the screenshot in apps like Notes, Word, Google Docs, etc. or even paste it on your other Apple devices courtesy of Universal Clipboard.
For this, press and hold the Controlkey when you take a screenshot using the above methods. For example,
- To take a full-screen grab and have it copied to the clipboard: Command + Shift + Control + 3.
- To take a screenshot of a selected portion and have it copied to the clipboard: Command + Shift + Control + 4.
- You can also use Command + Shift + 5, then press the Control button, and take the screenshot.
How to Take a Screenshot on MacBook Pro Using Touch Bar
You can also print screenshots using the TouchBar on MacBook. But first, you need to add the screenshot button to it. For this:
- Click on the Apple logo → System Preferences.
- Next, click on Extensions → Touch Bar.
- Click on Customize Control Strip → drag the Screenshot icon down to the TouchBar. When you see the icon on the TouchBar, you may drag it left or right at the desired position. Finally, click on Done.
Now onwards, tap on the Camera icon in the TouchBar to open the screenshot tools and take a screen capture.
Pro Tip: Wondered how to take the screenshot of the TouchBar itself? Press Command + Shift + 6
How to Take a Screenshot of Login Screen on Mac
Just like any other full screenshot! That is, after you power on your Mac, or are at any login window, or locked user authentication screen, press Command + Shift + 3 to take a screenshot.
This method works if you are running OS X 10.10 (Yosemite, released in 2014) and above.
Note: The screenshot file starts with LWScreenshot if it is of the main login screen (after you just power on or log out of the current user). Rest other login screenshots have the normal file name (Screen Shot Year-Month-Date and Time)
Where to Find Screenshots on Mac?
By default, screenshots are saved on desktop. You will find all of them here.
Pro Tips:
- If you have several screenshots, select them all, right-click and then choose New Folder with Selection.
- You can also drag the screenshot thumbnail to any folder.
How to Change Default Location of Saved Screenshots on Mac
- Press Command + Shift + 5.
- Click on Options.
- From under Save to, choose a predefined location. Or click on Other Location.
All future screenshots will save on the selected location. This setting will stay in effect even if you restart the Mac.
How to Change Keyboard Shortcuts to Take Screenshots on Mac
The default keys are great. However, you may modify them to any key you like. For this:
- Click on the Apple logo from the Menu bar and choose System Preferences.
- Now, click on Keyboard → Shortcuts.
- Click on Screenshots.
- Select a shortcut and then press the enter key.
- Now, press the desired new key or multiple keys combination.
How to Print Screen on Mac Using Windows Keyboard
If you use a Windows keyboard with Mac, the steps to take a screenshot remains the same. However, you have to use Windows keyboard equivalents.
Mac Key | Windows Key |
Control | Ctrl |
Option | Alt |
Command | Windows |
Delete | Backspace |
Return | Enter |
So, to take a full screenshot on Mac using Windows Keyboard, press: Windows + Shift + 3.
To capture a selected part, press: Windows + Shift + 4 and so on…
How to Change Screenshot File Format on Mac
By default, the screenshots on Mac are taken in .PNG format. But, you can change it to JPG (or even TIFF/ PDF/ GIF). The process involves using the Terminal. But it is straightforward. We have an easy guide that tells you how to do this.
How to Disable Screenshot Thumbnail Preview on Mac
When you take a screenshot on modern Macs, you see its thumbnail for a few seconds. You can click on it to edit it or share it via AirDrop, Mail, Messages, etc. But, if you do not fancy this and think of it as an unnecessary intrusion, here is how to turn it off.
- Press Command + Shift + 5.
- Click on Options.
- Under Options, click on Show Floating Thumbnail to unselect it.
Signing off…
This is how you can master screenshots on Mac. I hope this guide is helpful. If you have any further related questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
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I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.
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