Taking a screenshot on a Mac is simple once you know the right shortcuts. Whether you’re capturing your whole screen, just a part of it, or a specific window, macOS gives you built-in tools to do it all—no extra apps required.
Full Screen Screenshot
To capture everything you see on your screen, press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3. The screenshot saves automatically to your desktop as a PNG file. It’s perfect for sharing your entire display in one click.
Selected Area Screenshot
Want only part of your screen? Use Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair—click and drag to select the area you want. Once you release, it’s saved instantly.
Capture a Window Only
If you’d like to grab just one app or browser window, press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then tap the Spacebar. Your cursor becomes a camera—click on the window you want to capture.
Use the Screenshot Toolbar
Prefer visual options? Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to open the screenshot toolbar. From here, you can take full-screen shots, record your screen, or select custom areas. You can also change where screenshots are saved and add a timer.
Copy Screenshots to Clipboard
Need to paste directly into an email or document? Just add Control to any shortcut. For example, Command + Shift + 4 + Control lets you take a partial screenshot and paste it with Command + V.
Screen Recording
Want to record video instead? Open the screenshot toolbar (Command + Shift + 5) and choose one of the recording options. You can also select a microphone if needed.
Touch Bar Screenshot
For MacBooks with a Touch Bar, press Command + Shift + 6 to capture what’s shown on the Touch Bar.
Where Screenshots Are Saved
By default, screenshots go to your desktop. You can change this from the Options menu in the screenshot toolbar. You can also edit your screenshots right after taking them using the Quick Look thumbnail that appears in the corner.
Final Tip
Once you get used to the shortcuts, taking screenshots on Mac becomes second nature. Whether you’re capturing something for work, study, or fun, these tools are all you need.
