TL;DR
To take a screenshot on your Mac:
- Capture Full Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 3 to capture the entire screen.
- Capture a Portion of the Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 4 to turn your cursor into a crosshair. Drag to select the area you want to capture.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Screenshots are a handy tool, but figuring out the best way to take them on a Mac can be tricky. I’ve found a few easy methods that work well, and I’m here to share them with you. Let’s get started!
4 Ways to Take a Screenshot on Your Mac
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Check out these handy methods for capturing screenshots on your Mac:
1. Take a Screenshot With Keyboard Shortcuts
Here, I’ve shared some common keyboard shortcuts to take a screenshot on your Mac.
a. Capture Full Screen on Your Mac
To capture the full screen on your Mac, press the following keys simultaneously:
Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + 3
This shortcut captures a screenshot of the entire screen. You should hear a camera shutter sound, and the screenshot will save as a .png file on your desktop.
You can change the default file format for screenshots from .png to .jpg, .pdf, or other formats using a terminal command. Just type defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg in the Terminal app.
b. Capture a Portion of the Screen on Your Mac
If you want to take a screenshot on your Mac but only for a portion, you can use the following key combo:
Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + 4
There are different variations in taking this type of screenshot. For instance:
- Press and release the space bar: After using Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + 4, press the space bar to turn the crosshair into a camera icon. Move it over any window and click to capture with a white border and drop shadow.
- Press and hold the space bar: After selecting an area, hold the space bar to lock its shape and size, allowing you to reposition it before capturing.
- Hold down the Shift ⇧ key: While selecting an area, hold Shift ⇧ to lock all sides except the bottom edge, letting you adjust it. Release Shift, press it again to adjust the right edge, and capture.
c. Screenshot the Touch Bar
To take a screenshot of the Touch Bar on a Mac, you can use the built-in screenshot functionalities provided by macOS. Press the following keyboard combination:
Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + 6
This command specifically captures the Touch Bar region.
These options only appear on the OLED strip if you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar.
2. Take a Screenshot With the Screen Capture Panel
Here’s how to take a screenshot on your Mac using the Screen Capture Panel:
- Press Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 5 to open the Screenshot Toolbar or Screen Capture Panel.
- Choose whether you want to capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a specific portion of the screen. Click the relevant option.
- If you selected a portion of the screen or a specific window, drag your mouse to select the area you want to capture.
- Click the camera icon to take the screenshot.
You can also customize your screenshot settings on your Mac to meet your specific needs. Here’s how to do it:
- To access the Screenshot app on your Mac, press Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 5 or search for it in the Launchpad or Applications folder.
- In the Screenshot app, click Options in the toolbar.
- Select where you want your screenshots saved by clicking your desired option under Save to. You can choose from options like Desktop, Documents, or Clipboard.
- You can also set a timer for the screenshot to capture after a specific time under Timer and choose a time interval.
- Other options include Show Floating Thumbnail, Remember Last Selection, and Show Mouse Pointer.
3. Capture the Screen With the Mac Screenshot App
To take a screenshot on your Mac using Preview, follow these steps:
- Open Preview on your Mac.
- Click File in the menu bar and select Take Screenshot.
- Choose to capture the entire screen, a selected portion, or a window.
- If you choose to capture a window, click the window you want to capture.
- The screenshot will open in Preview, where you can edit, annotate, and save it.
4. Capture the Screenshot With Third-Party Apps
Here are a few popular third-party apps you can use to capture the screen on your Mac:
Be cautious when using third-party screenshot apps. Some may require extensive permissions, which could pose a security risk if not from a trusted source. Always download from reputable sites or the App Store.
- Snagit: Snagit is a powerful screen capture and image editing tool that offers a wide range of features. It allows you to capture screenshots, record videos, and annotate images. Snagit also provides options for timed captures, scrolling captures, and capturing specific areas of the screen.
- CleanShot X: CleanShot X is a comprehensive screen capture and recording tool with various advanced features. It lets you capture screenshots of selected areas, windows, or the entire screen. CleanShot X offers a clutter-free and intuitive interface, making it easy to use.
- Lightshot: Lightshot is a lightweight screen capture tool that allows you to capture selected areas of your screen or the entire screen. It offers a simple editing interface where you can add annotations, highlight specific areas, or blur out sensitive information. Lightshot also provides instant sharing options.
- Snip: Snip is a free and open-source screen capture tool that offers a range of capture modes, including full-screen, window, and custom region capture. It also allows you to record screen activity and provides basic editing features like adding text, arrows, and shapes to your screenshots.
Capture Screenshots on Your Mac Successfully
Now that you know how to take a screenshot on your Mac easily, your system must be efficient and storage organized. Here are some tips to make your Mac experience better:
- Customize your Mac’s screenshot shortcuts for easier use.
- Organize your files on Mac so you don’t have to struggle to find them.
- You can also record the entire screen on your Mac, check out my guide to do it.
