Taking a Screenshot on Mac is simple, with numerous options depending on the type of screen capture you require. Whether you’re using a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, here’s a detailed guide to capturing your screen with numerous shortcuts and tools.
1. Mac Screenshot Shortcuts
a. Capture the Entire Screen
- Shortcut key: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3
- This command will capture the entire screen and store it as a file to your desktop.
b. Capture a Selected Portion of the Screen
- Shortcut key: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
- Your cursor will become a crosshair. Click and drag to pick the area you wish to record. To take a screenshot, release the mouse button.
c. Capture a Specific Window or Menu
- Shortcut key: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then Space
- A camera icon will appear. Click on the window you wish to capture.
d. Capture the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro
- Shortcut key: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 6
- This only applies to MacBook Pro models that have a Touch Bar. It records exactly which information is displayed on the Touch Bar.
2. Additional Mac Screenshot Options
e. Screenshot Toolbar (for macOS Mojave and Later)
- Shortcut key: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5
- This activates the screenshot Toolbar. Choose to capture the full screen, a window, or a specific portion. This tool also allows you to record your screen, making it one of the best screen capture solutions for Mac.
f. Save to Clipboard Instead of a File
- Modifier Key: Hold Control while taking a screenshot
- For example, hitting Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 while holding Control will copy the screenshot to the clipboard and allow you to paste it right into an app.
3. How to take a Screenshot on Mac without Shortcuts
For users who want to take screenshots without using shortcuts, the Screenshot Toolbar (available in macOS Mojave and later) is suitable. Open it by going to Applications > Utilities > Screenshot, from which you can capture the full screen, a specific window, or a selection.
4. Where Do Screenshots Go on Mac?
By default, screenshots on mac are saved to the desktop and named with the date and time they were taken. The Screenshot Toolbar also lets you change where the screenshot is saved.
5. How to Edit and Crop Screenshots on Mac
After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail preview will appear in the lower-right corner. Click this preview to launch the Markup tool, where you can crop, annotate, and modify the screenshot.
6. Alternatives to Screenshot Shortcuts: Snipping Tool for Mac
Mac does not have a “Snipping Tool” like Windows, but you can use Preview or the Screenshot Toolbar to snip and modify photos. Other third-party software, such as Snagit and Lightshot, are excellent options for more advanced screen capture capabilities.
Now that you know all of the Mac screenshot methods, you may easily capture, store, and share screenshots on your Mac! Whether you need a screenshot for MacBook, how to take a screen grab on a Mac, or print screen Mac alternatives, these tools have you covered.
Read Also: How to Take a Screenshot in Windows: A Complete Guide
How do I take a screenshot on my Mac computer?
Using Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 for the entire screen, or Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 for particular areas.
What is the shortcut to enable screenshots on Mac?
Pressing Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 opens the Screenshot Toolbar, providing quick access to screen capture settings.
How do I take a screenshot without the Command key?
Use the Screenshot Toolbar under Applications > Utilities > Screenshot.
How do I take a screenshot of a whole page without scrolling Mac?
Open the webpage that you wish to capture. Press Command and – (minus) together. Hold down the keys until the entire page appears on your screen.
How to take a full page screenshot?
Use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + P on Mac.