How To Screenshot On Mac: Best Guide

Taking a screenshot on a Mac is a straightforward process, but the variety of methods available can sometimes be confusing. In this guide, we’ll cover several ways to capture your screen, including using keyboard shortcuts, the Touch Bar, and the Screenshot app. We’ll also provide tips on managing your screenshots and troubleshooting common issues.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Screenshot on Mac

Keyboard shortcuts are the quickest way to take a screenshot on your Mac. Here are the most common ones:

Capture the entire screen: Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 3. The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
Capture a selected portion of the screen: Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button or trackpad to take the screenshot.
Capture a specific window: Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4, then press the Spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera. Click on the window you want to capture.

Using the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro

If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can use it to take screenshots:

Open the “System Preferences” from the Apple menu.
Go to “Keyboard” and click on the “Customize Control Strip” button.
Drag the “Screenshot” button into your Touch Bar.
Tap the “Screenshot” button in the Touch Bar to choose what type of screenshot you want to take (entire screen, selected portion, or specific window).

Using the Screenshot App

The Screenshot app provides a graphical interface for taking screenshots. To access it:

Open the Screenshot app from the Applications folder or by pressing Shift + Command (⌘) + 5.
Choose from the options at the bottom of the screen: capture the entire screen, capture a selected window, or capture a selected portion.
Click “Capture” to take your screenshot.

Capturing Specific Parts of the Screen

To capture a specific part of the screen using the Screenshot app:

Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 5 to open the Screenshot app.
Select “Capture Selected Portion” from the options.
Drag to select the area you want to capture.
Click “Capture” to take the screenshot.

Saving and Managing Screenshots on Mac

By default, screenshots are saved to your desktop with the name “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png”. You can change the save location by opening the Screenshot app (Shift + Command (⌘) + 5) and clicking “Options”. From there, you can choose a new location or set a timer for the screenshot.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Screenshot on Mac

If you’re having trouble taking screenshots, try the following solutions:

Ensure shortcuts are enabled: Go to “System Preferences” > “Keyboard” > “Shortcuts” and make sure the shortcuts for screenshots are checked.
Check permissions: If you’re running macOS Mojave or later, check that the Screenshot app has permission to save files. Go to “System Preferences” > “Security & Privacy” > “Privacy” and ensure “Screen Recording” is checked for the Screenshot app.
Restart your Mac: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve screenshot issues.

How To Screenshot On Mac FAQs

Can I change the file format of my screenshots?

Yes, you can change the file format by using the Terminal app. Open Terminal and type defaults write com.apple.screencapture type [file format] (e.g., jpg, png, pdf), then press Enter. You may need to restart your Mac or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.

How can I annotate my screenshots?

After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen. Click it to open the Markup tool, where you can add text, shapes, and other annotations.

My screenshots are not appearing on the desktop. Where are they?

They might be saved to a different location. Check the “Options” in the Screenshot app (Shift + Command (⌘) + 5) to see where they are being saved.

How can I take a screenshot of a menu?

Open the menu you want to capture, then press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4 and drag to select the menu. You can also press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4, then Spacebar to capture the entire menu.

By following these steps and tips, you’ll be able to take screenshots on your Mac with ease. Happy capturing!