How to Take a Screenshot on Mac — 5 Easy Methods (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Works on all Macs running macOS Mojave or later

Quick answer: Press Command + Shift + 3 to screenshot your full screen on a Mac, or Command + Shift + 4 to select an area. Screenshots save to your Desktop by default.

Taking a screenshot on a Mac takes less than a second once you know the shortcuts, and macOS has more built-in options than most people realise, from the full screen to a single window or a custom area.

These methods work on every Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio.

Mac Screenshot Shortcuts at a Glance

ShortcutWhat It Does
Command + Shift + 3Captures the full screen
Command + Shift + 4Captures a selected area
Command + Shift + 4, then SpaceCaptures a specific window
Command + Shift + 5Opens the Screenshot toolbar
Command + Shift + 6Captures the Touch Bar (supported models only)

Pro tip: Add Control to any shortcut above to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving a file. It’s handy when you want to paste straight into an email, message, or document.

Method 1: Capture the Full Screen (Command + Shift + 3)

This is the fastest way to screenshot on a Mac. It captures everything on your screen, exactly as it appears.

How to use it: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 at the same time.

You’ll hear a camera shutter sound, and a small thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner. You can:

  • Click the thumbnail to edit, annotate, or crop before saving
  • Ignore it, and the screenshot saves automatically to your Desktop as a PNG file

Best for: Capturing error messages, documenting your full workspace, or sharing your whole screen.

Method 2: Capture a Selected Area (Command + Shift + 4)

This is the most useful method for everyday screenshots, because it captures only the part of the screen you need.

Steps:

  1. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. Your cursor changes to a crosshair.
  2. Click and drag to select the area. You’ll see the pixel size of your selection as you drag.
  3. Let go of the mouse or trackpad to take the screenshot.
  4. Click the thumbnail to edit it, or let it save to your Desktop.

Useful tricks while selecting:

  • Hold Shift while dragging to lock the selection to one direction
  • Hold Option to resize from the centre outward
  • Press Escape to cancel

Best for: Capturing part of a webpage, one section of an image, or cropping before you save.

Method 3: Capture a Specific Window (Command + Shift + 4, then Space)

This captures one app window with a clean edge, so you don’t have to select around it by hand. macOS adds the window shadow automatically.

Steps:

  1. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 to show the crosshair.
  2. Press the Spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon.
  3. Move over any window. It’s highlighted to show what will be captured.
  4. Click the window to take the screenshot.

Hidden trick: This also works for menus. Open any menu, press Command + Shift + 4, then Space, and click the open menu to capture it.

Don’t want the shadow? Hold Option while you click the window.

Best for: Clean app windows, tutorials, and sharing one app’s screen.

Method 4: Screenshot Toolbar (Command + Shift + 5)

The Screenshot toolbar puts every screenshot option in one place and adds screen recording, which the other shortcuts can’t do.

How to open it: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen with these options:

  • Capture Entire Screen (same as Command + Shift + 3)
  • Capture Selected Window (same as Command + Shift + 4, then Space)
  • Capture Selected Portion (same as Command + Shift + 4)
  • Record Entire Screen (records your full screen as a video)
  • Record Selected Portion (records only the area you select)

Click Options to change:

  • Save to: Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, or any folder
  • Timer: a 5 or 10 second delay, useful for menus or hover effects
  • Show Floating Thumbnail: turn the preview on or off
  • Remember Last Selection: reuse the same area for your next screenshot

Best for: Screen recordings, timed screenshots, changing where screenshots save, or anyone who prefers buttons over shortcuts.

Method 5: Copy to Clipboard (Add Control to Any Shortcut)

Every method above saves a file to your Desktop. If you just want to paste a screenshot into an app without creating a file, add Control:

  • Control + Command + Shift + 3 copies the full screen
  • Control + Command + Shift + 4 copies a selected area
  • Control + Command + Shift + 4, then Space copies a window

Then open any app (Pages, Word, Gmail, Slack, Messages) and press Command + V to paste. No file is saved, so your Desktop stays clean.

Best for: Pasting straight into emails, chats, or documents.

Where Are Screenshots Saved on Mac?

By default, Mac screenshots save to your Desktop as PNG files, named with the date and time, like Screenshot 2026-10-07 at 10.23.45.png.

To change the save location: press Command + Shift + 5, click Options, and choose a different location under Save to.

To find screenshots fast: open Finder, press Command + F, and search for Screenshot. Sort by date to see the newest first.

How to Edit a Screenshot on Mac

After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner for a few seconds. Click it to open a built-in editor where you can:

  • Crop the screenshot
  • Add text
  • Draw arrows, shapes, and freehand lines
  • Add your signature
  • Rotate the image

All of these tools are free and built into macOS. If you miss the thumbnail, open the screenshot file in Preview for the same tools.

Mac Screenshot Not Working? Try These Fixes

1. Check your keyboard shortcuts
Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots and make sure the shortcuts are turned on and not taken over by another app.

2. Screenshots not showing on your Desktop
Your save location may have been changed. Press Command + Shift + 5, click Options, and check Save to. If it says Clipboard, screenshots are being copied instead of saved, so switch it back to Desktop.

3. Restart your Mac
A quick restart fixes most temporary shortcut problems.

4. Screenshot is a black image
This happens with protected content, like streaming apps. Apple blocks screenshots in Apple TV and some other video apps on purpose.

5. Shortcuts don’t work in certain apps
Some apps override system shortcuts. Use Command + Shift + 5 instead, which works in more situations.

6. Screen recording isn’t working
Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording and make sure the app you’re using has permission.

Screenshot Guides for Other Laptops

Using a Windows laptop too? These guides cover each brand’s keyboard and shortcuts:

Also read: How to Screen Record on iPhone

Also read: How to Screenshot on iPad

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I take a screenshot on Mac?

Press Command + Shift + 3 to capture the full screen, or Command + Shift + 4 to select an area. Both save the screenshot to your Desktop as a PNG file.

What is the screenshot shortcut on Mac?

The main shortcuts are Command + Shift + 3 for the full screen, Command + Shift + 4 for a selected area, and Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar with all options.

Where do screenshots go on Mac?

They save to your Desktop by default. To change that, press Command + Shift + 5, click Options, and choose a different folder.

How do I screenshot a specific window on Mac?

Press Command + Shift + 4, then press the Spacebar. Your cursor becomes a camera icon. Click any window to capture it with a clean edge.

How do I take a screenshot on Mac without the keyboard?

Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Screenshot. The Screenshot toolbar opens, and you can capture with your mouse or trackpad.

Do screenshot shortcuts work the same on MacBook and iMac?

Yes. All Mac screenshot shortcuts work the same on every Mac, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio running macOS Mojave or later.

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