MAC TIPS · BUILT IN, NO APP NEEDED
Every Mac screenshot shortcut
macOS has five screenshot shortcuts built in, and most people only know one. Here is every one of them, what it captures, and the small extras (copy instead of save, no window shadow, change the save folder) that make them fast.
- 1
The whole screen
⌘⇧3Captures everything on the screen. With two displays you get one file per display.
- 2
Part of the screen
⌘⇧4Drag a box over what you want. Hold Space while dragging to move the box, Shift to lock one side, and press Escape to cancel.
- 3
One window
⌘⇧4thenSpaceAfter ⌘⇧4 press Space and click a window. Hold Option while you click to leave out the window shadow.
- 4
Toolbar and screen recording
⌘⇧5Opens a toolbar to capture the screen, a window or an area, or to record a video of the whole screen or part of it. Options sets a timer, the microphone and where files go.
- 5
Copy instead of saving a file
⌃⌘⇧4Add Control to any of the shortcuts above and the screenshot goes to the clipboard, ready to paste into a chat or a document, with no file left on your Desktop.
- 6
Change where screenshots are saved
Press ⌘⇧5, open Options and pick Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview or Other Location. The choice is remembered for every shortcut.
Free apps that go further
FAQ
Where do screenshots go on a Mac?
To your Desktop by default, named Screenshot with the date and time. Change the folder with ⌘⇧5 → Options.
How do I save screenshots as JPG instead of PNG?
Run defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg in Terminal, then killall SystemUIServer. Use png instead of jpg to switch back.
Can the Mac record system audio with a screen recording?
The built-in recorder can add your microphone but not the sound from apps. A free virtual audio driver such as BlackHole can route app sound into a recording.
Can I take a scrolling screenshot of a long page?
Not with the built-in tools. Safari can export a full page as PDF (File → Export as PDF); paid apps like CleanShot X add scrolling capture.