How to Screenshot on Mac: Complete Guide for Every Mac (2026)

# How to Screenshot on Mac: The Complete Guide for Every Mac Model

A screenshot on Mac saves your screen as an image file. Need to document a bug? Save a receipt? Create a tutorial? Share something with your team? macOS has built-in tools that make it easy. These tools work the same way on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini.

Here's a quick reference if you just need the shortcuts:

These shortcuts work on all Mac models—M1, M2, M3, M4, and Intel machines running macOS Mojave or later. For the official reference, see Apple's screenshot documentation.

How to Screenshot on Mac with Keyboard Shortcuts

The fastest way to capture your screen is with keyboard shortcuts. Press a key combo, and the image saves right to your desktop. Learn these shortcuts once, and you'll take screenshots in under a second.

All Mac screenshot shortcuts follow a pattern: ⌘ + Shift + [number]. The number determines what type of capture you're making.

Capture Your Entire Screen

Press ⌘ + Shift + 3 to capture everything visible on your screen.

The screenshot saves to your desktop immediately. You'll see a thumbnail preview in the bottom-right corner—click it to edit, or let it disappear to save as-is.

Best for: Quick captures when you need everything visible, documenting your workspace, capturing error messages.

Capture a Selected Area

Press ⌘ + Shift + 4 to turn your cursor into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the exact area you want. Release the mouse to take the screenshot.

Pro tips while selecting:

• Hold Shift to lock one axis (move only left/right or up/down)
• Hold Option to resize from the center outward
• Press Space to move your selection box around
• Press Escape to cancel and start over

This is the most popular Mac screenshot shortcut. It gives you exact control over what gets captured. Check out our guide to taking partial screenshots on Mac for more tips.

When this works best:

• Capturing a chart or graph from a report
• Grabbing a section of a webpage without the browser chrome
• Taking clean screenshots for presentations
• Cropping out distracting elements in real-time

Capture a Specific Window

Press ⌘ + Shift + 4, then press Space.

Your cursor turns into a camera icon. Hover over any window and click to capture just that window—complete with a subtle drop shadow that makes it look polished.

Pro tip: Hold Option while clicking to remove the shadow. This is useful when you need a clean capture for documentation or design work.

Window capture works on more than app windows. You can also capture:

• The Dock
• The menu bar
• Menu dropdowns
• Notification Center
• Spotlight search
• Desktop wallpaper (click anywhere on the desktop)

For more window capture techniques, see our guide on how to screenshot a window on Mac.

Capture the Touch Bar (Older MacBook Pro)

If you have a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2016-2020 models), press ⌘ + Shift + 6 to capture what's displayed on it.

This creates a wide, thin screenshot of your Touch Bar—useful for creating tutorials or documenting custom Touch Bar setups.

Copy to Clipboard Instead of Saving a File

Sometimes you don't want a file. You just want to paste the image right away.

Add Control to any screenshot shortcut:

• ⌘ + Control + Shift + 3 — Full screen to clipboard
• ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4 — Selection to clipboard
• ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4 + Space — Window to clipboard

Then paste with ⌘ + V into Messages, Slack, email, or any app.

This is one of the most underrated features for fast screenshot workflows. See our dedicated guide on copying screenshots to clipboard on Mac for more tips.

Method 2: Screenshot Toolbar (Visual Control)

Not a keyboard person? The Screenshot toolbar offers a visual interface instead.

Press ⌘ + Shift + 5 to open it. A floating panel appears at the bottom of your screen. This method works on macOS Mojave (2018) and later.

The toolbar includes:

• Capture Entire Screen — Same as ⌘ + Shift + 3
• Capture Selected Window — Same as ⌘ + Shift + 4 + Space
• Capture Selected Portion — Same as ⌘ + Shift + 4
• Record Entire Screen — Video recording
• Record Selected Portion — Video recording of an area

Screenshot Toolbar Options

Click Options in the toolbar to access settings:

The 5-second timer is especially useful for capturing dropdown menus, hover states, or anything that disappears when you press keys. Check out our guide on timed screenshots on Mac for more techniques.

Screenshot Toolbar Keyboard Navigation

Once the toolbar is open:

• Press 1, 2, or 3 to select screenshot modes
• Press 4 or 5 to select recording modes
• Press Enter to capture with current settings
• Press Escape to close the toolbar

Method 3: Preview App

Preview isn't just for viewing PDFs—it can also take screenshots.

1. Open Preview (in Applications or via Spotlight: ⌘ + Space, type "Preview")
2. Go to File > Take Screenshot
3. Choose from:

• From Selection
• From Window
• From Entire Screen

This method is useful when you want to immediately edit the screenshot in Preview's markup tools. You can crop, annotate, and adjust colors before saving.

Method 4: Third-Party Screenshot Tools

Built-in methods cover most needs. Third-party tools add extras:

• Instant cloud sharing — Get links immediately
• Scrolling capture — Capture entire web pages
• GIF recording — Motion without video files
• Annotation tools — Arrows, text, blur
• Custom backgrounds — Professional look
• OCR text extraction — Copy text from images
• Pin screenshots — Keep captures visible

When Built-In Tools Are Enough

For occasional screenshots, macOS has you covered:

• Saving receipts
• Capturing error messages
• Quick shares with colleagues

The keyboard shortcuts are fast, free, and universal.

When to Consider Upgrading

Third-party tools make sense if you:

• Take 10+ screenshots daily
• Annotate before sharing
• Share on Slack, Discord, or in docs
• Need GIF recording for demos
• Want professional-looking captures

ScreenSnap Pro combines capture, annotation, and cloud sharing in one shortcut. For comparisons, see our guide on the best screenshot apps for Mac.

Screenshots on Different Mac Models

Good news: screenshot shortcuts work the same on every Mac. MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini—all use identical methods.

MacBook Air (M1, M2, M3)

Use all standard shortcuts covered above. No Touch Bar means ⌘ + Shift + 6 doesn't apply.

Resolution: Retina displays create 2x screenshots. A 1440×900 display produces a 2880×1800 pixel file.

MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, M2 Pro, M3 Pro/Max)

Works the same as MacBook Air. Older models (2016-2020) with Touch Bar can use ⌘ + Shift + 6.

Notch models (14" and 16"):

• Full-screen screenshots include the notch area
• Notch appears as black background
• Full display resolution is preserved

iMac (24" M1, M3, M4)

Same shortcuts, but larger display means larger files.

Typical file sizes:

Tip: Use ⌘ + Shift + 4 to capture only what you need.

Mac Mini and Mac Studio

With external monitors:

• Screenshots capture at your monitor's resolution
• Multi-monitor setups save separate files per display
• Use ⌘ + Shift + 3 to capture all screens at once

External Keyboard Shortcuts

Using a non-Apple keyboard (like a Windows keyboard)? Screenshot shortcuts still work:

• Windows/Super key = Command (⌘)
• Alt = Option
• The shortcut becomes Win + Shift + 3/4/5

Where Do Mac Screenshots Go?

By default, screenshots save to your Desktop with names like:

Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.30.15 PM.png

If you don't see your screenshot:

• Check your Desktop folder in Finder (files might hide behind windows)
• Verify you didn't accidentally save to clipboard (did you hold Control?)
• Check iCloud Desktop sync if enabled (files might still be uploading)

Change the Default Save Location

Using Screenshot toolbar:

1. Press ⌘ + Shift + 5
2. Click Options
3. Under "Save to," choose a folder or click Other Location

Using Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Pictures/Screenshots
killall SystemUIServer

Replace ~/Pictures/Screenshots with your preferred path. Create the folder first.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to change screenshot location on Mac.

Change the Default File Name

The default naming is verbose. To simplify it:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture name "Screenshot"
killall SystemUIServer

How to Change Screenshot Format (PNG vs JPG)

Mac saves screenshots as PNG by default—high quality but larger files.

Switch to JPG

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
killall SystemUIServer

Switch Back to PNG

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type png
killall SystemUIServer

When to Use Each Format

• PNG — Best quality, supports transparency, ideal for most uses
• JPG — Smaller files, good for photos, no transparency
• PDF — When you need to send to someone who might print it

For more customization options, check out our complete Mac screenshot settings guide.

Edit Screenshots with Markup

After taking a screenshot, you can instantly edit it using macOS's built-in Markup tools.

Quick Edit via Floating Thumbnail

When the thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner:

1. Click the thumbnail before it disappears (about 5 seconds)
2. Use Markup tools to annotate:

• Sketch — Draw freehand
• Shapes — Add rectangles, circles, arrows
• Text — Insert text annotations
• Signature — Add your signature
• Magnifier — Highlight specific areas

1. Click Done to save changes

Drag the Thumbnail Directly

You can drag the floating thumbnail directly into:

• Messages conversations
• Email compose windows
• Slack channels
• Finder folders
• Any app that accepts images

No need to wait for the file to save or hunt for it on your desktop.

For professional-grade annotations with blur, pixelation, and numbered steps, see our guide on how to annotate screenshots professionally.

Troubleshooting: Screenshot Not Working?

If your screenshot shortcuts aren't working, don't panic. Most issues have simple solutions.

1. Check Keyboard Shortcuts Are Enabled

This is the most common fix.

1. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Select Screenshots in the sidebar
3. Make sure all shortcuts are checked
4. Click "Restore Defaults" if anything looks wrong

2. Check for Conflicting Apps

Some apps intercept screenshot shortcuts. Common culprits:

• Screen recording software (OBS, Loom)
• Remote desktop apps (TeamViewer, Parallels)
• Clipboard managers (Alfred, Paste)
• Other screenshot tools

Quick fix: Quit non-essential apps and test again.

3. Check App-Specific Restrictions

Certain apps block screenshots for security:

• Apple TV app — Blocks during playback
• Netflix, Disney+, Hulu — Blacks out video content
• Banking apps — Blocks sensitive screens

This is intentional—not a bug.

4. Reset NVRAM

For Intel Macs:

1. Shut down completely
2. Turn on and hold Option + Command + P + R
3. Keep holding for 20 seconds

For Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4):

1. Shut down your Mac
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Restart—NVRAM resets automatically

5. Check Disk Space

Screenshots can't save if your disk is full. Make sure you have at least 5-10 GB free. Check in Apple Menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage.

6. Try a Test User Account

Sometimes the issue is tied to your user profile.

1. Open System Settings > Users & Groups
2. Create a new admin account
3. Log out and log into the new account
4. Try taking a screenshot

If it works in the new account, the issue is with your user settings. You may need to reset your preferences.

7. Update macOS

Bugs in older macOS versions can break screenshots. Check for updates in System Settings > General > Software Update. Install any pending updates and restart.

8. Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode disables third-party software. This helps find conflicts.

Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac
2. Hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears
3. Hold Shift and click "Continue in Safe Mode"

Intel Macs:

1. Restart and hold Shift right after the startup sound
2. Release when you see the login window

Test screenshots in Safe Mode. If they work, a third-party app is causing the issue.

For a complete guide with more fixes, see Mac screenshot not working? 10 fixes.

Pro Tips for Better Screenshots

Use Quick Look for Fast Review

Select any screenshot file and press Space to preview it instantly. Press Space again to close. In Quick Look, press ⌘ + L to rotate or use arrow keys to flip through multiple files.

Quick Delete Bad Screenshots

Took a screenshot and immediately realized it's wrong? Click the thumbnail, then press ⌘ + Delete to trash it before it saves.

Create a Screenshots Folder

Instead of cluttering your desktop:

1. Create a folder: ~/Pictures/Screenshots
2. Set it as default location
3. Add to Dock or Finder sidebar for quick access

Use the Timer for Tricky Captures

For dropdown menus, hover states, or anything that disappears when you press keys:

1. Press ⌘ + Shift + 5
2. Click Options > 5 Seconds
3. Click Capture
4. Set up your shot during the countdown

Capture Specific Menu Items

To capture a dropdown menu cleanly:

1. Open the menu you want to capture
2. Press ⌘ + Shift + 4
3. Press Space to enter window mode
4. Move the camera cursor over the menu (it highlights separately)
5. Click to capture just the menu

Copy Text from Screenshots

macOS can read text in images. Here's how:

1. Open the screenshot in Preview or Quick Look
2. Hover over text—it becomes selectable
3. Select and copy with ⌘ + C

For better text extraction, see our guide on copying text from screenshots on Mac.

Batch Rename Screenshot Files

Got a folder full of "Screenshot 2026-02-04 at..." files? Rename them all at once:

1. Select all the files in Finder
2. Right-click and choose Rename
3. Pick a format (add text, replace text, or number them)
4. Click Rename

This turns messy file names into "Project-001.png" style names.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a screen grab and a screenshot on Mac?

Nothing—they're the same thing. "Screen grab," "screenshot," "screengrab," and "screen capture" all refer to capturing your Mac's display as an image.

How do I screenshot on Mac without keyboard shortcuts?

Open the Screenshot app: Applications > Utilities > Screenshot (or press ⌘ + Shift + 5). Click the button for the capture type you want. You can also use Preview's File > Take Screenshot menu.

Can I screenshot a scrolling page on Mac?

Not with built-in tools. macOS screenshots only capture what's visible on screen. For scrolling screenshots, you'll need a third-party app or browser extension.

How do I screenshot on Mac and paste directly?

Hold Control with any screenshot shortcut. For example, ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4 lets you select an area and copies it to clipboard. Then paste with ⌘ + V anywhere.

Why are my Mac screenshots blurry?

Screenshots capture at your screen's exact resolution. If they look blurry when shared, the receiving app might be compressing them. Try sharing as a file instead of pasting, or use PNG format for best quality.

Can I take a screenshot on Mac with an external keyboard?

Yes. On PC keyboards, use the Windows key instead of Command: Windows + Shift + 3 (full screen), Windows + Shift + 4 (selection).

Where is the Grab app on Mac?

The old Grab app was replaced in macOS Mojave (2018). Press ⌘ + Shift + 5 to access all the features Grab had, plus more.

How do I screenshot a video on Mac?

For still images from video, pause the video and use ⌘ + Shift + 4 to select the frame. For recording video, use ⌘ + Shift + 5 and select a recording option. For GIF captures, see our guide on how to record GIFs on Mac.

Why do my screenshots show a black screen in certain apps?

This happens with DRM-protected content like Netflix, Apple TV+, and streaming services. The app blocks screen capture to protect copyrighted content. This is by design.

Wrapping Up

You now know every way to take a screenshot on Mac:

• ⌘ + Shift + 3 for full screen
• ⌘ + Shift + 4 for selections
• ⌘ + Shift + 5 for the toolbar with all options
• Preview for immediate editing
• Third-party tools for advanced features

These shortcuts work identically on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Studio—whether you have an M1, M2, M3, M4, or Intel chip.

For most people, the keyboard shortcuts handle 90% of screenshot needs. When you need more—like instant cloud sharing, annotations, or GIF recording—tools like ScreenSnap Pro fill the gap between basic captures and professional-quality visuals.

Related guides:

• Mac Screenshot Shortcuts: Complete Guide
• How to Annotate Screenshots on Mac
• Best Screenshot Apps for Mac
• Screenshot Not Working? 10 Fixes