How to Take Scrolling Screenshots on Mac (8 Methods)

# How to Take Scrolling Screenshots on Mac: 8 Easy Methods

A scrolling screenshot captures an entire webpage, document, or app window that extends beyond your screen — stitching everything into one continuous image. Unlike regular screenshots that only grab what's visible, scrolling screenshots let you save complete content without piecing together multiple captures.

Here's the frustrating truth: macOS has no native scrolling screenshot feature. While ⌘ + Shift + 3 and ⌘ + Shift + 4 work great for quick captures, Apple hasn't added full-page screenshot support to the built-in Screenshot app.

The good news? There are several workarounds. I'll walk you through 8 methods — from free browser tools to dedicated apps — so you can capture entire web pages and long documents on your Mac.

Why macOS Doesn't Have Native Scrolling Screenshots

If you're coming from Windows (where the Snipping Tool has scrolling capture) or Android/iOS (where it's built into the screenshot feature), you might wonder why Apple hasn't added this to macOS.

The short answer: Apple's screenshot tools focus on capturing visible content. According to Apple's official screenshot documentation, the built-in tools offer full screen, window, and region capture — but no scrolling option. For scrolling captures, they expect you to use third-party apps or browser-specific features.

This limitation has existed for years, and while users have requested the feature, Apple hasn't prioritized it. The good news is that workarounds exist — and many are even better than native solutions would be.

If your Mac screenshot is not working at all, fix that first before trying these scrolling methods.

Quick Comparison: Scrolling Screenshot Methods

Browser Methods (Free)

These methods work for capturing web pages without installing any apps.

Method 1: Firefox (Easiest Free Option)

Firefox has the best built-in scrolling screenshot feature of any browser. No extensions needed.

How to capture a full page in Firefox:

1. Open the webpage you want to capture in Firefox
2. Right-click anywhere on the page
3. Select Take Screenshot
4. Click Save full page in the top-right corner
5. Click Download to save the image

Pro tip: You can also access this by clicking the three-dot menu in the address bar and selecting Take Screenshot.

Firefox's full-page capture is surprisingly good. It handles most websites correctly, including those with sticky headers or complex layouts. The output is a high-quality PNG file.

Limitations:

• Only works in Firefox
• Some JavaScript-heavy sites may not render perfectly
• Very long pages can create massive files

Method 2: Chrome DevTools

Chrome has a hidden full-page screenshot feature in DevTools. It's a bit more technical but works well.

How to capture a scrolling screenshot in Chrome:

1. Open the webpage in Chrome
2. Press ⌘ + Option + I to open DevTools
3. Press ⌘ + Shift + P to open the Command Menu
4. Type "screenshot" and select Capture full size screenshot
5. Chrome automatically downloads the image

This method captures the entire page at the current viewport width. If you need a wider capture, resize your browser window before taking the screenshot.

Limitations:

• Requires DevTools knowledge
• Fixed elements (like sticky headers) may appear multiple times
• No annotation tools

Method 3: Safari Web Inspector

Safari also has a full-page capture feature, but it's hidden in the developer tools.

How to enable Developer menu in Safari:

1. Open Safari and go to Safari → Settings (or press ⌘ + ,)
2. Click the Advanced tab
3. Check Show features for web developers

How to capture a full page in Safari:

1. Open the webpage you want to capture
2. Right-click on the page and select Inspect Element
3. In Web Inspector, right-click on the tag in the Elements tab
4. Select Capture Screenshot
5. Safari saves a full-page screenshot

Safari's method is less intuitive than Firefox, but it works well for occasional use.

Method 4: GoFullPage Extension

If you want a simpler solution without using DevTools, the GoFullPage browser extension is excellent.

How to use GoFullPage:

1. Install GoFullPage from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons
2. Navigate to any webpage
3. Click the GoFullPage icon in your toolbar
4. Wait for it to scroll and capture the entire page
5. Download as PNG, JPG, or PDF

GoFullPage automatically scrolls through the page, capturing each section and stitching them together. It handles sticky elements well and produces clean results.

Pro tip: The extension is free for basic use, with a paid tier for advanced features like editing and cropping.

Third-Party Apps

Browser methods only work for web pages. If you need to capture scrolling content in other apps — like PDFs in Preview, documents in Pages, or chat threads in Slack — you'll need a dedicated screenshot app.

For a complete overview of options, check out our best screenshot apps for Mac guide.

Method 5: CleanShot X

CleanShot X is one of the most feature-rich screenshot apps for Mac, and its scrolling capture works outside the browser.

How to take a scrolling screenshot with CleanShot X:

1. Press your CleanShot X hotkey (default: ⌘ + Shift + 9)
2. Select Scrolling Capture from the menu
3. Click and drag to select the scrollable area
4. Click Start Capture, then scroll down manually or let it auto-scroll
5. Click Done when finished

CleanShot X automatically stitches your scrolled content into a single image. You can then annotate it, add backgrounds, or share it directly.

Price: $29/year subscription (includes CleanShot Cloud)

Method 6: Shottr

Shottr is a free, lightweight screenshot app that includes scrolling capture.

How to take a scrolling screenshot with Shottr:

1. Press the Shottr hotkey for scrolling capture
2. Select the scrollable area
3. Shottr auto-scrolls and captures
4. Edit or save the result

Shottr is great for developers who need quick captures without paying for a subscription. It also includes OCR and annotation tools.

Price: Free

Method 7: ScreenSnap Pro

ScreenSnap Pro offers scrolling capture alongside its other features like beautiful gradient backgrounds and instant cloud sharing.

How to take a scrolling screenshot with ScreenSnap Pro:

1. Open the ScreenSnap Pro menu
2. Select Scrolling Capture
3. Choose the window or area to capture
4. Let ScreenSnap Pro auto-scroll and stitch the content
5. Add annotations or backgrounds, then share via cloud link

The advantage of ScreenSnap Pro is the integrated workflow. You capture, edit, and share without switching between apps. After capturing a scrolling screenshot, you can annotate it professionally or blur sensitive information before sharing.

Price: $29 one-time purchase

PDF Export Workaround

If you need a print-ready document rather than an image, exporting to PDF is a solid workaround.

Method 8: Print to PDF

This method works in any browser and preserves the entire page:

1. Open the webpage in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox
2. Press ⌘ + P to open the Print dialog
3. Click the PDF dropdown in the bottom-left corner
4. Select Save as PDF
5. Choose your save location

When PDF works better than screenshots:

• You need to preserve text (searchable/copyable)
• The page has multiple columns
• You're archiving content for reference
• You'll print the document later

Limitations:

• Output is PDF, not an image
• Some dynamic content may not render correctly
• Page breaks can split content awkwardly

Which Method Should You Choose?

Here's my recommendation based on your use case:

For web pages (occasional use):

Use Firefox's built-in full-page capture. It's free, easy, and produces excellent results. Just right-click and select "Take Screenshot."

For web pages (frequent use):

Install the GoFullPage extension. It's faster than DevTools and works in both Chrome and Firefox.

For non-browser content:

You'll need a third-party app. Shottr is free and capable, while CleanShot X and ScreenSnap Pro offer more features for professional users.

For documentation and archiving:

Export to PDF. You'll preserve the text content and get cleaner page formatting.

For sharing annotated scrolling captures:

Use ScreenSnap Pro or CleanShot X. Both let you capture, annotate, and share without switching apps. If you also record GIFs on Mac for tutorials, these tools handle both workflows.

Tips for Better Scrolling Screenshots

Getting a clean scrolling screenshot takes a bit of preparation. Here's what I've learned from capturing hundreds of long pages.

Before capturing:

• Close pop-ups, cookie banners, and chat widgets — they'll appear multiple times in your capture
• Dismiss any floating elements that might repeat (live chat bubbles, sticky CTAs)
• Consider the final file size — a 10,000-pixel tall image can be several megabytes
• Wait for all content to load, especially on pages with lazy-loading images
• Resize your browser to the width you want in the final screenshot

After capturing:

• Crop unnecessary headers and footers to focus on the content
• Annotate key sections to guide viewers — arrows and highlights help
• Compress the image if sharing online (tools like TinyPNG work well)
• Consider splitting very long captures into multiple images for readability

For web pages:

• Use Reader Mode (in Safari or Firefox) to remove ads and distractions before capturing
• Switch to Firefox for the cleanest built-in capture — it handles most sites beautifully
• Check that JavaScript content has fully loaded — scroll through once before capturing
• Disable dark mode extensions if you want a consistent light background

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a scrolling screenshot with the built-in Mac Screenshot app?

No. The macOS Screenshot app (accessed via ⌘ + Shift + 5) only captures visible content. Apple hasn't added scrolling screenshot support to the native tool. You'll need to use browser features or third-party apps.

What's the easiest way to take a scrolling screenshot on Mac?

Firefox's built-in feature is the easiest. Just right-click on any webpage and select "Take Screenshot" → "Save full page." No extensions or apps required.

Do scrolling screenshots work for PDFs and documents?

Yes, but only with third-party apps like CleanShot X, Shottr, or ScreenSnap Pro. Browser-based methods only work for web pages. For PDFs, you'll need an app that can capture scrolling content from Preview or other document viewers.

Why does my scrolling screenshot have duplicate headers?

This happens when a page has "sticky" or "fixed" elements that stay visible while scrolling. Some capture tools handle this better than others. Firefox and GoFullPage typically handle sticky elements well, while Chrome DevTools sometimes duplicates them.

What format should I save scrolling screenshots in?

PNG is best for screenshots with text (sharp and lossless). JPEG works for photos or images where file size matters. PDF is ideal if you need to preserve searchable text or print the document.

Final Thoughts

While macOS doesn't include a native scrolling screenshot feature, you have plenty of excellent alternatives. Firefox's built-in capture handles most web page needs, and apps like ScreenSnap Pro fill the gap for everything else.

For occasional web captures, stick with Firefox or the GoFullPage extension. If you regularly capture long documents, chat threads, or app content, invest in a dedicated screenshot app — you'll save hours of stitching captures together manually.

Want an all-in-one solution? ScreenSnap Pro combines scrolling capture with annotation tools, beautiful backgrounds, and instant cloud sharing. Try it free and see how much easier screenshot workflows can be.