How to Take a Screenshot on Mac (2025 Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a casual user, knowing how to take a screenshot on your Mac is an essential skill. From capturing high-quality images for presentations, saving receipts, documenting errors, or sharing moments—screenshots make communication more visual and precise.

macOS offers a range of built-in screenshot tools with powerful options: full-screen capture, window-specific screenshots, timed captures, and even screen recordings. In this ultimate 2025 guide, you’ll learn all the methods to take a screenshot on Mac, customize your screenshot settings, and troubleshoot common issues.

Why Knowing How to Take a Screenshot on Mac Matters

Understanding how to use macOS screenshot tools helps you:

• 📸 Capture important information quickly
• 🧩 Document bugs, errors, and tutorials
• 🎓 Improve collaboration with visual references
• 💼 Create professional content efficiently

Apple offers several ways to take screenshots using keyboard shortcuts, the Screenshot app, or Terminal for advanced users.

Let’s get started.

1. Screenshot Shortcuts on Mac (macOS Ventura, Sonoma & Later)

macOS comes with several keyboard shortcuts to quickly capture your screen in various ways.

A. Full-Screen Screenshot

Shortcut:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 3

What it does:

• Captures the entire screen
• Saved as a PNG file to your Desktop

💡 Useful when you want to capture everything on your current screen, including the menu bar.

B. Selected Area Screenshot

Shortcut:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 4

What it does:

• Turns your cursor into a crosshair
• Allows you to drag and select the area to capture

📌 Tip: After pressing the shortcut, you can press the Spacebar to switch to window capture mode (covered next).

C. Window Screenshot

Shortcut:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 → Press Spacebar → Click the window

What it does:

• Highlights windows as you hover
• Click to capture a specific app or Finder window

🖼️ Captures even drop shadows for a clean, framed effect.

D. Screenshot with the Screenshot App (Command + Shift + 5)

Shortcut:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 5

What it does:

• Opens a built-in screenshot toolbar
• Choose from:
  • Entire screen
  • Selected window
  • Selected portion
  • Record entire/partial screen

🛠️ Includes advanced options like timer, save location, and show mouse pointer.

E. Touch Bar Screenshot (MacBook Pro only)

If your Mac has a Touch Bar:

Shortcut:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 6

What it does:

• Captures what’s shown on the Touch Bar
• Ideal for developers or designers testing Touch Bar content

2. How to Customize Screenshot Settings on Mac

Starting from macOS Mojave, macOS lets you change where your screenshots are saved, add timers, or disable floating thumbnails.

Access Screenshot Options:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5
2. Click Options

Here you can change:

• Save Location: Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, etc.
• Timer: 5s or 10s delay
• Microphone (for video recordings)
• Floating Thumbnail: Toggle on/off
• Remember last selection

📍 Tip: You can set your own custom save location (like Dropbox or Google Drive folder).

3. Where Are Screenshots Saved on Mac?

By default, screenshots are saved to the Desktop with the filename:

Screen Shot [date] at [time].png

To change the default save location:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5
2. Click Options > Other Location
3. Choose or create a new folder

🎯 Best practice: Set up a dedicated folder like ~/Pictures/Screenshots to keep your desktop tidy.

4. How to Copy a Screenshot to Clipboard

Sometimes you don’t need to save the screenshot—just copy it.

To Copy Instead of Save:

• Full Screen: Command + Control + Shift + 3
• Selected Area: Command + Control + Shift + 4
• Screenshot Toolbar: Open with Command + Shift + 5, then hold Control when capturing

Then simply paste it into apps like Pages, Word, Slack, or Photoshop using Command + V.

5. How to Record Screen on Mac (Bonus Feature)

Screenshots are static, but sometimes you need a recording.

Steps:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5
2. Choose:
   • Record Entire Screen
   • Record Selected Portion
3. Click Record

To stop recording, click the Stop button in the top menu bar.

🎥 Videos are saved as .mov files.

6. How to Take Screenshots with Preview App

Not a fan of shortcuts? Use Preview.

Steps:

1. Open Preview from Applications
2. Go to File > Take Screenshot
3. Choose:
   • From Selection
   • From Window
   • From Entire Screen

This method is ideal for users who prefer GUI interactions over shortcuts.

7. How to Edit Screenshots on Mac

macOS makes it easy to edit screenshots instantly after capture.

A. Use Floating Thumbnail (Sonoma, Ventura)

After a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the lower-right corner.

Click it to:

• Crop
• Draw/annotate
• Add text or shapes
• Sign documents
• Rotate/adjust color

B. Open Screenshot in Preview

1. Right-click screenshot > Open With > Preview
2. Use Markup Toolbar to add arrows, highlight, crop, or write

8. How to Take High-Resolution Screenshots

Screenshots on Retina Macs are already high-resolution, but:

Tips for Crystal-Clear Captures:

• Zoom in on text or details before capture
• Maximize app windows
• Avoid taking scaled screenshots—use native resolution

For professional use, consider editing with Pixelmator, Photoshop, or Affinity Photo for enhanced clarity.

9. How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot on Mac

macOS doesn’t support scrolling screenshots natively, but you can use third-party apps.

Best Scrolling Screenshot Tools for Mac:

1. CleanShot X (Paid)
2. Snagit (Paid)
3. Shottr (Free for basic use)
4. Firefox or Chrome Dev Tools (for full-page webpage screenshots)

Example Using Firefox:

• Open web page
• Press Command + Shift + S
• Select “Save Full Page”

10. Automate Screenshots with Terminal (Advanced)

For scripting or automation needs:

Command:

screencapture -x ~/Desktop/screenshot.jpg

• -x: No shutter sound
• You can combine with cron or Automator to run scheduled captures

11. Troubleshooting Screenshot Issues on Mac

A. Screenshot Shortcuts Not Working

• Check System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts
• Make sure all screenshot shortcuts are enabled

B. Screenshots Not Saving

• Check disk space
• Confirm save location in Command + Shift + 5 > Options
• Reboot your Mac if persistent

C. Can’t Find Screenshot

• Use Spotlight: Command + Space > Search “Screen Shot”
• Check Downloads or Desktop

12. Bonus: Best Third-Party Screenshot Apps for Mac

If you need more advanced tools:

Conclusion

Knowing how to take a screenshot on a Mac is a small yet powerful skill that can boost your productivity, communication, and creative output. From basic shortcuts to advanced third-party tools, macOS provides every feature you need for capturing the screen efficiently.

Whether you’re documenting bugs, sharing ideas, or creating visual content, the tools are at your fingertips. Use this guide to master macOS screenshot features and take your workflow to the next level.