Screen2Shot

How to take a screenshot on a Mac

Short answer: Press ⇧⌘3 for the whole screen, ⇧⌘4 to drag over part of it, or ⇧⌘4 then Space to click a window. ⇧⌘5 opens the Screenshot app with a timer and a save location. Screenshots go to the desktop as PNG files; add ⌃ to any shortcut to copy the screenshot instead of saving it.

Updated · Checked on

These steps describe macOS 27 Golden Gate and earlier versions back to macOS Mojave 10.14, where the Screenshot app appeared. Checked on 2026-09-29 against Apple’s support pages published 2026-09-14.

Which method fits your Mac

What you want Keys Where the screenshot goes Works on
The whole screen ⇧⌘3 desktop macOS 27 and earlier
Part of the screen ⇧⌘4, then drag desktop macOS 27 and earlier
One window or menu ⇧⌘4, then Space, then click desktop macOS 27 and earlier
A timer, the pointer, another folder ⇧⌘5 → Options the folder under Save to macOS Mojave 10.14 or later
Copy instead of save add ⌃, for example ⌃⇧⌘4 clipboard macOS 27 and earlier
Mark up, then copy with one key Screen2Shot, ⇧⌘9 clipboard, or a file with ⌘S macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon

Checked on 2026-09-29. Sources below.

Method 1: Capture the entire screen

  1. Press and release ⇧⌘3.
  2. A thumbnail appears in the corner of the screen. Click it to mark up the screenshot, or wait and it is saved to the desktop.

Method 2: Capture part of the screen

  1. Press and release ⇧⌘4. The pointer turns into a crosshair.
  2. Drag over the area you want.
  3. To move the selection without changing its size, hold Space while you drag.
  4. Release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot, or press Esc to cancel.

Coming from Windows and looking for the Snipping Tool? This is the closest built-in match; see Snipping Tool for Mac for the rest.

Method 3: Capture a window or menu

  1. Open the window or menu you want.
  2. Press ⇧⌘4, then press Space. The pointer becomes a camera.
  3. Click the window or menu. Hold ⌥ while you click to leave out the window’s shadow.
  4. To capture only some items of an open menu, press ⇧⌘4 and drag over them instead.

Method 4: The Screenshot app

  1. Press ⇧⌘5, or find Screenshot in Applications → Utilities.
  2. Click the tool for the entire screen, a window or a portion of the screen. Drag the frame or its edges to adjust a portion.
  3. Click Options to set a timer, choose where to save, show or hide the floating thumbnail and the mouse pointer, or keep the last selection for next time.
  4. On supported Macs with macOS Tahoe 26 or later, Options also offers Capture Format: SDR saves PNG, HDR saves HEIF.
  5. Click Capture, or click the window you want.

Copy a screenshot to the clipboard

  1. Hold ⌃ together with the usual keys: ⌃⇧⌘3 for the whole screen, ⌃⇧⌘4 for an area.
  2. Paste with ⌘V into a message, a document or an email. No file is saved.

If you already took the screenshot, ⌃-click the thumbnail in the corner and choose Save to Clipboard.

Where screenshots are saved and how to change it

  • Screenshots are saved to the desktop as PNG files. The file name begins with “Screenshot” and includes the date and time.
  • To use another folder, press ⇧⌘5, click Options and pick a place under Save to, or choose Other Location.
  • To skip saving, drag the thumbnail straight into a document, an email or a Finder window before it disappears.
  • To change the shortcuts themselves, open System Settings → Keyboard, click Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots.

When Screen2Shot helps

The built-in tools save a file first and open markup in a separate window after you click the thumbnail. Screen2Shot keeps the whole job on the screen you are capturing. It is free for screenshots and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later on Apple silicon.

  1. Press ⇧⌘9 and drag over an area. The size in pixels shows beside the selection.
  2. Mark it up in place with the toolbar under the selection: pen, marker, arrow, rectangle and text, in 5 colours.
  3. Press ⌘C or Return to copy. A “Copied” capsule confirms it. ⌘S saves a file instead.

PRO adds Pin to Screen, which keeps a screenshot above every window while you work, and Copy Text (⇧⌘C), which reads the text and QR codes in the selection on your Mac. Both are part of PRO; see pricing for what it costs on each channel.

Troubleshooting

  • The shortcut does nothing. Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots and check which keys are set there.
  • You cannot find the screenshot. Check the folder under Save to in ⇧⌘5 → Options. If you held ⌃, the screenshot is on the clipboard only: paste it with ⌘V.
  • The file is HEIF, not PNG. Capture Format is set to HDR. Choose SDR in ⇧⌘5 → Options.
  • The screenshot takes a few seconds to appear. The floating thumbnail waits in the corner first. Swipe it to the right to save at once, or turn off Show Floating Thumbnail in Options.
  • One app’s window cannot be captured. Some apps, such as the Apple TV app, might not let you take screenshots of their windows.

Questions

What is the screenshot shortcut on a Mac?
⇧⌘3 captures the whole screen, ⇧⌘4 lets you drag over part of it, and ⇧⌘4 followed by Space captures one window. ⇧⌘5 opens the Screenshot app with every tool and its options.
Where do screenshots go on a Mac?
To the desktop by default, as PNG files whose names begin with Screenshot and include the date and time. You can pick another folder in ⇧⌘5 → Options → Save to.
How do I copy a screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it?
Hold ⌃ with the usual keys, for example ⌃⇧⌘4 for an area. Then paste with ⌘V.
Is there a Snipping Tool on a Mac?
Not by that name. ⇧⌘4 and the ⇧⌘5 Screenshot app do the same job: select an area, a window or the whole screen.
Can I change the Mac screenshot shortcuts?
Yes. Open System Settings → Keyboard, click Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots, and set new keys there.

Sources

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Free · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon