# Mac screenshot shortcuts

⇧⌘3 captures the whole screen, ⇧⌘4 an area you drag, ⇧⌘4 then Space one window, and ⇧⌘5 opens the Screenshot app with screen recording (macOS Mojave 10.14 or later). ⇧⌘6 captures the Touch Bar. Add ⌃, as in ⌃⇧⌘4, to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving a file to the desktop.

URL: https://screen2shot.com/guides/mac-screenshot-shortcuts/
Updated: 2026-10-11 · facts checked on 2026-10-10

*These shortcuts work on macOS 27 Golden Gate and earlier versions; ⇧⌘5 needs macOS Mojave 10.14 or later. Checked on 2026-10-10 against Apple's support pages published 2026-09-14.*

Symbols: ⌘ is Command, ⇧ is Shift, ⌥ is Option, ⌃ is Control.

## Every built-in screenshot shortcut

| Shortcut | What it captures | Where it goes | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⇧⌘3 | the whole screen | a file on the desktop | every version covered here |
| ⇧⌘4, then drag | an area you select | a file on the desktop | every version covered here |
| ⇧⌘4, then Space, then click | one window or menu | a file on the desktop | every version covered here |
| ⇧⌘4, then drag over menu items | some items of an open menu | a file on the desktop | every version covered here |
| ⇧⌘5 | opens the Screenshot app: screen, window, area, recording, timer, save place | the place under Save to | macOS Mojave 10.14 or later |
| ⇧⌘6 | the Touch Bar | a file on the desktop | Macs with a Touch Bar |
| ⌃⇧⌘3 | the whole screen | the clipboard | every version covered here |
| ⌃⇧⌘4 | an area you select | the clipboard | every version covered here |

*Checked on 2026-10-10. Sources below.*

On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later with Siri AI (Beta) turned on, Apple lists ⇧⌘6 as the shortcut to ask Siri about a selected area of the screen.

## Keys that change a capture while you take it

| While you | Press | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| drag with ⇧⌘4 | hold Space | moves the selection without changing its size |
| point at a window after ⇧⌘4, Space | hold ⌥ while you click | leaves out the window's shadow |
| select anything | Esc | cancels; nothing is saved |
| look at the thumbnail in the corner | ⌃-click it, choose Save to Clipboard | copies the screenshot you just took |

## Screen recording shortcuts

| Shortcut | What it does | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| ⇧⌘5, then Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion | starts a recording after you click Record | macOS Mojave 10.14 or later |
| ⌃⌘Esc | stops the recording | while a recording runs |
| ⌃⌘N | File → New Screen Recording in QuickTime Player | QuickTime Player |

See [how to screen record on a Mac](/guides/how-to-screen-record-on-mac/) for the full steps.

## Change a shortcut

1. Choose Apple menu → System Settings, then click Keyboard.
2. Click Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots.
3. Select the checkbox next to the shortcut, double-click its key combination and press the new one.
4. Quit and reopen the apps you are using, so the new shortcut takes effect in them.

The [guide to changing the screenshot shortcut](/guides/change-screenshot-shortcut-mac/) covers conflicts and how to restore the defaults.

## On a Windows keyboard

Press Ctrl or the Windows logo key where a Mac shortcut uses ⌘, and Alt where it uses ⌥. The Print Screen key is covered in [how to print screen on a Mac](/guides/print-screen-on-mac/).

## Screen2Shot shortcuts

Screen2Shot adds one shortcut that captures, marks up and copies without a file in between. It is free for screenshots, with a thin Screen2Shot strip at the bottom of free exports that PRO removes, and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later on Apple silicon.

| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⇧⌘9 | select an area on any display, with its size in pixels beside it |
| ⌘C or Return | copy the screenshot with your markup |
| ⌘S | save it as a PNG |
| Esc | cancel; nothing is written |
| ⌘Z, ⇧⌘Z | undo and redo a drawing |
| ⇧⌘C | Copy Text: read the text and QR codes in the selection (PRO) |
| ⌥⇧⌘9 | start and stop a screen recording (macOS 15 Sequoia or later) |

If ⇧⌘9 is taken by another app, choose one of the presets in the Screen2Shot menu → Shortcut: ⇧⌘9, ⌃⇧9, ⌃⇧S or ⇧⌘2. See [Screen2Shot for screenshots](/screenshots/) and [pricing](/pricing/).

## Troubleshooting

- **A shortcut does nothing.** Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots and check the keys set there, and that the action is turned on.
- **⇧⌘6 does nothing.** The Mac has no Touch Bar. On macOS 27 with Siri AI turned on, the same keys ask Siri instead.
- **The screenshot is not on the desktop.** You held ⌃, so it is on the clipboard; paste with ⌘V. Or Save to in ⇧⌘5 → Options points to another folder.

## FAQ

### What is the screenshot shortcut on a Mac?

⇧⌘3 for the whole screen, ⇧⌘4 for part of it, ⇧⌘4 then Space for one window. ⇧⌘5 opens the Screenshot app with every option.

### What is the shortcut to copy a screenshot to the clipboard?

Add ⌃ to the shortcut: ⌃⇧⌘3 copies the whole screen and ⌃⇧⌘4 an area. Paste with ⌘V. No file is saved.

### What does ⇧⌘6 do?

On a Mac with a Touch Bar it captures the Touch Bar. On macOS 27 Golden Gate or later with Siri AI (Beta) turned on, Apple lists ⇧⌘6 as the shortcut to ask Siri about a selected area of the screen.

### Can I change the screenshot shortcuts?

Yes. Open System Settings → Keyboard, click Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots, and set new keys for each action.

### What are the shortcuts on a Windows keyboard connected to a Mac?

Press Ctrl or the Windows logo key where a Mac shortcut uses ⌘, and Alt where it uses ⌥. So ⇧⌘4 becomes Shift, the Windows logo key or Ctrl, and 4.

## Sources

- [Apple: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac, the shortcut table including ⇧⌘6 for the Touch Bar (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/take-a-screenshot-mh26782/mac)
- [Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Mac (published 2026-09-14, checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102646)
- [Apple Support: Mac keyboard shortcuts, ⇧⌘5 and ⇧⌘6 notes and Windows keyboards (published 2026-09-14, checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650)
- [Apple Support: How to record the screen on Mac, ⌃⌘Esc to stop (published 2026-09-14, checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102618)
- [Apple: Use macOS keyboard shortcuts, changing a shortcut in System Settings (checked 2026-10-11)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-macos-keyboard-shortcuts-mchlp2262/mac)