# How to print screen on a Mac

A Mac uses shortcuts instead of a Print Screen key. Press ⇧⌘3 to capture the whole screen or ⇧⌘4 to drag over part of it; Apple lists these as the Print Screen equivalents. It is saved to the desktop. Add ⌃, as in ⌃⇧⌘4, to copy it to the clipboard instead. ⇧⌘5 (macOS Mojave 10.14 or later) opens every option.

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

*These steps describe macOS 27 Golden Gate and earlier versions; ⇧⌘5 needs macOS Mojave 10.14 or later. Checked on 2026-10-10 against Apple's and Microsoft's support pages.*

## Windows Print Screen shortcuts and their Mac equivalents

| On Windows | What it does there | On a Mac | Where it goes on a Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrtScn (Windows 10) | the whole screen to the clipboard | ⌃⇧⌘3 | clipboard |
| PrtScn (Windows 11) | select a region, to the clipboard | ⌃⇧⌘4, then drag | clipboard |
| Alt+PrtScn | the active window to the clipboard | ⌃⇧⌘4, then Space, then click the window | clipboard |
| Windows logo key+PrtScn | the whole screen saved to a file | ⇧⌘3 | a file on the desktop |
| Windows logo key+Shift+S | select a region, to the clipboard | ⌃⇧⌘4, then drag | clipboard |
| Windows logo key+Shift+R | record a region of the screen | ⇧⌘5, Record Selected Portion | a .mov file on the desktop |

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

## Method 1: Print the whole screen (⇧⌘3)

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.
3. To copy the screen instead of saving a file, press ⌃⇧⌘3, then paste with ⌘V.

## Method 2: Print part of the screen (⇧⌘4)

1. Press ⇧⌘4. The pointer turns into a crosshair.
2. Drag over the area you want. Hold Space while you drag to move the selection.
3. Release to take the screenshot, or press Esc to cancel.
4. To copy the area instead of saving a file, press ⌃⇧⌘4 and drag.

## Method 3: Print one window

1. Press ⇧⌘4, then press Space. The pointer becomes a camera.
2. Click the window. Hold ⌥ while you click to leave out the window's shadow.

## Method 4: The Screenshot app (⇧⌘5)

1. Press ⇧⌘5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
2. Choose the whole screen, a window or a portion, or one of the recording tools.
3. Click Options for a timer, the save place and the pointer, then click Capture.

The full list of keys is in [Mac screenshot shortcuts](/guides/mac-screenshot-shortcuts/).

## The Screen2Shot way: a print screen you can mark up and paste

Screen2Shot works like the Windows region capture: select, mark up, copy, paste. 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.

1. Press ⇧⌘9 and drag over an area. The size in pixels shows beside the selection.
2. Mark it up in place: pen, marker, arrow, rectangle and text, in 5 colours.
3. Press ⌘C or Return to copy, then ⌘V to paste wherever you need it. ⌘S saves a file instead.

Coming from Windows? Choose the ⌃⇧S preset in the Screen2Shot menu → Shortcut to keep a Windows-style key for area screenshots. See [Screen2Shot for screenshots](/screenshots/) and [pricing](/pricing/).

## Troubleshooting

- **You use a Windows keyboard.** Use ⇧⌘3 or ⇧⌘4, pressing the Windows logo key or Ctrl in place of ⌘.
- **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.
- **A shortcut does nothing.** Check System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots; the keys may have been changed or turned off.

## FAQ

### Is there a Print Screen key on a Mac?

No key by that name. Apple's page on Windows keys lists ⇧⌘3 (the whole screen) and ⇧⌘4 (a part you select) as the Mac's Print Screen.

### How do I print screen to the clipboard on a Mac?

Hold ⌃ with the shortcut: ⌃⇧⌘3 for the whole screen, ⌃⇧⌘4 for an area. Paste with ⌘V. No file is saved.

### What is Alt + Print Screen on a Mac?

On Windows, Alt+PrtScn copies the active window. On a Mac, press ⌃⇧⌘4, then Space, then click the window to copy it, or leave out ⌃ to save it as a file.

### What is Windows + Shift + S on a Mac?

⌃⇧⌘4 selects an area and copies it to the clipboard. ⇧⌘5 opens the Screenshot app with every tool, including screen recording.

### I use a Windows keyboard with my Mac. Which keys do I press?

Apple says to press Ctrl or the Windows logo key where a Mac shortcut uses ⌘, and Alt where it uses ⌥. So ⇧⌘3 becomes Shift, the Windows logo key or Ctrl, and 3.

## Sources

- [Apple: Windows keys on a Mac keyboard, Print Screen row (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/windows-keys-on-a-mac-keyboard-cpmh0152/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, keys on Windows keyboards (published 2026-09-14, checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650)
- [Microsoft Support: Keyboard shortcuts in Windows, PrtScn rows (checked 2026-10-10)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec)