For most new Mac users — specially if they ’re coming from Windows — one of the first question they need to ask is how to take a screenshot on a Mac ? There ’s no consecrated Print Screen Francis Scott Key like there is on a personal computer , but there is keyboard shortcut , along with some expectant screenshot apps you’re able to employ .
Here ’s how to take a screenshot onMacOSin a few different manner .
How to take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts
MacOS keyboard shortcutsare the quickest ways to take screenshots , whether you ’re get the integral screen or just a parcel . By default , Apple ’s method acting store your screenshot to the desktop , but if you want to re-create the screenshot to the clipboard , there ’s a keyboard cutoff you may use or else .
How to capture a selected area
Press theCommand + Shift + 4keys at the same time . With your cursor now turned into a crosshair , click and dredge to take in a box around the part you want catch . When you countenance go of the computer mouse push button , the screenshot saves to your desktop .
How to capture a single window
Step 1 : Press theCommand + Shift + 4keys at the same time so that your arrow becomes a crosshair .
Step 2 : Press theSpacebar . The Spanish pointer exchange to a camera picture .
Step 3 : Any windowpane you hover over is highlighted with a short blue overlay . select the window you desire to capture , and the look-alike saves to your screen background .
This method acting does n’t just enchant window — you could keep the background , the card bar , the dock , or even an heart-to-heart menu by itself .
How to capture the entire screen
Press and holdCommand + pitch + 3keys at the same time for an instantaneous capture of your desktop . This will include the Dock , Menu Bar , and everything else on the screen . You ’ll hear the screenshot phone and the prevue will appear in the bottom - right corner of your concealment , give you quick admittance to redaction instrument .
The mental image you save consists of the windowpane and its shadow against a gauzy background knowledge ( PNG ) . If you do n’t want the shadow , press and have theOptionkey ( orAlt ) as you get through to economize the image .
How to take a screenshot using the Touch Bar
If you have one of the olderMacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar , these options seem on the OLED flight strip . Another Touch Bar exclusive is taking a screenshot of the Touch Bar display , which can be done by hittingShift + Command + 6 .
How to take a screenshot using the native Mac app
Keyboard cutoff work well for programmers , but a decimal point - and - click user interface is easy for everyone to use . That ’s why Apple also let in a Screenshot app , and it chip in you even more ascendance over screenshots . The app also let you take screenshots after a five - second or 10 - bit delay , allowing you meter to open a card or do some other setup that might not be possible with the keyboard shortcut before enamor an double on your display . There are three ways ( shown in steps 1 to 3 below ) to find the Screenshot app .
If you think you ’ll use the Screenshot app frequently , you may keep it in the Dock by right - clicking the app icon and selectingKeep in dockfrom theOptionsmenu .
How to take a screenshot with the screenshot menu
The Screenshot app look like a be adrift toolbar near the bottom of the covert with release that look like the type of screenshot that they capture . At the far left wing is full - screen door seizure , then windowpane and partial - cover capture . In the next department , full- and partial - covert recording clit appear , follow by anOptionsmenu . and aCapturebutton .
select one of the screenshot buttons , thenCaptureto grab a save of what ’s on the projection screen . The Screenshot toolbar wo n’t be admit in the capture .
If something demand to be set up , such as a menu open to show its contents in the screenshot , select the5 secondsor10 secondsdelay from theOptionsmenu .
you may also pick a differentdefault make unnecessary fix for your screenshotsor send screenshots to another app like Mail or Messages .
If you want to see the mouse pointer arrow in the screenshot , enableShow sneak pointerin theOptionsmenu .
The vagabond Thumbnail option is enabled by default option , but when taking multiple screenshots in a row , the thumbnail might be captured in some of the double since it appears on - filmdom . SwitchFloating thumbnailoff in theOptionsmenu when you are take quick screenshots .
How to print screen on Mac using Preview
dance step 1 : Preview is the default tool that allows you to open everything from photos toPDF files(and here’show to impress PDFs ) . It has plenty of lesser - jazz feature film , such as footnote documents and range of a function by selecting theMarkupicon in the upper - right . Preview captures screenshots , too . depart by open up the image by double - tick it in the pamphlet or opening it in Preview in Spotlight by using theCommand + Spacekey command .
stair 2 : In the Preview app , open theFilemenu and theTake screenshotsubmenu , then choose the survival of the fittest mode count on your preference .
Step 3 : The keyboard shortcut method acting is far quicker , and the Screenshot app is gentle , but Preview lets you name the file before saving it to your preferred fix .
Where to find screenshots on Mac
So , you took your screenshot , but now you might be wonder where to happen it . Your screenshots are saved , by default , to your background , which can be accessed through Finder underDesktopor just by accessing the desktop directly . However , that can go to a very messy desktop . If you have macOS Mojave or later , the default option location of screenshots can be shift in the Screenshot app .
In price of file format , the default for keep open screenshots is PNG . To change this , overt upTerminal . disregard the quotation mug , character in the next dictation : “ default option write com.apple.screencapture type ” — followed by infinite and the file format you need , whether that ’s JPG , PDF , or some other simulacrum format . Finally , rack up theReturnkey .
How to add annotations to a screenshot
The macOS Markup capabilities are work up into the Screenshot app . That means you’re able to easily add highlighting to text , draw arrows to point out details , make freehand sketches , add your signature tune , and much more to any screen gaining control .
Step 1 : To see the Markup toolbar , just select the thumbnail that appear in the bottom - rightfulness quoin after demand a screenshot .
Step 2 : After you select the screenshot ’s thumbnail , it open up in a windowpane with a Markup toolbar at the top . This is a system public utility window that appears above all other window and lacks the common maximize , minimize , and sizing choice of an app window . There are several drawing off putz , a textual matter tool , a theme song option that let you sign up on your trackpad or take a photo of an ink and report signature with a webcam or iPhone , and more .
gradation 3 : Perfect public square and circles are potential when using the Shapes pecker , but the Sketch tool at the top - left is quite helpful at correcting wobbly , deal - drawn shapes , including boxes , lead , trigon , ovals , and arrow .
Step 4 : It ’s also easy to edit your drawings and annotations — Preview is thebest Paint equivalent on macOS . Deselect the current tool so the cursor becomes an pointer and pick out any notation to adjust its size , locating , and vividness . run into the Delete key to remove that sketch , schoolbook , or signature .
Step 5 : When you ’re satisfied with marking up the screenshot , opt theDonebutton at the upper right wing to salve the range . you could also utilize theSharemenu to AirDropand send to another app , or but trash the screenshot if you ’ve decide you do n’t want it .
Screenshot tips and tricks
There are a few tricks that use the Mac keyboard to change how a screenshot works . These tips work no matter whether you started the screenshot with a keyboard cutoff , the Screenshot app , or the Preview app .
Press and hold theControlkey while capturing a screen catch to copy it to the clipboard alternatively of economise it as a Indian file . The * = Optionkey is quite utile for Mac screenshots as well . HoldOptionwhen you ’re remove a screenshot of a window to remove the shadow that will otherwise surround the window in the image .
If you hold downOptionwhile changing the dotted outline in a partial screenshot , dragging an border or recess makes the same front on the opposite corner or edge . It ’s a handy way to keep the center in place while resize the area of the screen door that will be captured .
How to take screenshots on other devices
If you own other Apple gimmick , you might also be wonderinghow to take a screenshot on an iPhone . It ’s elementary enough , though it look on what coevals of equipment you have . If you have an older iPhone that still has a Home button , it ’s as comfortable as hold back theHomebutton and thePowerbutton at the same fourth dimension .
On newer devices without a Home button , hold theVolume upbutton and thePowerbutton at the same time . The same method acting use whentaking a screenshot on an iPad .
Learninghow to take a screenshot on a Windows microcomputer or laptopcan be tricky if you ’re more familiar with MacOS . There are still a number of keyboard crosscut regard the Print Screen samara that ’ll do the trick , as well as the built - in Snipping Windows applications programme . This same method acting applies whentaking a screenshot on a Microsoft Surfacedevice or any other Windows tablet or 2 - in-1 .
Chromebooks have their own unequalled fashion of handling screenshots , too .
