Mac Screenshot Shortcuts (How to Take a Screenshot)

On a Mac, the screenshot shortcuts are Shift + Command + 3 (full screen), Shift + Command + 4 (select an area), and Shift + Command + 4 then Space (a single window). Screenshots save to your desktop as PNG files by default. Here’s everything you can do.

Mac screenshot shortcuts (the full list)

Hold Control while pressing any shortcut to copy to the clipboard instead of saving a file.

The Screenshot toolbar (more options)

Press Shift + Command + 5 for a toolbar with extra controls:

1. Choose Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Window, or Capture Selected Portion.
2. Click Options to change where screenshots save, set a timer, show the mouse pointer, or record video.
3. Click Capture.

The same toolbar handles screen recording too — see how to screen record on Mac.

Where do screenshots go?

By default, screenshots save to the Desktop as PNG files named “Screenshot [date] at [time].png.”

To change the location:

1. Press Shift + Cmd + 5 to open the toolbar.
2. Click Options.
3. Under “Save to,” pick Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or a custom folder.

To change PNG to JPG (smaller files): open Terminal and run defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg then restart your Mac (change jpg back to png to revert).

Screenshot the Touch Bar

On Macs with a Touch Bar, press Shift + Command + 6 to screenshot just the Touch Bar.

Timed screenshots

1. Press Shift + Cmd + 5 → Options.
2. Set a Timer (5 or 10 seconds).
3. Choose a capture type — it waits, giving you time to open a menu or tooltip first.

Annotating after you capture

After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to open the annotation tool — crop, draw, add text, or highlight — then save. Or open any screenshot in Preview to annotate it. If you’re cleaning up a photo rather than a screenshot, the same tools exist on iPhone - see how to edit photos on iPhone.

FAQ

Where do Mac screenshots go?

To the Desktop as PNG files by default. Change it in the toolbar’s Options menu.

How do I copy a screenshot to the clipboard on Mac?

Hold the Control key while taking the screenshot — it copies instead of saving a file.

Can I screenshot a single window on Mac?

Yes. Press Shift + Cmd + 4, then tap Space. The pointer turns into a camera; click the window you want.

How do I change screenshots from PNG to JPG?

Run defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg in Terminal, then restart. Reverse it by using png instead of jpg.

How do I take a screenshot on a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar?

Press Shift + Command + 6 to capture the Touch Bar specifically. The normal shortcuts above still work for the screen.

Why isn’t my screenshot shortcut working?

Check that the keys are pressed together. On some keyboards, Command may be mapped differently, or a third-party app (like a clipboard manager) is intercepting the shortcut. For a different device, see how to screenshot on Windows or how to screenshot on iPhone.

What is the shortcut for a screenshot on Mac?

The main Mac screenshot shortcuts: Shift + Cmd + 3 (full screen), Shift + Cmd + 4 (selected area), and Shift + Cmd + 4 then Space (a single window).

What is the Mac “print screen” shortcut?

Macs have no Print Screen key — the equivalent is Shift + Cmd + 3 for the full screen (or Shift + Cmd + 4 to select an area). Shift + Cmd + 5 opens the capture toolbar.

How do I screenshot a specific area on Mac?

Press Shift + Cmd + 4, then drag a box over the area you want. The screenshot saves to your desktop. See Method 2 above.

How do I change the screenshot shortcut on Mac?

You can’t rebind the built-in shortcuts easily, but System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots lets you adjust them (or disable conflicts with other apps).

What is the Mac screenshot hotkey for the whole screen?

Shift + Cmd + 3 captures the entire screen. Add Control (Shift + Cmd + Ctrl + 3) to copy it to the clipboard instead of saving a file.