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How to Take a Screenshot on macOS

Use Shift-Command-3, Shift-Command-4, or Shift-Command-5 to capture your Mac screen. Learn how to select an area, capture a window, change options, and copy a screenshot.
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On a Mac, press Shift-Command-3 to capture the entire screen, Shift-Command-4 to select an area, or Shift-Command-4 followed by Space to capture a window or menu. Press Shift-Command-5 for onscreen capture controls, a timer, and save-location options. Screenshots go to the desktop by default.

Choose the capture you need

What to capture Shortcut What to do
Entire screen Shift-Command-3 Press and release the keys. The screenshot saves automatically.
Part of the screen Shift-Command-4 Drag the crosshair around the area, then release.
Window or menu Shift-Command-4, then Space When the pointer becomes a camera, click the window or menu.
More controls Shift-Command-5 Choose a capture mode in Screenshot and adjust its options.

Apple documents these capture methods for macOS; its Screenshot instructions apply to macOS Mojave 10.14 and later. Apple’s screenshot instructions

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Capture the whole screen

  1. Press and release Shift-Command-3.
  2. Wait for the floating thumbnail, if it appears. Click it to edit the capture, or leave it alone and let the screenshot save.

The default destination is the desktop. You can change it through Screenshot’s Options menu.

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Capture a selected area

  1. Press and release Shift-Command-4. The pointer becomes a crosshair.
  2. Drag to select the part of the display you want.
  3. Release the mouse button or trackpad to capture it. Press Esc to cancel instead.

If you need to reposition the selection while dragging, hold Space and move it without changing its size.

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Logitech MK270 Full Size Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo - Black
  • Reliable Plug and Play: The USB receiver provides a reliable wireless connection up to 33 ft (1), so you can forget about drop-outs and delays and you can take it wherever you use your computer
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  • Durable and Resilient: This full-size wireless keyboard features a spill-resistant design (2), durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height
  • Long Battery Life: MK270 combo features a 36-month keyboard and 12-month mouse battery life (3), along with on/off switches allowing you to go months without the hassle of changing batteries
  • Easy to Use: This wireless keyboard and mouse combo features 8 multimedia hotkeys for instant access to the Internet, email, play/pause, and volume so you can easily check out your favorite sites

Capture a window or menu

  1. Open the window or menu you want to capture.
  2. Press and release Shift-Command-4, then press and release Space.
  3. When the pointer changes to a camera, click the target.

Hold Option while clicking to omit a window’s shadow. Press Esc to cancel. Some apps, including Apple TV, may prevent screenshots of their windows. Apple notes this limitation.

Use Screenshot for a timer and other options

Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot controls. Alternatively, open Applications > Utilities > Screenshot. Choose the button for the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion.

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Amazon Basics Wired QWERTY Keyboard, Works with Windows, Plug and Play, Easy to Use with Media Control, Full-Sized, Black
  • KEYBOARD: The keyboard works for Windows with hot keys that enable easy access to Media, My Computer, Mute, Volume up/down, and Calculator
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Open Options to set a timer, choose where captures are saved, or control the floating thumbnail and pointer. Apple’s Mac user guide also documents options to include pointer clicks. The available choices can depend on the Mac and macOS version. On supported Mac models running macOS Tahoe 26 or later, Apple lists SDR (Most Compatible), which uses PNG, and HDR, which uses HEIF; these format options are not universal across Macs. Apple’s Screenshot and recording guide

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Save, copy, or edit the screenshot

Save it as a file

By default, screenshots are saved to the desktop as PNG files. Change the destination in Shift-Command-5 > Options. If the floating thumbnail appears, click it to edit or drag it to another location.

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TECKNET Wired Gaming Keyboard, RGB Backlit Keyboard with Metal Panel Design
  • 【Ergonomic Design, Enhanced Typing Experience】Improve your typing experience with our computer keyboard featuring an ergonomic 7-degree input angle and a scientifically designed stepped key layout. The integrated wrist rests maintain a natural hand position, reducing hand fatigue. Constructed with durable ABS plastic keycaps and a robust metal base, this keyboard offers superior tactile feedback and long-lasting durability.
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Copy it to the clipboard

Hold Control while using a screenshot shortcut—for example, press Control-Shift-Command-3 to copy a full-screen capture instead of saving a file. You can also Control-click the floating thumbnail and choose Save to Clipboard. Paste the image into a document, message, or image editor.

Change or troubleshoot screenshot shortcuts

A shortcut does not work

It may have been changed or may conflict with another keyboard command. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots to inspect or customize screenshot shortcuts. Apple’s keyboard-shortcut guide

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Logitech G413 SE Full-Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Black
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  • 6-Key rollover anti-ghosting performance: Experience reliable key input with this anti-ghosting keyboard versus non-gaming mechanical keyboards

A window capture is blocked

Some applications do not permit their windows to be captured. Try capturing a different area if appropriate; a keyboard setting will not override an app’s restriction.

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You cannot find the screenshot

Check the destination shown in Shift-Command-5 > Options. If you used a shortcut with Control, the image was copied to the clipboard rather than saved as a desktop file.

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GEODMAER 65% Gaming Keyboard, Wired Backlit Mini Keyboard, Ultra-Compact Anti-Ghosting No-Conflict 68 Keys Membrane Gaming Wired Keyboard for PC Laptop Windows Gamer
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Or skip the browser setup

If you need screenshots of web pages for development or automation, ScreenshotNeo can return an image or PDF from one GET request. Its API accepts the target URL and can return PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF; see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

ScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture, with each cleanup step optional. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing; response headers report the page verdict and whether the request was billed. Its MCP server offers screenshot tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.

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Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month—no card required.

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