Learn Screenshots In macOS

A Comprehensive Guide

1/23/2025

photo showing special characters in macos
photo showing special characters in macos

Taking screenshots on macOS is straightforward and offers several methods to capture exactly what you need. Here’s a comprehensive guide to various ways you can make screenshots on your Mac:


1. Keyboard Shortcuts


Full Screen

- Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + 3

- Description: Captures the entire screen and saves the screenshot to your desktop.

Selected Portion

- Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + 4

- Description: Changes the cursor to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.

Window Screenshot

- Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press the Spacebar

- Description: After pressing the initial command, the cursor changes to a camera icon. Click on the window you want to capture for a screenshot of that specific window.

Touch Bar (if applicable)

- Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + 6

- Description: Captures the contents of your Touch Bar, if your Mac has one.


2. Using the Screenshot App

Screenshot Utility

- Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + 5

- Description: Opens the Screenshot app, allowing you to choose between capturing the entire screen, a selected window, or a selected portion. You can also record your screen.


Options

In the Screenshot app, you can set various options:

- Where to save your screenshots (desktop, documents, clipboard, etc.)

- Set a timer to delay the screenshot

- Show or hide the mouse cursor in the screenshot


3. Using Preview


1.Open the Preview app.

2. Go to the menu bar and select File > Take Screenshot.

3. Choose between options to capture:

- From selection

- From a window

- From the entire screen


4. Using the Clipboard

You can also copy screenshots directly to the clipboard:

- Full Screen: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 3

- Selected Portion: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4

- For Window: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4 then press the Spacebar


These methods will allow you to paste the screenshot directly into documents or images by using Command (⌘) + V.


Conclusion

Whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts or using the built-in Screenshot app, macOS provides versatile tools to capture the screen in various ways. Explore these options to find which method works best for your needs!


Simple Screenshots In macOS