Learn Screenshots In macOS
A Comprehensive Guide
1/23/2025


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!