How to Screenshot on Mac (2026 Guide)
By Techevangelist · Updated August 28, 2026
How to screenshot on Mac: Press Cmd+Shift+3 for full screen, Cmd+Shift+4 for selected area, or Cmd+Shift+5 for the screenshot options menu.
Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Cmd+Shift+3 | Capture entire screen |
| Cmd+Shift+4 | Capture selected area |
| Cmd+Shift+4 then Space | Capture a specific window |
| Cmd+Shift+5 | Open Screenshot app (options menu) |
| Cmd+Shift+6 | Capture Touch Bar (MacBook Pro only) |
Capture Entire Screen
- Press Cmd+Shift+3
- A thumbnail appears in the corner
- Click it to edit or wait for it to save
- Screenshot saves to your Desktop
Capture Selected Area
- Press Cmd+Shift+4
- Your cursor becomes a crosshair
- Click and drag to select the area
- Release to capture
- Screenshot saves to your Desktop
Pro tips:
- Hold Shift while dragging to lock one axis
- Hold Option to resize from center
- Hold Space to move the selection
- Press Escape to cancel
Capture a Specific Window
- Press Cmd+Shift+4
- Press Space
- Your cursor becomes a camera
- Hover over the window you want to capture
- Click to capture
- Screenshot saves with transparent background
Use the Screenshot App (Cmd+Shift+5)
- Press Cmd+Shift+5
- A toolbar appears at the bottom
- Choose capture mode:
- Entire Screen - click anywhere to capture
- Selected Window - click a window
- Selected Portion - drag to select area
- Record Entire Screen - click to start recording
- Record Selected Portion - drag area and click Record
- Click Options to change save location or timer
- Click Capture or Record
Change Screenshot Save Location
- Press Cmd+Shift+5
- Click Options
- Under Save to, choose a new location
- Options: Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview
Capture to Clipboard Instead of File
Add Control to any screenshot shortcut to copy to clipboard instead of saving a file:
- Control+Cmd+Shift+3 - full screen to clipboard
- Control+Cmd+Shift+4 - selected area to clipboard
- Control+Cmd+Shift+5 - Screenshot app (choose clipboard in Options)
Take a Scrolling Screenshot
macOS does not have built-in scrolling screenshots. Use these methods:
- Preview: Open a long image, go to File > Export As, and choose PDF
- CleanShot X: Third-party app with scrolling capture
- Snagit: Professional screenshot tool with scrolling support
Screenshots Not Working?
If your keyboard shortcuts aren't working, check our troubleshooting guide for 8 fixes.
Fix Screenshot IssuesFAQ
How do you screenshot on a Mac keyboard?
Press Cmd+Shift+3 for full screen, Cmd+Shift+4 for selected area, or Cmd+Shift+5 for screenshot options menu. Screenshots save to your Desktop by default.
How do I take a screenshot on Mac without keyboard?
Open the Screenshot app from Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type Screenshot) or go to Applications > Utilities > Screenshot. Use the on-screen controls to capture.
Where do screenshots go on Mac?
Screenshots save to your Desktop by default as PNG files. You can change the save location by pressing Cmd+Shift+5, clicking Options, and selecting a different folder.
How do I take a screenshot of a specific window on Mac?
Press Cmd+Shift+4, then press Space. Click the window you want to capture. The screenshot saves with a transparent background.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot on Mac?
macOS does not have built-in scrolling screenshots. Use third-party apps like CleanShot X, Snagit, or the built-in Screenshot app with Preview to capture scrollable content.