I’m new to using a Mac and I’m struggling to figure out the different ways to take screenshots. I’ve only ever used Windows before, so I’m used to the Print Screen key. I need to capture my whole screen and specific parts of it for work tutorials and bug reports, but I keep forgetting the right key shortcuts and options. Can someone explain the simplest methods to take screenshots on a Mac, including any useful shortcuts or built-in tools I should know about?
On macOS screenshots are all about keyboard shortcuts. No Print Screen key, you use combos.
Here is what you need.
-
Whole screen
Command + Shift + 3
Saves a file to your Desktop by default. If you have two monitors it captures both. -
Select a specific area
Command + Shift + 4
Your cursor turns into a crosshair.
Click and drag over the part you want.
Release mouse to capture.
File goes to Desktop.
Extras while in Command + Shift + 4 mode
Press Space once to switch to window mode. Then click a window to capture only that window.
Hold Space while dragging to move the selection.
Hold Option while dragging to resize from center.
Hold Shift while dragging to lock one direction.
- Screenshot options panel
Command + Shift + 5
This gives you a small control bar.
You can choose
- Capture entire screen
- Capture selected window
- Capture selected portion
- Record screen (video)
Click Options in that bar to
- Change save location (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, etc)
- Add a 5 or 10 second timer
- Show or hide mouse pointer
- Copy to clipboard instead of file
Add Control to any shortcut.
Examples
- Command + Control + Shift + 3 copies full screen to clipboard
- Command + Control + Shift + 4 copies selection to clipboard
Then paste in Messages, Mail, Word, etc.
- Where they save and changing it
By default, screenshots go to Desktop as PNG.
To change it without using Command + Shift + 5 every time, use Terminal.
Open Terminal and run something like
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Pictures/Screenshots
then
killall SystemUIServer
You can also change format. For JPG
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
then
killall SystemUIServer
-
Temporary thumbnail popup
On newer macOS versions you see a small thumbnail in the bottom right after a screenshot.
Click it to edit or mark up quickly.
You can drag that thumbnail straight into an app before it disappears.
If it annoys you, turn it off in Command + Shift + 5 under Options, uncheck “Show Floating Thumbnail”. -
Touch Bar screenshot (if your Mac has one)
Command + Shift + 6
Captures the Touch Bar.
Quick checklist for what you said you need.
Whole screen
Command + Shift + 3.
Specific part
Command + Shift + 4, drag area.
Specific window
Command + Shift + 4, press Space, click window.
If these do nothing, check
System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots
Make sure the shortcuts are enabled.
If you’re coming from Windows “Print Screen” world, the biggest mental shift on macOS is: screenshots are more like a toolbox than a single key. @nachtschatten already hit the main shortcuts, so I’ll skip re-listing those and add the extra stuff that’s easy to miss at first.
1. Treat Command + Shift + 5 as your “Print Screen” hub
Instead of thinking “what combo do I need this time,” just remember one thing:
- Press Command + Shift + 5
That brings up Apple’s Screenshot toolbar:- Capture whole screen
- Capture a window
- Capture a selection
- Screen recording
Once it’s up, you can basically click your way like on Windows Snipping Tool. If you’re stuck or forget shortcuts, this bar saves you.
I kinda disagree with relying only on the direct shortcuts (Command + Shift + 3/4) when you’re new. The toolbar is slower, yeah, but waaay easier to learn at first.
2. Make it behave more like Windows “Print Screen”
On Windows you usually:
- Hit Print Screen
- Paste into something (Teams, Word, whatever)
On Mac you can mimic that:
- In the Screenshot toolbar (
Command + Shift + 5)
Go to Options > Clipboard as the destination.
Now anything you capture will go only to the clipboard, so you can:Command + Vin Mail, Notes, Word, etc.
Or use the control variants (which @nachtschatten mentioned) if you want no files littering your Desktop.
3. Quick markup & sending without saving
If you just need to show someone something once:
- Take a screenshot normally.
- Look for that small thumbnail in the bottom right.
- Click it to open markup tools: text, arrows, shapes, signatures.
- Hit Share from there to send via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, etc.
- Close the window instead of saving to avoid junk files.
This is way nicer than Windows’ “screenshot > open Paint > crop > save > attach” dance.
4. Keyboard shortcut sanity check
If literally nothing happens when you use the shortcuts:
- Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots
Make sure:- Shortcuts are enabled
- Nothing was rebound to weird keys
I’ve seen people think “Mac screenshots are broken” when they just disabled them months ago and forgot.
5. If you work with lots of screenshots
Couple of power tips once you’re comfortable:
- Put them in a folder so your Desktop doesn’t look like a crime scene:
- Create a “Screenshots” folder in Pictures.
- Use the Terminal commands @nachtschatten posted to point screenshots there.
- Use Quick Look:
- Select a screenshot in Finder
- Press Space to preview it instantly without opening Preview.
6. Super fast workflow idea
For what you specifically said you need (whole screen + specific part), here’s a simple routine:
- Whole screen:
- Use Command + Shift + 5, click “Capture Entire Screen”.
- Specific part:
- Same command, choose “Capture Selected Portion,” drag the box once and leave it.
- Next time you open it, it remembers the last size and position, so you can just hit Capture again.
So: if memorizing lots of combos feels annoying, just burn Command + Shift + 5 into your brain and treat that as “Mac Print Screen.” Everything else is optional later.