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March 14, 2025

How to Screenshot on Mac: Complete Guide

Taking screenshots is one of the most useful digital skills examples that can save you time when sharing information or documenting issues. Mac offers several built-in methods to capture your screen, each serving different purposes.

Mac Screenshot Shortcuts You Should Know

Apple has designed intuitive keyboard shortcuts that make capturing your screen quick and easy:

  1. Capture the Entire Screen
    • Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3
    • Your Mac will capture everything visible on your screen
    • The screenshot automatically saves to your desktop as a PNG file
  2. Capture a Selected Portion
    • Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
    • Your cursor changes to a crosshair
    • Click and drag to select the area you want to capture
    • Release the mouse button to take the screenshot
  3. Capture a Specific Window
    • Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press Spacebar
    • Your cursor changes to a camera icon
    • Click on any window to capture just that window
    • The screenshot includes a shadow effect by default
  4. Use the Screenshot App
    • Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app
    • Choose from options to capture the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion
    • You can also record your screen from this menu
    • Click “Options” to change where screenshots are saved

Tips for Different Mac Models

  • MacBooks with Touch Bar: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 6 to capture the Touch Bar content
  • Newer Macs (Catalina and later): Screenshots appear as a thumbnail in the corner of your screen; click it to edit before saving
  • Older Macs: If running macOS Mojave or earlier, you might not have access to Command (⌘) + Shift + 5; use the other shortcuts instead

Troubleshooting Common Screenshot Issues

  • Screenshots Not Saving: Check your storage space and permissions for the destination folder
  • Poor Quality Screenshots: Make sure your display resolution is set appropriately
  • Can’t Capture Certain Content: Some apps with DRM protection may block screenshots for copyright reasons
  • Screenshot Shows Wrong Colors: Check if Night Shift or True Tone is enabled, as these can affect color accuracy

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