09 / SCREENSHOTS · 6 min read
How to Screenshot on Mac: Shortcuts and Annotation
Every Mac screenshot shortcut in one place: full screen, an area, a single window, and copying to the clipboard.
To take a screenshot on Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen, Command + Shift + 4 to select an area, or Command + Shift + 5 to open the screenshot toolbar. To copy the picture instead of saving a file, add the Control key to any of these shortcuts.
Screenshots are handy for showing a problem, saving a receipt or sharing something from your screen. Your Mac has everything you need built in.
The main screenshot shortcuts
- Command + Shift + 3: captures the whole screen and saves a PNG file on your Desktop. With several screens connected, you get one file per screen.
- Command + Shift + 4: turns the pointer into a crosshair. Click and drag over the area you want, then release.
- Command + Shift + 5: opens the screenshot toolbar, with buttons for screen recording, a timer, and where to save files.
Capture one window
Press Command + Shift + 4, then Spacebar. The pointer becomes a camera. Click the window you want. macOS adds a soft shadow around it. To leave the shadow out, hold Option when you click.
Copy to the clipboard instead of saving a file
Screenshot files pile up on your Desktop. If you only want to paste the picture into a message, email or document, add the Control key. For example, Command + Control + Shift + 4 copies the selected area and creates no file.
Mark up a screenshot
After you take a screenshot, a small preview appears in the corner of the screen. Click it to open the picture and use the markup tools to draw, add text or add shapes. Preview has the same tools for pictures you have already saved.
macOS does not copy the text out of what you capture. For that, you need another tool.
Screenshots with Tegaro
Tegaro Screenshots is one of ten tools in the Tegaro menu-bar icon.
⌘⇧2: capture an area or a window.⌘⇧1: capture the full screen.⌃⌥T: copy text from anywhere on your screen, such as an error message or a video.
Screenshots needs Tegaro Pro after the 14-day trial. Tegaro needs no account.
Your screenshots stay on your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do screenshots go on Mac by default?
macOS saves screenshots as PNG files on your Desktop. To change the folder, press Command + Shift + 5 and open Options.
How do you take a screenshot on Mac and copy it to the clipboard?
Hold Control while you capture. Command + Control + Shift + 3 copies the whole screen, and Command + Control + Shift + 4 copies a selected area.
Can I copy text from a screenshot on Mac?
With Tegaro, press ⌃⌥T and select the part of the screen that has the text. The text is copied so you can paste it.
Ten Mac tools, one icon
Tegaro puts Screenshots, Clipboard, Displays, Power and more in one menu-bar icon. Everything is free for 14 days, no card needed; after that the core tools stay free and Pro unlocks the rest.