How to Screenshot on Mac

  • 5 mins read

Just switched to macOS from Windows and can’t figure out how to screenshot on Mac? In this guide, we are going to teach you how to do that without any external software or apps. 

Whether you want to learn how to screenshot part of the screen on Mac or capture the entire display, we’ve got you covered with easy-to-follow instructions. Let the tech talk begin!

Table of Contents

Taking a Screenshot on Mac With Keyboard Shortcuts

The easiest and quickest way to take a screenshot on macOS is to use the built-in Mac screenshot tool:

Here’s how it works:

  1. Press the keys Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 simultaneously. 

  2. You’ll hear a camera shutter sound effect, indicating you have taken a screen shot on Mac. When it appears in the right-bottom corner of the screen, you can either slide it to the right to dismiss it or click on it to make edits if needed.

  3. When you click on the image, you can delete it, share it, or edit it. Note that all screenshots are saved on your desktop by default.

To get a full page screenshot on Mac or change where screenshots are saved, follow the steps below:

  1. Press the keys Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 simultaneously.

  2. A toolbar will appear at the bottom. Click on Capture Entire Screen (the option on the leftmost side).

    capturing entire screen on macos desktop
  3. Click on Options and a menu will appear with additional settings.

  4. Then, click on Other Location.

    other locations highlighted on mac
  5. Select the location where you want your screenshots to be saved and click on Choose.

How Do I Crop a Screenshot on Mac?

To crop a screenshot on Mac, you have to select the editing icon that appears after you click on the screenshot thumbnail in the right-bottom corner.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. After taking a screenshot, a thumbnail will appear in the right-bottom corner. Click on it to preview and edit the screenshot before saving.

  2. Click on the editing icon to open the Markup toolbar.

    markup icon highlighted in red
  3. You’ll now be able to see a list of icons in the toolbar. Click on the Crop icon, typically located as the third option from the right in the toolbar.

    crop icon highlighted in red
  4. Now adjust the image and when you’re done, click on Crop.

  5. Click on Done to save the cropped screenshot.

How to Screenshot Part of Screen on Mac

To take a specific screenshot on Mac, all you have to do is open the built-in screen capture tool and select the portion of the screen you want to capture.

Here are step-by-step instructions:

  1. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 simultaneously.

  2. A crosshair will appear on the screen, letting you pinpoint exactly what you want to capture. Just drag it over the area you want to capture and let go to take the screenshot.

  3. Another way to take a screenshot of a specific area on Mac is to use the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘) + Shift + 5.

  4. In the toolbar that pops up, click on the Capture Selected Portion icon (third icon from the left).

    specific area highlighted on mac
  5. Select the area you want to take a screenshot of and press the Capture button.

How to Screen Record on Mac

Taking screenshots isn’t the only thing you can do with macOS’s built-in screen capturing tool. You can also use it to record your screen.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the keys Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to make the toolbar appear.

  2. Now click on either Record Entire Screen to capture the whole screen and Record Selected Portion to capture only a specific area.

    recording entire screen highlighted on mac
  3. Click on Record to start recording. To stop, click on the pause icon in the menu bar of your Mac. The video will be saved on the desktop, but you can change the location by following the steps mentioned above.

Ready to Start Taking Screenshots on Your Mac?

In this guide, we looked at how you can print screen on a MacBook without any third-party apps and how to snip screenshot on Mac. Whether you have just switched from Windows and are learning the ropes or are simply looking for efficient ways to capture your screen, mastering these built-in tools will improve your Mac experience.

Using the built-in screen capturing tool, you can take screenshots and record your screen. There are tons of third-party apps that can help you do this, but why clutter your system with additional software when macOS provides built-in tools for the job?

Frequently Asked Questions

No, macOS has a built-in screen capturing tool that you can use to screenshot on Mac. Simply press the keys Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 simultaneously to take a screenshot of the entire screen.

Yes, you can record your Mac’s screen using the built-in screen capturing tool. Press the keys Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to open up the toolbar. Click on either Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.