How to Screenshot on Mac (2025): Keyboard Shortcuts, Tips, and Pro Tools

How to Screenshot on Mac: Keyboard Shortcuts 2025

On any modern macOS (Monterey through Sonoma and beyond), three shortcuts cover nearly every need. Press Shift-Command-3 to capture your entire screen instantly. Press Shift-Command-4 to capture a custom area you drag with the crosshair. Press Shift-Command-5 to open the on-screen Screenshot toolbar with buttons for stills, screen recording, and options like timer and save-to location. On older Touch Bar MacBook Pros, Shift-Command-6 captures the Touch Bar.

Modifiers make these faster. While using Shift-Command-4, press Space to switch from a selection to “window capture” mode. Hold Shift to lock the selection’s movement vertically or horizontally, or hold Option to resize from the center. Add Control to any shortcut (for example, Control–Shift–Command–4) to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving a file—perfect for pasting into Slack, Docs, or Figma.

By default, macOS shows a floating thumbnail in the bottom-right corner so you can Quick Look, crop, or mark up without opening Preview. Click Options in the Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5) to choose where files save (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages) and whether to show the thumbnail. You can also set a 5–10 second timer and include the pointer in captures or recordings.

Capture full screen, window, or selection on macOS

For full-screen captures, tap Shift-Command-3. If you use multiple displays, macOS saves one file per display. Filenames follow “Screenshot YYYY-MM-DD at HH.MM.SS.png,” and images are saved at your display’s native resolution. Add Control to send it to the clipboard. Want to keep your Desktop tidy? In the toolbar (Shift-Command-5), set “Save to” Clipboard or a Screenshots folder.

To capture a specific app window with crisp edges, press Shift-Command-4 then Space. The cursor becomes a camera—hover to highlight a window and click to capture it. By default, macOS includes a subtle drop shadow and transparent padding around the window for a polished look. If you prefer no shadow or tight crops, you can adjust this behavior in advanced tips below.

For a precise selection, press Shift-Command-4 and drag a marquee. While dragging, press Space to reposition the selection, hold Shift to lock one axis, and hold Option to resize from the center. Release to capture, or press Escape to cancel. If you need the pointer visible, open the Screenshot toolbar (Shift-Command-5) > Options > Show Mouse Pointer before you capture.

Pro tips for better screenshots on Mac

• Change default format and location:
  • Fast GUI way: Use Shift-Command-5 > Options to pick a folder, Clipboard, Mail, or Messages.
  • Power user way: You can also create a “Screenshots” folder and set it in Options for easy organization.
• Swap PNG for JPEG or PDF when needed:
  • PNG is lossless and best for UI; JPEG is smaller for photos; PDF suits documents. You can quickly convert in Preview or your favorite editor.
• Tidy your shot before capture:
  • Hide Desktop icons with a focus mode, switch to a clean wallpaper, or enter full screen (Control-Command-F) to remove distractions.

Time-saving workflow ideas

• Design and product: Copy to clipboard (Control–Shift–Command–4) and paste straight into Figma or Sketch to avoid extra files.
• Docs and support: Use the Quick Look thumbnail to Markup (text, arrows, highlights) and drag the thumbnail directly into Gmail or Notes.
• Demos and tutorials: Open Shift-Command-5 and record a region, include pointer clicks, and set a 5-second timer to prepare your screen.

Troubleshooting quick fixes

• Screenshots not saving: Check Shift-Command-5 > Options > Save to. If still missing, search “Screenshot *.png” in Spotlight or ensure Desktop permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders.
• Shortcuts not responding: Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots and ensure they’re enabled and not conflicting with third-party apps.
• Blurry or scaled images: Verify your display scaling (System Settings > Displays). Screenshots capture the current resolution; Retina looks best at default scaling.

Recommended apps if you need more power

• CleanShot X: Polished UI, scrolling capture, annotations, background removal, and cloud sharing.
• Snagit: Enterprise-friendly tool with templates and step-by-step guides. See the Snagit license deal on TechSmith’s site for bundle pricing.
• Shottr or Monosnap: Lightweight, fast, and free/low-cost options great for developers and QA teams.

Helpful accessories and services

• Need more space for recordings and large PNGs? Consider a fast external SSD; see our roundup of the best Mac external SSDs on CyReader. Pair with a high-quality USB-C cable for sustained speeds.
• Upgrading your visual workspace can make captures clearer—check our picks for a color-accurate 4K monitor for Mac or a compact USB-C keyboard for quick access to screenshot keys.
• For editing, an all-in-one subscription like Setapp includes annotation tools alongside productivity apps.

FAQs
Q: What’s the shortcut to screenshot a selection on Mac?
A: Press Shift-Command-4, then drag to select the area. Add Control to copy to the clipboard.

Q: How do I capture a single window?
A: Press Shift-Command-4, tap Space to switch to window mode, hover the window until it’s highlighted, then click.

Q: Where do screenshots save by default?
A: By default they save to your Desktop as PNGs. Change this via Shift-Command-5 > Options.

Q: How do I record my screen instead of taking a screenshot?
A: Press Shift-Command-5, then choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. Use Options to pick mic input and save location.

Q: Can I remove the window drop shadow?
A: Yes. For one-off edits, crop in Quick Look Markup. For global behavior, advanced users can change the shadow setting via Terminal; or use a third-party tool like CleanShot X for clean window-only captures.

Q: How do I include the mouse pointer?
A: In the toolbar (Shift-Command-5), open Options and enable Show Mouse Pointer before capturing or recording.

Explore more on CyReader

• How to Record Screen on Mac with Audio (beginner to pro) — /guides/record-screen-mac
• The Best Mac External SSDs for Creators and Gamers — /reviews/best-mac-external-ssd
• macOS Sonoma: 25 Features You Should Be Using — /news/macos-sonoma-features
• CleanShot X vs Snagit vs Shottr: Which Screenshot App Wins in 2025? — /comparisons/macos-screenshot-apps
• Ultimate Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Power Users

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Now you know every way to screenshot on a Mac—full screen, window, or pixel-perfect selection—plus how to capture cleaner, faster, and smarter. If this helped, bookmark it, share it with your team, and dive into our related guides to build a frictionless Mac workflow.