How To Screenshot On Mac! Complete Guide For Every Situation

So, you’ve got a Mac, and you’re trying to figure out the ins and outs of taking a screenshot. Whether you’re capturing your whole screen, just a part of it, or even recording your screen, I’ve got you covered. There are plenty of shortcuts, commands, and even apps that make this easier than you might think.

Let’s dive into the ultimate guide for taking screenshots on your Mac—no matter if you’re rocking a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or an iMac. By the end of this, you’ll be a screenshotting pro, trust me!

How to Screenshot on Mac: The Basics

Apple has made it really simple to take a screenshot on macOS, but if you’re new, these shortcuts might not be second nature yet. Here’s the most common way to get it done:

Mac Screenshot Shortcut

To take a screenshot of your entire screen, just press:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 3

Once you hit those keys, your screen will flash briefly, signaling that the screenshot has been taken. You’ll find your freshly snapped image in a preview window at the bottom right of your screen for quick editing or directly saved on your desktop.

How to Take a Partial Screenshot on Mac

There are plenty of times when you don’t need the whole screen—maybe just a portion, like an interesting section of a webpage or a specific image. In this case, Apple has another command for that.

To take a partial screenshot:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4

This activates a crosshair tool that lets you drag over the portion of the screen you want to capture. The selected area will turn light gray, and you can simply let go of the mouse or trackpad to snap it.

How to Screenshot on Mac with Keyboard Shortcuts: The Best Commands

If you’re all about keyboard shortcuts, Mac’s got a whole lineup of them. Here are a few more that will make your life easier:

• To capture a specific window:
  Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then hit the Spacebar
  Hover over the window you want, and click—it’s that simple!
• To capture the Touch Bar (for MacBook Pro users):
  Command (⌘) + Shift + 6
  This command is a lifesaver for those times when you want to grab what’s displayed on your Touch Bar.

How to Take a Screenshot on MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

Whether you’re using a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro, the commands are exactly the same. But, if you’re using a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, as mentioned earlier, you’ve got that bonus screenshot option specifically for the Touch Bar.

Also, since macOS Mojave and later, these shortcuts trigger a screenshot toolbar, offering even more options for capturing your screen. So, if you’re not sure which method to use, you can hit: Command (⌘) + Shift + 5

This brings up a screenshot control panel where you can choose between capturing the whole screen, a window, or a specific section. Plus, there’s even a screen recording option here! Super handy.

How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot on Mac

This is a bit more advanced. Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t have a built-in feature for taking scrolling screenshots like Windows does. But don’t worry, I’ve got a workaround for you.

To capture a scrolling screenshot on Mac, you’ll need third-party apps like:

• Snagit (one of the best screenshot apps for Mac)
• CleanShot X
• Monosnap

These apps let you capture long, scrolling web pages or documents with ease. Just open the app, choose the scrolling capture option, and you’re good to go.

How to Capture Full Screen on Mac

Let’s say you need to capture every pixel on your display. No problem! The shortcut for this is the same as the basic screenshot command:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 3

This will take a shot of your entire screen, and if you’ve got multiple displays, macOS will capture all of them simultaneously. Easy peasy!

How to Record Screen on Mac

Okay, what if you want to do more than just take a static screenshot? Sometimes you need to record your screen. Thankfully, Apple’s made this just as simple.

You can use the same Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 toolbar shortcut for screen recording. From there, you can either record your entire screen or just a specific portion of it.

If you need to record your screen with audio, QuickTime Player is your friend. Open QuickTime, go to File > New Screen Recording, and you’ll be able to record with audio from your Mac’s microphone.

How to Take Screenshot on Mac Without Keyboard

What if your keyboard is acting up, or you just want an easier way without all the shortcuts? You can take a screenshot using the screenshot toolbar. To activate this:

1. Open Launchpad.
2. Search for Screenshot and open the tool.
3. Select the option you need (capture the entire screen, selected portion, etc.).

Alternatively, if you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar, you can add a Screenshot button to it for one-tap capturing.

How to Save Screenshots on Mac

By default, Mac saves screenshots to your desktop, but you can change this! After taking a screenshot, click the thumbnail that appears at the bottom-right, then choose a different save location in the toolbar that pops up.

You can also permanently change the save location by pressing: Command (⌘) + Shift + 5, clicking Options, and selecting where you want your screenshots to be saved.

Screenshot Tools for Mac: Enhance Your Experience

Although Mac’s built-in screenshot tools are robust, sometimes you need more customization or advanced editing features. Here are some of the best screenshot apps for Mac:

1. Snagit – Great for professionals who need both screenshots and screen recordings with powerful editing tools.
2. CleanShot X – Popular for its clean interface and ability to capture scrolling content.
3. Lightshot – A free and simple tool that allows you to quickly edit and share screenshots.
4. Monosnap – Offers cloud storage and screenshot annotations right after capturing.

These apps provide features like annotation, cloud storage, and even scrolling captures that Mac’s native tools don’t offer.

How to Edit a Screenshot on Mac

Once you’ve taken your screenshot, macOS gives you instant editing tools. When the screenshot thumbnail appears at the bottom-right of your screen, click on it to open the markup tools. Here, you can crop, draw, add text, and highlight areas directly on the screenshot.

How to Screenshot Entire Screen on Mac: The Quickest Method

Let’s wrap this up with the quickest way to screenshot your entire screen on Mac. Just press:

Command (⌘) + Shift + 3

This method is foolproof. If you ever find yourself needing to screenshot multiple monitors or an extended display, this command will capture all active displays, ensuring nothing gets left out.

Conclusion

By now, you should feel confident about taking screenshots on your Mac, whether it’s the entire screen, a partial screenshot, or even a screen recording. With these tips, you’ll master every shortcut and command like a pro. How To Screenshot On Mac in 2024 is just for the others now and you can tell or suggest this article for the complete guide. Don’t forget that there are also some handy third-party apps that can take your screenshot game to the next level!

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