A handy Mac reference
Mac screenshot shortcuts.
The right keys, right here.
An area, a window, or the whole screen. Pick what you need and get the built-in macOS shortcut. No download required.
Looking for Snipping Tool on a Mac?Your shortcut
- Press Shift + Command + 4 together, then release.
- Drag across the area you want. Release the mouse or trackpad to capture it.
- Find the file on your desktop, or in the save location you chose in Screenshot options.
Use these keys on your Mac. This page does not capture your screen.
All the essentials, at a glance.
| Capture | Save or copyCopy to clipboard |
|---|---|
| Selected area | Save a file Copy to clipboard |
| One window | Save a file Copy to clipboard |
| Entire screen | Save a file Copy to clipboard |
⌃ Control · ⇧ Shift · ⌘ Command. For a window, press Space after the combination, then click the window.
Need a timer or another save location?
Open the Screenshot controls, then Options. You can choose a timer and save location, or switch to screen recording.
A little more control.
- Escape: cancel an area or window capture.
- Hold Space while dragging: reposition an area selection.
- Hold Option when clicking a window: leave its shadow out.
Defaults checked against Apple’s screenshot instructions and Screenshot settings guide. Custom keyboard shortcuts can change these combinations.
A few common questions.
Where do Mac screenshots go?
The default location is your desktop. Press Shift + Command + 5 and open Options to choose another save location. A capture copied to the clipboard needs to be pasted into another app.
How do I change a screenshot shortcut?
Open System Settings, then Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Screenshots. Check the enabled actions and their assigned keys. This finder shows the macOS defaults; your custom combinations may differ.
How do I add arrows or text?
Click the floating screenshot thumbnail to edit it with the built-in tools. For a dedicated capture-and-annotation workflow with room to draw beyond the image edge, see the app below.
Capture. Add context.
Got the screenshot? Make your point.
SnapApp opens your region capture in a native editor. Add arrows, shapes, and text in Doodle or Formal styles. Draw past an edge and the canvas grows with you. Captures and edits save locally as PNG files.
Its default capture shortcut is Command + Shift + 2. You can change it in the app’s Settings.
Explore arrows, highlights and screenshot annotationsmacOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple silicon & Intel · No account required
