There are different ways to take a screenshot with a Mac computer, whether it’s a MacBook laptop, a Mac mini, or a Mac Studio desktop. Mac lets you take high-quality screenshots you can save, edit, share, or delete however and whenever you like.
These methods apply to all Mac computers even the latest updates including MacOS Ventura.
With more advanced MacOS software comes more advanced screenshot menu options that allow you to take not only screenshots but screen recordings as well.
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How Do You Screenshot With A Mac?
The major keys used when taking a screenshot on a Mac computer are the Shift, Command, and number keys. Here are 5 ways you can take screenshots on your Mac;
Shift + Command + 4
This method is used to capture the portion of the screen you want.
First, press Shift + Command + 3, and your trackpad will turn into a crosshair. Drag this crosshair to select an area of your screen you wish to capture.
To take the shot, release the trackpad to capture the selected area. You can press the Esc key to cancel.
Shift+ Command + 4, Then Spacebar
To capture a specific window, press Shift + Command + 4 and hit the spacebar. The crosshair will turn into a camera icon. Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture and click on it to take the screenshot.
There are more screenshot options you can unlock with this keypad combination. You can;
- Lock in the shape and size: Press and hold the spacebar after dragging the crosshair to highlight an area. This locks in the shape and size. You can reposition the box anywhere on the screen and release the spacebar to take the screenshot.
- Adjust the height and width: Press and hold down the Shift key after dragging the crosshair to highlight an area. This lets you adjust the height and width of the box. You can toggle between height and width by pressing the Shift key. Let go of the trackpad to take the screenshot.
Shift + Command + 5
The newer versions of the MacOS including Mojave, Big Sur, Catalina, Monterey, and Ventura come with a screenshot app.
To take a screenshot, press Shift + Command + 5, to open the app and a small panel will be displayed at the bottom of your screen with capture options. On the left, you will find three screenshot options that let you take a screenshot of the entire screen, a specific window, or a selection of your screen.
On the right are two icons that allow you to make screen recordings of the entire screen or selected area.
There is also an Options button that lets you choose where to save your screenshots (documents, desktop, mail, messages, etc), decide how much time you want between clicking on capture and the screenshot being taken, and more.
To exit, close the screenshot panel by clicking on the “X” button or clicking the Escape key.
The Show Floating Thumbnail option is enabled by default on your Mac which puts a little preview thumbnail of your screenshot on the lower right corner of your screen.
This is similar to the screenshot procedure on your iPhone but unlike your iPhone, you can turn this preview off on your Mac computer and show your cursor in the screenshot or video if you want.
When the thumbnail appears, you can click on it before it disappears to open the screenshot in a new window where you can;
- Draw or type on the screenshot.
- Crop it to a size or shape of your preference.
- Share it through your Apple ID account.
Shift + Command + 6
This method is limited to Mac computers with a TouchBar. If your MacBook has a TouchBar, you can use this shortcut to grab an image of what is currently being displayed on it. Press Shift + Command + 6 to capture everything on your TouchBar.
Other Ways To Take A screenshot On Your Mac
Taking a screenshot on your Mac computer is quite easy and learning how to do it is valuable. Another way you can take a screenshot is through third-party screenshot apps for MacOS. This is a good option if you don’t want to use your computer’s built-in screenshot tools.
A good example is Lighshot. It is free and straightforward to use. To make use of it you need to;
- Download and install Lighshot on your computer
- Press Shift +Command + 9 to launch the app. After pressing this command, the screen of your Mac computer will darken which is an indication that you are ready to take a screenshot.
- With your mouse pointer, click and drag to highlight the area you want to screenshot. The selected area will appear normally while the remaining area will continue to remain darkened. If you want to select the entire screen, press Command + A.
- On the side of the selected area is a toolbar that allows you to add other elements to your screenshot, including text, color, lines, rectangles, and arrows.
- To save your screenshot, press Command + S and select where you would like to save your screenshot.
Where To Find Screenshots On A Mac
By default, the screenshots you take on your Mac are saved on your desktop. Automatically, it appears as ‘Screen Shot’, followed by the date and time it was taken. However, if you prefer for it to be saved somewhere else, you can change the location with the following steps;
- Open the screenshot menu by pressing Shift + Command + 5
- Click Options to open the menu
- In the Save to a section of the menu, select one of the pre-listed locations or, click on Other Locations to choose a folder you want your screenshots to be saved to by default.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take a long screenshot on a Macbook?
To take a long screenshot, press the Shift + Command + 5 keys at the same time. Then, press the Record Entire Screen button and click anywhere on the screen to record. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, press Command + Shift + 5 again, and then press the Stop button to end it.
How do you take a screenshot on a Mac using the Windows keyboard?
If you’re using a Windows keyboard on your Mac computer and want to take a screenshot, press Windows + Shift + 3 to capture the screenshot.
What is the fastest way to access screenshots on a Mac?
To access your screenshots quickly, you can search desktop since they are saved there by default or documents. You can also press Shift + Command + Space to open Spotlight search.
How do you take a screenshot on Mac and save it as a PDF?
You can turn your screenshot into a PDF with the following steps;
- First, open your image with the Preview app.
- Click File at the top left.
- Click Export as PDF.
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References
CNET – Taking a Screenshot on Mac: 4 Simple Ways to Do It
Business Insider – 5 ways to take a screenshot on a Mac computer
SETAPP – How to screenshot on Mac: The ultimate guide 2023
