How to screenshot on Mac [Solved]

It always takes a while for veteran Windows users to accustom themselves to their new Mac. How to screenshot on Mac may be one of the first things you want to find out. In this article, you’ll learn all the keyboard shortcuts and tricks you may need to take a screenshot on your Mac.

Note: If you’re using a PC keyboard, substitute the Windows logo key for the Command key, the Ctrl key for the Control key, and the Alt key for the Option key in the steps below.

1. Use keyboard shortcuts

1.1. Use keys to capture the entire screen

To capture the entire screen on your Mac:

Hold down Command and Shift and press 3, and you’ll see a file automatically saved to your desktop. It’s the screenshot you just took.

1.2. Use keys to capture a selected area

To capture a selected area on your Mac:

Hold down Command and Shift and press 4, and you’ll see your pointer change to a crosshair.

Then you can move the crosshair to where you want to start the screenshot, then drag to select an area. While dragging, you can hold Shift, Option, or Space bar to change the way the selection moves.

Note: If you want to cancel, you can press Esc  before you click.

1.3. Use keys to capture a specific window

To capture a specific window on your Mac:

Hold down Command and Shift and press 4, and when the crosshair appears, press Space bar to change it to a camera . Then move the camera to highlight a window you want to screenshot, then click.

1.4. Use keys to capture the Touch Bar

If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can hold down Command and Shift and press 6 to take a screenshot of it.

1.5. Use keys to copy a screenshot to the clipboard

A screenshot taken with any of the above methods will automatically be saved as a file to the desktop. But if you don’t  want it to be saved as a file, you can hold down Control together with any of the keyboard shortcuts above to copy a screenshot to the clipboard. Then, into a document or something, hold Command and V to paste the screenshot.

For example, to copy a screenshot of a selected area to the clipboard, you can press Control+Command+Shift+4.

2. Use pre-installed programs

If you don’t want to memorize the above keyboard shortcuts, you can try using Grab or Preview to take a screenshot. They are pre-installed programs on Mac OS.

2.1 Use Grab to screenshot

Here’s how to use Grab to take a screenshot on your Mac:

1) Click the Search icon on the upper right.

2) Type grab and press the Enter key, then you’ll see Grab appears on the menu bar.

3) Click the Capture tab to choose a way how you want to screenshot.

Note: Grab also allows you to take a time-delayed screenshot on your Mac if you select Timed Screen.

2.2. Use Preview to screenshot

To use Preview to take a screenshot on your Mac, you can:

1) Type preview in the search box and press Enter, then the Preview tab will appear on the upper left.

2) Click the File tab, then highlight Take Screenshot to select an option.

Note: With Preview, you can save your screenshots in JPG, TIFF, PDF, and other file formats.

3. Use Snagit

Another method to take a screenshot on your Mac is using third-party applications. There are many available on the Web or inside the Mac App Store. Among them, you can try Snagit.

Snagit is a special screen-capture software with built-in advanced image editing and screen recording. It’s an ideal way to create quality screenshots, custom graphics, or screen recordings. It helps you move faster and communicate more efficiently with others. With Snagit, it’s easy and effective to show off your product, improve engagement, and capture the attention of your audience.

Here’s how to screenshot with Snagit:

1) Download and install Snagit.

2) Run and sign in the program, then click the Capture button.

3) Highlight a window, then click to capture it. Or click and drag to select a custom area.

4) Click the camera icon on the toolbar to save your screenshot as an image.

5) Edit the image in the pop-up Snagit Editor window. You can add shapes, text, effects, or make adjustments to your image.

6) Save your image or click the Share button in the upper right corner to share the image.

Note: You can only try the full version of Snagit for 15 days. You’ll need to purchase it when the free trial is over.

Have you learned all the tricks to take a screenshot on your Mac? You’re welcome to leave a comment below to share your results or any other suggestions.

By Wendy Mai

Wendy is a technical writer who loves words and technology. In writing how-to articles, she helps people find quick solutions to their technological problems.

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