Every Mac can take a screenshot without extra software. Pick the shortcut for what you want to capture, then use the tables below to see where each one saves and how to copy instead. This guide follows Apple’s documentation for macOS 27 Golden Gate, the latest version.
Press Shift-Command-3 to capture the whole screen, Shift-Command-4 to drag over part of it, or Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot app. Press and release the keys together.
Screenshots save to your desktop as PNG files by default. To copy one to the Clipboard instead, add Control, for example Control-Shift-Command-4.
Mac Screenshot Shortcuts at a Glance
| Shortcut | What it captures | Where it goes | Copy to clipboard instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift-Command-3 | The whole screen | Desktop, as a PNG file | Add Control: Control-Shift-Command-3 |
| Shift-Command-4 | An area you drag over with the crosshair | Desktop, as a PNG file | Add Control: Control-Shift-Command-4 |
| Shift-Command-4, then Space bar | A window or menu you click; hold Option to leave out the window’s shadow | Desktop, as a PNG file | Hold Control as well as the other keys |
| Shift-Command-5 | Opens the Screenshot app: whole screen, window or area, as a picture or a recording | The folder chosen under Options > Save to; the desktop by default | Control-click the floating thumbnail, then choose Save to Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-6 | The Touch Bar, on Macs that have one. In macOS 27 with Siri AI (Beta) turned on, Apple also lists these keys for asking Siri about a selected area | Desktop, as a PNG file | Not stated |
| Shift-Command-5, then a Record tool | A video of the whole screen, a window (macOS Tahoe 26 or later) or an area | Desktop by default, as a .mov file | Not stated |
Shortcuts per Apple’s macOS 27 Mac User Guide and Apple Support pages, read 30 October 2026. Not tested on a Mac.
Take a Screenshot of Part of the Screen
Shift-Command-4 is the one to learn first if you want a quick snip:
Press and release Shift, Command and 4 together.
The pointer turns into a crosshair.
Click and hold the mouse or trackpad button, then drag over the area you want.
To move the selection without resizing it, hold the Space bar while you drag. Press Esc to cancel.
Release the mouse or trackpad button.
The screenshot is taken. If a thumbnail appears in the corner, click it to edit, or wait for it to save to your desktop.
For a window or menu, open it, press Shift-Command-4, then press the Space bar. The pointer becomes a camera; click the window or menu.
Is There a Snipping Tool on Mac?
Not by that name, but every snipping habit has a Mac equivalent, on a MacBook Air or any other Mac, with nothing to download. The left column names the Windows habit as Microsoft’s Snipping Tool help describes it; matching it to the Mac is our editorial mapping.
Windows Snipping Tool vs Mac
| Windows habit | Mac equivalent |
|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Shift + S to snip an area | Shift-Command-4, then drag; add Control to copy instead of saving |
| Print Screen (PrtSc) for the whole screen on the clipboard | Control-Shift-Command-3 copies the whole screen; Shift-Command-3 saves it as a file |
| Delay timer before a snip | Shift-Command-5, then choose a delay under Options > Timer |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R to record a video snip | Shift-Command-5, then a Record tool; stop with Command-Control-Esc or the Stop button in the menu bar |
| Pen and Highlighter to annotate | Click the floating thumbnail to open Markup, or open the file in Preview |
Windows shortcuts as named in Microsoft’s Snipping Tool help for Windows 11; Mac equivalents per Apple, read 30 October 2026.
The Command key is marked ⌘ or Cmd. Apple says that on keyboards made for Windows PCs, you press the Ctrl key or the Windows logo key instead of Command, and Alt instead of Option.
Use the Screenshot App and Record the Screen
Shift-Command-5 opens the Screenshot app’s toolbar. You can also open it with Spotlight or from the Utilities folder inside Applications. Pick a capture or record tool, then click Capture or Record; for a window, click the window. Its Options menu holds the settings below.
Screenshot App Options
| Option | What it does | Needs macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Save to | Picks a preset folder, or Other Location for your own | Mojave 10.14 or later |
| Timer | Waits before the capture starts | Mojave 10.14 or later |
| Show Mouse Pointer | Includes the pointer in the picture | Mojave 10.14 or later |
| Show Floating Thumbnail | Shows a preview in the bottom-right corner for a few seconds before saving | Mojave 10.14 or later |
| Capture Format (SDR or HDR) | SDR saves PNG pictures and H.264 video; HDR saves HEIF pictures and HEVC video | Tahoe 26 or later, on supported Macs |
| Include System Audio | Records the Mac’s sound with a screen recording | 27 Golden Gate or later |
Version requirements per Apple Support, read 30 October 2026. The Screenshot app itself needs macOS Mojave 10.14 or later.
While the floating thumbnail is showing, swipe right on it to save straight away, drag it into a document or folder, or click it to edit. Holding the pointer over it keeps it onscreen.
Copy, Change the Save Folder and Find Your Files
Adding Control sends a screenshot to the Clipboard rather than a file; paste it with Command-V. Otherwise, screenshots go to the desktop, and Apple’s Mac User Guide says filenames begin with “Screenshot” and include the date and time.
To save elsewhere, press Shift-Command-5, click Options and choose a folder under “Save to”. Screenshots are PNG files. HDR captures are HEIF and need an HDR display to show the difference. Apple doesn’t document a menu setting for JPEG.
Mark Up a Screenshot
Click the floating thumbnail to open Markup, where Apple’s tools let you sketch, draw, add shapes and text, sign, rotate and crop, then click Done. If the thumbnail has gone, open the file in Preview, which also has Markup. Apple warns that changes made in a Quick Look window can’t be undone after you close it.
Touch Bar and Older Macs
Shift-Command-6 captures the Touch Bar, subject to the Siri caveat in the first table. To check which macOS you have, choose Apple menu > About This Mac. If it’s older than Mojave 10.14, the Screenshot app isn’t available.
Troubleshooting
The shortcut does nothing.
- Check
- Press and release all three keys together. The shortcuts can be changed in Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots.
- Next
- Open the Screenshot app from the Utilities folder in Applications and use its toolbar.
You can’t find the screenshot.
- Check
- If you held Control, it went to the Clipboard, not a file. Otherwise, look in the folder shown under “Save to” in the Screenshot app’s Options menu.
- Next
- Look on the desktop for a file whose name begins with “Screenshot”.
An app’s window won’t capture or record.
- Check
- Apple says some apps, such as the Apple TV app and DVD Player, may not let you capture their windows.
- Next
- Apple gives no way around this, and this guide doesn’t offer one.
More practical guides are in our Technology section.
Sources and How This Was Checked
This guide is based on Apple’s Australian support pages and the macOS 27 Golden Gate edition of the Mac User Guide, all read on 30 October 2026. Apple’s macOS version page, read the same day, lists macOS 27 Golden Gate (version 27.2) as the latest release. The Windows shortcuts come from Microsoft’s Snipping Tool help, read the same day. Nothing was tested on a Mac or a Windows PC, and menus may differ on older versions of macOS.
Official Pages Used
Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Macthe three shortcuts, selection controls, window capture without shadow, Clipboard copying, Screenshot app options and capture format.support.apple.com
Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshotsthe Windows Snipping Tool shortcuts and features named in the comparison table.support.microsoft.com
Michel Elijah covers technology, streaming and online security for Tech X Telco. He writes practical how-to guides on everything from email troubleshooting to spotting the latest scams doing the rounds in Australia, with a focus on clear steps anyone can follow.
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