Skip to main content
    Step 1 of 5
    Mac Guides
    Beginner
    2 min read 5 stepsMarch 31, 2026Verified March 2026

    How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

    Capture any part of your Mac screen with a simple keyboard shortcut — then find, edit, or share it in seconds.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Mac Guides
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    mac
    screenshot
    tips
    beginner

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Capture your entire screen
    2. 2.Capture a selected area of the screen
    3. 3.Capture a single window
    4. 4.Use the screenshot toolbar for more options
    5. 5.Find your saved screenshots
    1

    Capture your entire screen

    ~24s
    Hold down the Cmd key, then hold the Shift key, then press the number 3 key (all three together: Cmd+Shift+3). You will see a small thumbnail appear briefly in the bottom right corner of your screen. If you click it, you can edit the screenshot. If you do nothing, it saves automatically to your Desktop as an image file.

    Quick Tip

    This is the fastest way to capture everything on your screen at once.

    2

    Capture a selected area of the screen

    ~16s
    Press Cmd+Shift+4. Your mouse cursor will turn into a small crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the part of the screen you want to capture. When you release the mouse button, the screenshot is taken and saved to your Desktop.
    3

    Capture a single window

    ~20s
    Press Cmd+Shift+4, and then press the Space bar. Your cursor will change into a small camera icon. Move the camera over the window you want to capture — it will highlight in blue. Click on it to take a screenshot of that window only. This is great for capturing a single app or dialog box without the rest of your screen.
    4

    Use the screenshot toolbar for more options

    ~29s
    Press Cmd+Shift+5. A small toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen with buttons for capturing the full screen, a window, or a selected area. It also has a screen recording option. This toolbar is the best choice if you cannot remember the other keyboard shortcuts.

    Quick Tip

    If you want to copy a screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, add the Ctrl key to any shortcut (for example, Ctrl+Cmd+Shift+3). You can then paste it into an email or document with Cmd+V.

    5

    Find your saved screenshots

    ~16s
    By default, all screenshots save directly to your Desktop. You will see them as image files with names like "Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 10.30.00 AM." If you want to change where screenshots are saved, press Cmd+Shift+5 to open the toolbar, click "Options," and choose a different save location.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

    How well did this guide stick with you?

    Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

    Rate this guide

    How helpful was this guide?

    mac
    screenshot
    tips
    beginner

    Official Resources

    Apple SupportHow-To Geek — MacApple Support YouTube

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

    ← Previous

    How to Check Your Windows Updates Are Up to Date

    Next →

    How to Force Quit a Frozen App on Mac

    Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

    Our verified technicians can fix this issue for you — remotely or in person.

    Book a Verified Tech How It Works

    Learn more from official sources

    Related Guides

    How to Turn Your Mac On and Off

    Learn the proper way to start up and shut down your Mac for everyday use.

    1 min read

    How to Connect to Wi-Fi on Mac

    Get your Mac online by connecting to a wireless network quickly and easily.

    1 min read

    How to Open and Close Apps on Mac

    Learn the basics of launching and quitting applications on macOS.

    1 min read

    How to Take a Screenshot on Mac — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure