There is no Print Screen button on a Mac keyboard similar to Windows to take a screenshot of the screen, and it seems to be harder to do on a Mac than on Windows. But there are actually several ways to take a screenshot on a Mac with or without a keyboard.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to take a screenshot of the entire screen, windows of a specific application, or selected areas of the screen in MacScreen.
before start
Before reviewing the various screenshot methods on the Mac, keep in mind that after taking a screenshot, you may notice that the internal memory is quickly filled by additional screenshots.
Don’t worry, you can always use MacKeeper to clear your Mac storage space with just a few simple clicks. The Safe Cleanup feature performs an in-depth scan to remove unwanted files and body use, and is an easy way to free up more space for screenshots.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts
The fastest way to take a screenshot on a Mac is to use one of the keyboard shortcuts. Fortunately, they are very easy to remember, but if you do not want to memorize shortcuts, we will explain how to use the Screenshot program in the next section.
Full screen screenshot on Mac
Press Shift + Command + 3 on the keyboard to take a screenshot of the entire screen .
A preview of the image is displayed in the lower-right corner, which you can click and make an instant change. Otherwise, wait for the preview to disappear and the screen image to be saved as a PNG file.
Take a screenshot of a selected area of the screen
If you just want to take a screenshot of a specific area of the screen, press Shift + Command + 4. The shape of the pointer changes. Now click on the screen to select the desired area, drag, and finally release the mouse after selecting the area. This will take a picture of the selected area.
If you change your mind after selecting the area, press the Esc key on the keyboard to cancel the selection and start again.
Take screenshots of a specific application window
For screenshots from the window of a special program on the Mac keys Shift + Command + 4 Press, and then tap the space bar (Space) check. The cursor changes to the camera icon. Hover over different windows to highlight them, then click to take a screenshot.
This option takes a screenshot separate from the program window, including a shadow and a clear background so you can place the captured image on anything you want.
In addition to screenshots of application windows, you can also use this shortcut to take screenshots of the menu bar, desktop and any drop-down menu that opens.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac without using the keyboard
If the Mac keyboard does not work or you do not like to use shortcuts, you can take a screenshot of the screen without using the keyboard.
To do this, just open the Screenshot app, to find the Screenshot app go to Applications> Utilities in the Finder and open the Other folder in the Launchpad or search for it with Spotlight.
If the keyboard works, you can open the Screenshot app by pressing Shift + Command + 5.
After opening the Screenshot app, click on the icons at the bottom of the page to select one of the following:
- Full screen photo
- Photo from the selected window
- Photo of the selected part
Then use the cursor to take a screenshot to click or click on the desired part of the page.
The screenshot also provides options for capturing video from the screen or part of it, these options are located at the bottom of the screen.
You can also open the Options menu for various Screenshot settings, such as selecting a storage location, setting a timer, or deciding whether to display the mouse pointer in screenshots.
Use Preview to take a screenshot of the screen
If for any reason you do not like to use the Screenshot app, you can use Preview to take screenshots on your Mac.
Open this app as you normally would with Finder, Launchpad, or Spotlight. Then go to File> Take Screenshot from the menu bar.
After choosing between one of the three options, “click” or “click and drag” to take a screenshot of the screen:
- Screenshot of the selected area
- Screenshot of the window
- Screenshot of the entire screen
Frequently Asked Questions
How to change the default storage location of the page on Mac?
Mac screenshots are stored on the desktop by default, so when multiple screenshots are taken at the same time, it will cause clutter on the desktop.
To change the default storage location of photos to prevent the desktop from filling up, follow these steps:
1- Press Shift + Command + 5 keys to open the Screenshot program.
2. Open the Options menu.
3- In the Save to section, select the storage location, click on Other Location to select the folder you want.
How to save copy screenshots in the clipboard?
Instead of saving all the screenshots on your desktop or elsewhere, you can copy them directly to the clipboard. This allows you to embed them in the document or web form you want.
This feature is especially useful when you do not want to save a screenshot and want to use it immediately.
Press Copy Control to copy a screenshot to the clipboard while taking a screenshot. Then press Command + V to place it in other programs.
How can we take a snapshot of the touch bar on a MacBook?
To take a screenshot of the touch bar on a MacBook, just press Shift + Command + 6. This screenshot captures every button that appears on the touch bar.
Finally, you know the best way to take a screenshot on a Mac. Many of these shortcuts are easy to remember – especially because of their similarity – but if you do not like this style, you can use Screenshot instead.
