Taking screenshots on macOS can be a hassle if you have to remember different keyboard shortcuts for different modes. But there is a simple way to access all the screenshot options from one place.
In this article, we will show you how to use the Screenshot app on your Mac and share some tips and tricks to make the process easier.
Table of Contents
What is the Screenshot app?
The Screenshot app is a built-in tool on macOS that lets you capture the entire screen, a window, a portion of the screen, or a screen recording. You can also set a timer, choose where to save the screenshots, and edit them before saving.
To open the Screenshot app, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 5. You will see a panel of tools at the bottom of the screen, like this:
How to use the Screenshot app?
Depending on what you want to capture, you can click on one of the tools in the panel. Here is what each tool does:
Capture the entire screen
This will take a screenshot of your whole screen. You can click anywhere on the screen to capture it, or click Capture in the menu bar.
Capture a window
This will let you select a window or menu to capture. You will see a camera icon when you move your cursor over a window. You can click on the window to capture it, or press the Space bar to switch to another window. To exclude the window’s shadow, press and hold the Option key while you click.
Capture a portion of the screen
This will let you drag a frame over the area you want to capture. You can resize or reposition the frame by dragging its edges or corners. You can also press and hold the Space bar to move the entire frame. To capture the area, click Capture in the menu bar or press Return.
Record the entire screen
This will start a screen recording of your whole screen. You can click anywhere on the screen to start recording, or click Record in the menu bar. To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.
Record a portion of the screen
This will let you select an area of the screen to record. You can use the same methods as capturing a portion of the screen. To start recording, click Record in the menu bar. To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.
How to edit and save screenshots?
After you take a screenshot or screen recording, you will see a thumbnail of it in the bottom-right corner of the screen. You can do one of the following:
- Swipe the thumbnail to the right to save it to the default location, which is usually the desktop. You can change the default location in the Options menu of the Screenshot app.
- Click the thumbnail to open it in a window where you can edit it. You can use the markup tools to crop, rotate, annotate, or add shapes to the screenshot. You can also trim the start and end points of a screen recording. To save the screenshot, click Done and choose a location.
- Drag the thumbnail to a folder, document, email, or other app. This will save the screenshot to that location or app.
- Right-click the thumbnail to access more options, such as deleting, sharing, or showing the screenshot in Finder.
Tips and tricks for taking screenshots on macOS
Here are some useful tips and tricks to make taking screenshots on macOS easier and faster:
- You can still use the keyboard shortcuts to take screenshots without opening the Screenshot app. For example, Shift-Command-3 will capture the entire screen, and Shift-Command-4 will let you select a portion of the screen. You can also add the Control key to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file.
- You can use the Touch Bar on some Mac models to access the screenshot tools. Just tap the Screenshot button on the Touch Bar and choose a mode. You can also customize the Touch Bar to add or remove the Screenshot button.
- You can use Siri to take screenshots by voice command. Just activate Siri and say something like “Take a screenshot” or “Take a screenshot of this window”. The screenshot will be saved to the desktop or the location you set in the Screenshot app.
- You can use the Preview app to take screenshots as well. Just open the Preview app and go to File > Take Screenshot. You can choose from three options: From Selection, From Window, or From Entire Screen. The screenshot will open in Preview, where you can edit and save it.
Conclusion
Taking screenshots on macOS is easy and convenient with the Screenshot app. You can access all the screenshot modes and options from one place, and edit and save your screenshots as you like. You can also use keyboard shortcuts, Touch Bar, Siri, or Preview to take screenshots. With these tips and tricks, you can capture anything on your Mac screen with ease.