Taking screenshots on a Mac is straightforward, thanks to the built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts provided by macOS. Several methods exist, whether you need to capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a portion of your screen.
How To Take A Screenshot On Mac?
This guide will walk you through the various ways to take screenshots and even screen recordings on your Mac.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Capture the Entire Screen:
– Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 3`. This will capture the entire screen and save the screenshot to your desktop.
2. Capture a Specific Window:
– Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 4`. To capture a screenshot, press the `Spacebar`. Once you do this, your cursor will change to a camera icon. First, please select the window you want to capture by clicking on it. After capturing, the screenshot will automatically be saved to your desktop.
3. Capture a Portion of the Screen:
– Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 4`. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. To capture a specific area of your screen, click and hold down the left mouse button, then drag your cursor to select the desired region. Once you release the mouse button, a screenshot of the selected area will be saved to your desktop.
How To Take A Cropped Screenshot On Mac?
Taking a cropped screenshot involves capturing a specific portion of your screen:
1. Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 4`:
– A crosshair will appear when your cursor is active.
2. Select the Area:
– Click and drag to create a box around the area you want to capture.
3. Release the Mouse Button:
-When you press the designated keys, a snapshot of your current screen will be captured and stored on your computer’s desktop.
How to Crop a Mac Screenshot?
If you need to crop an existing screenshot, you can use the Preview app:
1. Open the Screenshot in Preview:
– To open the screenshot file, double-click on it, and it will open in the Preview app.
2. Select the Area to Crop:
– Click the `Markup Toolbar` button (a pen icon), then choose the area you want to keep using the rectangular selection tool.
3. Crop the Image:
– Clicking the “Tools” section in the menu bar to crop an image. Once there, select the “Crop” option to proceed. After making the desired adjustments, save the changes to keep the newly cropped image.
How To Start Screen Recording On Mac?
Screen recording is another useful feature available on Mac. Here’s how to start a screen recording:
1. Open the Screenshot Toolbar:
– Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 5`. After taking a screenshot, the screenshot toolbar will be displayed at the bottom of your screen.
2. Select Recording Option:
– Choose `Record Entire Screen` or `Record Selected Portion.`
3. Start Recording:
– Click the `Record` button to start recording. To stop recording, click the stop button in the menu bar or press `Command (⌘) + Control + Esc.`
Using the Screenshot App
The Screenshot app on macOS provides a user-friendly interface for capturing screenshots and recordings:
1. Open the Screenshot App:
– Press `Shift + Command (⌘) + 5` to open the Screenshot toolbar.
2. Choose an Option:
– Select whether you want to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a portion of the screen.
3. Capture or Record:
-To capture your screen, click the relevant button. You can either take a screenshot or begin Recording. Customize your capture settings using the options available in the toolbar.
Where Are Screenshots Stored on Mac?
When you take a screenshot on a Mac, it is saved to the desktop by default. The file is named “Screenshot” and is followed by the date and time of the screenshot. To customize the default save location for your screenshots, you can access the Screenshot toolbar by pressing `Shift + Command (⌘) + 5`. Once the toolbar is open, click `Options` and choose a new save location from the `Save to` options.
Conclusion
Taking screenshots and screen recordings on a Mac is made easy with various built-in tools and shortcuts. Whether you need a full-screen capture, a cropped screenshot, or a screen recording, macOS has you covered. Remember, your screenshots are saved by default to the desktop, but you can customize this location if needed. Use keyboard shortcuts and the Screenshot app to enhance productivity and capture screen content easily.