Capturing a Screen on Mac: Four Easy Methods to Take a Snapshot

If you possess a contemporary Mac, such as MacBook laptops, iMac all-in-ones, or Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktops, there are three fundamental methods to capture a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts. MacBook Pro users have access to a fourth method through the Touch Bar. Additionally, Apple's MacOS software provides several options for effortless saving, deleting, and opening the screenshot for markup.

These suggestions are applicable to the most recent Mac models, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro featuring the new M2 chip and the M2 MacBook Air. We have verified the effectiveness of these tips in MacOS Ventura, the latest operating system update.

Procedure 1: Cmd-Shift-3

This key combination captures an image of your entire screen.

Procedure 2: Cmd-Shift-4

Employ this keyboard combination to transform your cursor into a crosshair, allowing you to drag and select a specific area of your screen for capture. Release the mouse button or trackpad to capture the shot.

After executing Cmd-Shift-4, several additional choices become available:

Press and release the spacebar:

The crosshair transforms into a miniature camera icon, which you can maneuver over any open window. Click on the desired window to capture a screenshot of it. Screenshots taken using this approach exhibit a white border around the window along with a subtle drop shadow.

Hold down the spacebar (after selecting an area but before releasing the mouse button or trackpad):

This secures the dimensions of the chosen area while allowing you to relocate it on the screen. This feature is useful if your initial selection is slightly off; simply hold the spacebar to reposition it before releasing the mouse button to capture the screenshot.

Hold the Shift key (after outlining an area but before releasing the mouse button or trackpad):

This secures all sides of the highlighted area created with the crosshairs, except for the bottom edge. This allows you to adjust the position of the bottom edge by moving your mouse up or down.

While keeping the mouse button pressed, release the Shift key and press it again to relocate the right edge of your chosen area. You can alternate between adjusting the bottom edge and right edge by maintaining the mouse button or touchpad engagement and pressing the Shift key.

Procedure 3: Cmd-Shift-5

This shortcut, introduced in MacOS Mojave in 2018, summons a compact panel at the bottom of your screen, providing various screen capture choices. The panel includes three buttons for capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected portion of your screen.

Similarly, the pair of video-recording buttons enable you to record either your entire screen or a chosen section of it. On the left side, there is an X button to close the screenshot panel, or you can simply press the Escape key to exit.

On the opposite side, there is an Options button. This button allows you to select the destination for saving your screenshot, such as Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or Other Location. Additionally, you can set a delay of either 5 or 10 seconds, enabling you to align items that might vanish quickly when activating your screenshot tool.

The Show Floating Thumbnail option is activated by default, displaying a small preview thumbnail of your recently captured screenshot in the lower-right corner of your screen, akin to the screenshot process on iOS. Unlike your iPhone, you have the flexibility to disable this preview thumbnail on your Mac. Additionally, you can opt to include your mouse pointer in a screenshot or video.

Should the screenshot panel obstruct your view, you have the option to seize its left edge and relocate it to a different position on your screen.

As a bonus for Touch Bar-equipped MacBooks, there's the Cmd-Shift-6 shortcut

For those using an older MacBook Pro featuring the Touch Bar, it's possible to capture a screenshot of the current content displayed on the Touch Bar. Simply press Cmd-Shift-6 to take a screenshot that is wide and slender, representing the Touch Bar's content.



Simple annotation

By adopting the Floating Thumbnail, you can swiftly utilize Markup tools for annotating your screenshot. You have the option to dismiss the Floating Thumbnail with a swipe or allow it to disappear naturally, saving it to the location of your last screenshot save. Clicking the Floating Thumbnail opens it in a Markup View preview window (distinct from Preview) with all the available markup tools found in Preview.

You have the option to perform a right-click on the Floating Thumbnail to:

• Sat the screenshot to your desktop, Documents directory, or clipboard.
• Open it using Mail, Messages, Preview, or Photos.
• Display in Finder.
• Erase.
• Access it in the previously mentioned Markup preview window.
• Shut it down (and save).

Experienced Mac users accustomed to traditional screenshot methods might be hesitant to embrace the Cmd-Shift-5 shortcut. However, I personally find it increasingly valuable for annotating screenshots without the need to open Preview and swiftly discarding screenshots when I realize an immediate mistake. The added options of 5- and 10-second delays are also practical and welcomed enhancements.