How To Take a Screenshot or Screen Recording - Mac

You can take pictures (called screenshots) or recordings of the screen on your Mac using the Screenshot app or keyboard shortcuts. The Screenshot app provides a panel of tools that let you easily take screenshots and screen recordings, with options to control what you capture-for example, you can set a timer delay or include the pointer or clicks. Follow the steps below to take a Screenshot or Screen Recording on a Mac Computer:

Take pictures or screen recordings using Screenshot

1. On your Mac, press Shift-Command-5 (or use Launchpad) to open Screenshot and display the tools.

Screenshot app

2. Click a tool to use to select what you want to capture or record (or use the Touch Bar if applicable).

For a portion of the screen, drag the frame to reposition it or drag its edges to adjust the size of the are you want to capture or record.


Capture the entire screen: Capture entire screen


Capture a window: Capture a windows


Capture a portion of the screen: Capture portion of screen


Record the entire screen: Record entire screen


Record a portion of the screen: Record portion of screen


3. Click Options if you would like to select additional choices. 

The available options vary based on whether you're taking a screenshot or a screen recording. For example, you can choose to set a timed delay or show the mouse pointer or clicks, and specify where to save the file.

The Show Floating Thumbnail option helps you work more easily with a completed shot or recording-it floats in the bottom-right corner of the screen for a few seconds so you have time to drag it into a document, mark it up, or share it before it's saved to the location you specified.

4. Start the screenshot or screen recording:

  • For the entire screen or a portion of it: Click Capture
  • For a window: Move the pointer to the window, then click the window.
  • For recordings: Click Record. To stop recording, click the Stop Recording button in the menu bar.

When the Show Floating Thumbnail option is set, you can do any of the following while the thumbnail is briefly displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen:

  • Swipe right to immediately save the file and make it disappear.
  • Drag the thumbnail into a document, an email, a note, or a Finder window.
  • Click the thumbnail to open a window where you can mark up the screenshot or trim the recording, or share it.

Depending on where you chose to save the screenshot or recording, an app may open.


Take Screenshots with Keyboard Shortcuts:

Capture the entire screen:

Shift, Command, and 3

1. To take a screenshot of the entire screen, press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, 3.

2. If you see a thumbnail in the bottom right corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.


Capture a portion of the screen:

Shift, Command, and 4

1. Press and hold these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 4.

2. Drag the crosshair crosshair to select the area of the screen to capture. To move the selection, press and hold Space bar while dragging. To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

3. To take the screenshot, release your mouse or trackpad button.

4. If you see a thumbnail in the bottom right corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.


Capture a window or menu:

Shift, Command, 4, and Space Bar

1. Open the window or menu that you want to capture.

2. Press and hold these keys together: Shift, Command, 4, and Space bar. The pointer changes to a camera camera icon icon. To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

3. Click the window or menu to capture it. To exclude the window's shadow from the screenshot, press and hold the Option key while you click.

4. If you see a thumbnail in the bottom right corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to save to your desktop.


Where to find screenshots:

1. By default, screenshots save to your desktop with the name " Screenshot [date] at [time].png".

2. In macOS Mojave or later, you can change the default location of saved screenshots from the Options menu in the Screenshot app. You can also drag the thumbnail to a folder or document.


For more details, please refer to the following article: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/take-a-screenshot-mh26782/mac


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Keywordsscreenshot picture capture record recording screen   Doc ID126917
OwnerCaleb M.GroupParkland College
Created2023-03-28 08:35:44Updated2023-04-28 14:54:13
SitesParkland College
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