How to Take a Screenshot on Mac- A Step-by-Step Guide

(Image credit- Geeky Gadgets) If you own an updated Mac, such as a MacBook laptop, an iMac all-in-one laptop, a Mac Mini desktop, or a Mac Studio desktop, there are three standard keyboard shortcuts you can use to snap screenshots. However, owners of MacBook Pros have a fourth option: the Touch Bar. You also have ample choice in Apple's MacOS software to quickly save, remove, and open the screenshot for editing.

How to Take a Screenshot on a MacBook Air

1. Open the window you wish to capture or rearrange the screen as desired.
2. Hold shift + command + 3 together.
3. You will hear a screenshot sound and a little image of your screenshot will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen.
4. You may access a preview of the screenshot by clicking the thumbnail in the bottom right corner of the screen.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1400"] Image credit- Medium[/caption]

How to Screenshot a Section of a Mac Screen

If you only want to capture just a part of the screen, the shift + command + 4 key combination is the most versatile. This combination transforms your mouse cursor into crosshairs, allowing you to capture any region of the screen.

1. Hold shift + command + 4 together.
2. Place the crosshair in the upper left corner of the region you wish to capture when the mouse cursor changes to a crosshair.
3. Drag a box to cover the area you wish to capture using your mouse.
4. When you release the grip of the mouse button, your Mac takes a screenshot of the highlighted area.

How to Record a Single Window on a Mac

You can use a variation on the previous key sequence to screenshot a single window. This option transforms your cursor into a camera icon and allows you to take a picture of any open window.

1. Open the window you want to capture a screenshot of, then hold shift + command + 4. Then quickly press the spacebar.
2. Your cursor will be transformed into a camera.
3. Click after moving the camera icon over the window you wish to record.
4. Your Mac will snap a screenshot of the window you selected, and a preview will show in the bottom right corner of the screen.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image credit- Switching to Mac[/caption]

How to Use the Mac Screenshot App

If you've upgraded to Mojave (10.14) or later, your Mac also has a screenshot program that offers more advanced choices. This small tool provides the same basic capture choices as key combinations, but it also allows you to delay your snapshot and provides several other options.

1. To open the screenshot app, hold down shift + command + 5.
2. To take a screenshot of the entire screen, click the left screenshot icon (a box with a line at the bottom), then click anywhere on the screen.
3. To capture a screenshot of a window, click the middle screenshot icon that looks like a window, then select the window to be captured.
4. To screenshot a specific section of your screen, click the right screenshot button, click and drag the highlighted area, and then click to capture.
5. You may also access a range of settings by clicking Options.
6. You can do the following from the settings menu:

a)  Select the location where your screenshots will be saved. b) Set a timer to postpone your screenshots. c) For video recordings, select a microphone. d) Configure advanced options.

Where Do Mac Screenshots Go?

By default, your screenshots are saved to your desktop. If you don't see them, it's because you or someone else modified the location where screenshots were saved at some point in the past. Try this if you can't find your screenshots:

1. To open the screenshot program, press shift + command + 5, then click Options.
2. You can select the place with a checkmark next to it in the Save to section. That is where your screenshots will be found.

Also read: How to Speed Up Your MacBook’s Charging Speed? (Secret Tips)