MotionShineShort answer: press Shift-Command-3 to capture the whole screen, or Shift-Command-4 and drag over the part you want. Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot app, which has buttons for the same things and for screen recordings. By default, Apple's Support page says the file is saved to your desktop as a .png.
The shortcuts and settings below come from Apple Support's page "Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac", read on 23 October 2026. The page shows no publish date, only a 2026 copyright line. Apple can change shortcuts, so check System Settings if one does not work.
The shortcut list
| What you want | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| The entire screen | Shift-Command-3 |
| A portion of the screen | Shift-Command-4, then drag over the area |
| One window or the menu bar | Shift-Command-4, press the Space bar, then click the window or menu bar |
| A menu and its items | Open the menu, press Shift-Command-4, then drag over the items |
| Open the Screenshot app | Shift-Command-5 |
| The Touch Bar | Shift-Command-6 |
Apple's page adds that some apps, such as DVD Player, may not allow window captures.
How to copy a screenshot instead of saving it
Hold Control with any of the shortcuts above. For example, Control-Shift-Command-3 copies the whole screen to the clipboard, and you can then paste it into a message or a document. No file is made on the desktop.
Where screenshots go and what they are called
Apple's page says:
- With the keyboard shortcuts, screenshots go to the desktop by default.
- They are saved as .png files.
- Names start with "Screenshot", followed by the date and time.
In the Screenshot app (Shift-Command-5), open Options and use Save to to pick a preset place or Other Location. The same Options menu has a timer, the floating thumbnail, "Remember Last Selection" and "Show Mouse Pointer".
The Screenshot app, step by step
Apple's steps for Shift-Command-5:
- Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot panel.
- Pick a tool: capture the entire screen, a window or a portion, or record the entire screen, a window or a portion.
- Open Options if you want to change anything. Apple lists Save to, Timer, Microphone, Show Floating Thumbnail, Remember Last Selection, Capture Format (HDR or SDR) and Show Mouse Pointer.
- Click Capture for a screen or portion. For a window, move the pointer over it and click.
Use the Timer when you need a menu open or a tooltip showing: it gives you a delay before the capture starts.
What the floating thumbnail does
After a capture, a thumbnail appears briefly in the bottom right corner. Apple's page says you can:
- Swipe it right to save the file at once and dismiss it.
- Drag it into a document, email, note or Finder window.
- Click it to open a window where you can mark up the screenshot, or trim a recording, or share it.
To hide part of a screenshot after you take it, read how to blur text in a screenshot. It is honest about what the built-in Mac tools can and cannot do.
How to change the shortcuts
Apple's page says to open System Settings, go to Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots. This is useful if another app already uses one of the keys.
Screenshot or screen recording?
A screenshot is one still picture. A recording is a video, and the same Shift-Command-5 panel makes both. Apple's page says recordings are saved as .mov files named "Screen Recording" plus the date and time. Apple's separate recording page says you stop one with the Stop button in the menu bar or with Command-Control-Esc.
These guides cover the recording side:
- How to screen record on Mac has the steps and every Options setting.
- How to screen record on Mac with audio covers the microphone and system sound.
- How to stop a screen recording on Mac lists every way to end one.
- Where do screen recordings go on Mac? helps when a file goes missing.
When the built-in tools are enough, and when they are not
For a quick still picture, the shortcuts above are all you need. They are free, fast and already on your Mac.
They stop being enough when you want a video that looks finished: the screen zooming in on each click, a smooth cursor, text and music added later. That is a different job. MotionShine, by the maker of this blog, is a free Mac screen recorder with auto zoom, a smooth cursor, click effects you can add and a full editor. The free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit, and Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps. It is not a screenshot tool, so keep using the shortcuts for stills.
FAQ
What is the shortcut for a screenshot on a Mac?
Shift-Command-3 captures the whole screen. Shift-Command-4 lets you drag over an area. Shift-Command-5 opens the Screenshot app.
How do I screenshot one window on a Mac?
Press Shift-Command-4, then the Space bar, then click the window. Apple's page lists this under capturing a window or the menu bar.
How do I copy a screenshot to the clipboard?
Hold Control while you press the shortcut, for example Control-Shift-Command-3. The picture goes to the clipboard and no file is saved.
Where do Mac screenshots go?
By default, to the desktop, as .png files named Screenshot plus the date and time. Change this under Options, Save to, in the Screenshot app.
How do I screenshot the Touch Bar?
Press Shift-Command-6, according to Apple's list.
Can I change the screenshot shortcuts?
Yes. Open System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, then Screenshots.
