Taking Screenshots on a Mac

This article details how to take screenshots and screen recordings on a Mac using built-in tools.

Taking a Full Screenshot

To take a screenshot of your entire screen, use these steps:

1. Press Command + Shift + 3.
2. A snapshot of your entire screen will be taken and saved to your desktop as a PNG file.
3. Optionally, you can click on the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right corner to edit or discard the screenshot.
4. You can also press “X” on your keyboard to close the thumbnail and save the screenshot to your desktop.

Taking a Partial Screenshot

For taking a screenshot of a specific area of your screen, follow these steps:

1. Press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor will transform into a crosshair.
2. Drag the crosshair across the desired portion of your screen.
3. Release the mouse button to capture the selected area. The screenshot will be saved to your desktop as a PNG file.
4. You can click on the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right corner to edit or discard the screenshot.
5. You can also press “X” on your keyboard to close the thumbnail and save the screenshot to your desktop.

Saving Screenshots to Clipboard

To copy a screenshot directly to your clipboard for pasting into other applications:

1. Press Command + Control + Shift + 3 for a full-screen screenshot.
2. Press Command + Control + Shift + 4 for a partial screenshot, then select the desired area as explained above.
3. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, ready to be pasted wherever you need it.

Using the Screenshot Tool

For more advanced screenshot and screen recording options, use the built-in Screenshot tool on your Mac:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5.
2. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen with the following options:
• Capture Entire Screen: Takes a full-screen screenshot. Click the camera icon to capture immediately.
• Capture Selected Window: Select a specific window to capture, represented by the window icon.
• Capture Selected Portion: Similar to Command + Shift + 4, but with additional editing options within the toolbar.
• Record Entire Screen: Start recording your entire screen. Click the record icon to begin.
• Record Selected Portion: Record only a specific part of your screen. Similar to the capture options above.
3. Use the “Options” button to adjust settings like:
   • Destination folder for saved recordings
   • Timer before recording starts
   • Microphone usage
   • Mouse click visibility

Screen Recording

The Screenshot tool also allows you to record your screen. Here’s how to record your screen:

1. Press Command + Shift + 5 to bring up the Screenshot tool.
2. Choose “Record Entire Screen” or “Record Selected Portion” as needed.
3. Click the record button to start recording.
4. A red bar will appear at the top of your screen indicating that recording is in progress.
5. Click the stop button in the bar to end the recording.
6. The recording will be saved to your desktop as a MOV file.

Conclusion

Taking screenshots and screen recordings on a Mac is straightforward with the built-in tools. These methods provide flexibility for capturing any part of your screen for sharing, editing, or personal use.