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How to take screenshots on Mac.

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How to Take Screenshots on Mac

Taking screenshots on a Mac is a handy feature that allows you to capture anything displayed on your screen. Whether you want to capture an entire webpage, a specific window, or just a portion of the screen, Mac provides built-in tools to make the process easy. In this tutorial, we will explore various methods to take screenshots on Mac.

Prerequisites

  • Mac computer running macOS

Table of Contents

1. Capturing the Entire Screen

To capture the entire screen on your Mac, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 keys simultaneously.
  2. You will hear a camera shutter sound, indicating that the screenshot has been taken.

The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop labeled with the current date and time.

2. Taking a Screenshot of a Selected Window

If you only want to capture a specific window on your Mac, use the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the window you want to capture, ensuring it's the active window.
  2. Press the Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously.
  3. Your cursor will change to a crosshair reticle.
  4. Move the crosshair over the desired window and click the mouse or trackpad.
  5. You will hear a camera shutter sound, indicating that the screenshot has been taken.

The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop labeled with the current date and time.

3. Capturing a Portion of the Screen

If you prefer to capture only a portion of your screen, including a specific area or a menu, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 keys simultaneously.
  2. Your cursor will change to a crosshair reticle.
  3. Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
  4. As you drag, you can see the dimensions of the selected area in pixels.
  5. Release the mouse or trackpad to capture the selected portion.
  6. You will hear a camera shutter sound, indicating that the screenshot has been taken.

The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop labeled with the current date and time.

4. Saving Screenshots

By default, Mac saves screenshots to the desktop. However, you can choose a different location to save your screenshots by following these steps:

  1. Press the Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 keys simultaneously to open the screenshot toolbar.
  2. In the toolbar, click the "Options" button.
  3. Choose one of the options under "Save to:"
    • Desktop: Save screenshots to the desktop.
    • Documents: Save screenshots to the Documents folder.
    • Clipboard: Copy the screenshot to the clipboard without saving it to a file.
    • Mail: Attach the screenshot to a new email.
    • Preview: Open the screenshot in the Preview app.
    • Other Location: Choose a custom folder to save the screenshot.
  4. After selecting your preferred option, close the toolbar.

5. Additional Screenshot Options

Along with capturing the screen, Mac provides additional options to enhance your screenshot-taking experience:

  • Timer: You can set a timer delay to take a screenshot after a specific period. To access this feature, use the Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 keys and click on the timer button in the toolbar.
  • Show Mouse Pointer: If you want to include the mouse pointer in your screenshot, use the Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 keys, click on the "Options" button, and select the "Show Mouse Pointer" option.
  • Record Screen: Mac also allows you to record your screen. To initiate screen recording, press the Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 keys and click on the "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion" button in the toolbar.

That's it! You now have a comprehensive understanding of how to take screenshots on Mac. With these methods and options, you can easily capture any part of your screen with precision and efficiency. Happy screenshotting!