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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
- 2. Taking a Screenshot of a Selected Window
- 3. Capturing a Portion of the Screen
- 4. Saving Screenshots
- 5. Additional Screenshot Options
1. Capturing the Entire Screen
To capture the entire screen on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Press the
Command (⌘) + Shift + 3
keys simultaneously. - 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:
- Navigate to the window you want to capture, ensuring it's the active window.
- Press the
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
keys simultaneously. - Your cursor will change to a crosshair reticle.
- Move the crosshair over the desired window and click the mouse or trackpad.
- 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:
- Press the
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
keys simultaneously. - Your cursor will change to a crosshair reticle.
- Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
- As you drag, you can see the dimensions of the selected area in pixels.
- Release the mouse or trackpad to capture the selected portion.
- 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:
- Press the
Command (⌘) + Shift + 5
keys simultaneously to open the screenshot toolbar. - In the toolbar, click the "Options" button.
- 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.
- 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!