Would you like to learn basic tips on how to take a screenshot of what is currently on the screen of your Mac? Relax because you're in the right place.
One of the best ways to optimize your Mac is knowing how to take a screenshot of what is on its screen. The guide is handy to people that have recently migrated from Windows, where they just used the Prt Scrn (Print Screen) button to take a screenshot.
You have to get used to doing it on Mac computers after migrating. It could be a simple screenshot of your desktop, an email, a web page, or some tickets. Depending on the type of Mac that you’re using, you can use some of the tips highlighted below to take a screenshot on your Mac.
1. Full-screen screenshot shortcut
Taking a full-screen screenshot on your Mac is very simple by using the shortcut option below. Just get to the keyboard of your computer and press (Shift + Command + 3)
Press and hold the above three keys and wait for the screenshot to be saved on your desktop. You can also edit the screenshot using the thumbnail that appears on the corner of your screen.
2. Part screenshot shortcuts
If you want to take a screenshot of some screen parts, you should press the (Shift + Command + 4) shortcut.
Step 1: Drag the crosshair to choose the screen section that you want to capture in the screenshot.
Step 2: Press and hold the space bar while dragging to move the selected area.
Step 3: Press the ESC key on the keyboard of your Mac to cancel taking the screenshot.
Step 4: Release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot
Note that you can edit the screenshot by clicking the thumbnail that appears on the corner of your screen or waiting for the screenshot to be saved on your desktop.
3. Open the screenshot menu
You can also take a screenshot from your Mac using the screenshot menu. Press (The shift + Command + 5) keys on the keyboard of your computer to open the screenshot app. A small menu will appear at the bottom of your screen.
Use the three icons on the left side of the menu to capture the whole screen of your computer, a specific highlighted section, or window. The two icons on the right side of the menu are for recording a video of the whole screen or a section.
Please note that this feature is only available on Macs with Big Sur, Mojave, Monterey systems, and Catalina.
4. Touch Bar Screenshot
Sometimes you would like to take a screenshot of the content on the Touch Bar of your Mac and share it with others. Well, this only applies to Mac computers that have the Touch Bar. Press (Shift + Command + 6) shortcut to take a screenshot of content in your Touch Bar.
If you still want to have something similar to a Windows-style print screen button, you can also modify some settings of your computer and have a dedicated button that you can use to take screenshots. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Got to “Access System Preferences” and then select Keyboard
Step 2: Navigate to the “Customize Control Strip” option and click it
Step 3: Select the location of your screenshot on the Touch Bar. You should drag and drop it there, then save the changes.
Now all is set, and you can take screenshots using the Touch Bar on your Mac. You can also use the screenshot button to access more features when taking the screenshot.
5. Three-party screenshot software
For those who don't want to use mac's in-built features to take a screenshot, you can do so using CleanShot. This reliable third-party software enables you to take screenshots on your Mac computer like a pro. The software is an amazing screen-capturing tool with 50 features that you can’t find anywhere else.
You can also use CleanShot X for screen recording and creating GIFs, among others. Users of CleanShot X can also use the small thumbnail at the corner to edit screenshots and videos.
Here is a simple guide on how to use CleanShot on a Mac computer:
Step 1: You start by visiting the official CleanShot X website and purchase and download the software.
Step 2: Install the app on your Mac and add the license key if prompted to do so
Step 3: When using the app, CleanShot X will ask to remap the native screenshot shortcuts to the app. That way, you can use them to take screenshots and screen recordings.
Step 4: Take a screen, and a smart overlay will pop up on the corner of your screen. Use the overlay to modify the screenshot or do whatever you want.
Step 5: Use Clean Shot's high-quality annotation tools to clean and beautiful screenshots effortlessly
Step 6: Once done, you can easily share your screenshot by simply dragging and dropping it to the desired place
Step 7: You can also upload your screenshot to the cloud and get a link that you can share with other people instead of sharing the screenshot itself.
Step 8: If you want to capture something that doesn't fit on your screens, such as a chat window or a bunch of codes, you can easily do so using the scrolling capture on CleanShot software.
Step 9: You can also use CleanShot X to record your screen, trim the video and share it as a video or GIF.
Where is my screenshot
Generally, it is saved on the desktop by default. Just press any of the screenshot shortcuts on your computer keyboard, and they will appear on your desktop. Those using Mojave and higher system versions, you can set the save location yourself. Hold the Control key while taking the screenshot if you want it copied on the clipboard.
