Recording what’s on your screen can be crucial for everyday work, from reporting problems to sharing information with your team. The system has built-in features for macOS users, making recording your screen and capturing a static screenshot simple. Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to get you started.
Table of contents
- Steps to take a screenshot on a Mac
- Screen recording on Mac
- Where to find your screenshots and recordings
- Conclusion
Steps to take a screenshot on a Mac
Capture the entire screen
If you need to capture everything visible on your display, use the shortcut:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 3
This instantly captures your entire screen and saves the file to your desktop. If you use multiple displays, a separate screenshot is taken for each.
Capture a portion of the screen using the Snipping Tool on Mac
The snipping tool is useful when you only want to select a specific area on the screen:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
- When your cursor changes to a crosshair, click and drag to define the area, then release the mouse or trackpad to capture it.
- Alternatively, press and hold the Space bar while dragging to relocate the region you've picked without altering its size.
- If you wish to cancel the screenshot, click escape when the crosshair appears.
Capture a window or menu
To take a screenshot of a particular window or dropdown menu, use the shortcut:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press the Spacebar
Your cursor becomes a camera icon. Hover over the desired window or menu and click to capture it.
Note: The screenshot includes a subtle drop shadow for a polished look. To capture it without the drop shadow, press and hold the Option key while you click.
Screen recording on Mac
MacOS also allows you to record videos of your screen activity with the shortcut:
Command (⌘) + Shift + 5
This opens the Screenshot toolbar, where you can choose to:
- Record the entire screen
- Record a selected portion
- Set a timer
- Enable or disable the microphone audio
- Choose a save location
Next, click ‘Record’ to start, and use the Stop icon in the menu bar to finish. This is particularly useful for walkthroughs or demonstrating an issue.
Where to find your screenshots and recordings
Screenshots and videos are saved to your desktop by default and named automatically with the date and time. If you are unable to locate the screenshots or recordings on your desktop, try looking for them in Finder.
If you want to save to the clipboard instead
Hold Control while using any of the screenshot shortcuts. For example:
- Use the shortcut Command + Shift + Control + 4 to capture a portion to the clipboard
- Or Command + Shift + Control + 3 to capture the whole screen to the clipboard
- Then paste using Command + V.
Conclusion
With the right shortcuts, capturing screenshots and recordings on a Mac is quick and intuitive. Whether you're sharing information, documenting an issue, or creating a tutorial, these built-in tools make the process seamless.
At Texaport, we support macOS and Windows systems, helping you integrate everyday tools into your workflows efficiently and securely. Contact us if your team needs guidance or troubleshooting support.
