Guide
How to screenshot on a Mac
Every Mac can take screenshots without installing anything. Here are the shortcuts that come with macOS, what each one does, and where an app like HashShot helps when you need more.
The short answer
Press ⇧⌘3 (Shift Command 3) to capture the whole screen, or ⇧⌘4 (Shift Command 4) to drag over the part you want. The screenshot is saved to your desktop as a PNG file.
Mac screenshot shortcuts at a glance
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⇧⌘3 Shift Command 3 | Captures the entire screen. |
| ⇧⌘4 Shift Command 4 | Turns the pointer into a crosshair. Drag over the area you want. |
| ⇧⌘4, then Space Shift Command 4, then Space | Turns the pointer into a camera. Click the window you want. |
| ⇧⌘5 Shift Command 5 | Opens the Screenshot toolbar, with screen recording and options. |
| Add ⌃ Add Control | Copies the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving a file. |
Capture the whole screen
Press Shift, Command and 3 together. If you use more than one display, macOS saves one file for each screen. A thumbnail appears in the corner for a few seconds: click it to mark up the shot, or let it go and the file lands on your desktop.
Capture part of the screen
Press Shift, Command and 4. The pointer becomes a crosshair. Drag over the area you want and let go to take the shot, or press Esc to cancel before you let go. While you drag:
- Hold Space to move the whole selection.
- Hold Shift to change only one edge.
- Hold Option to resize the selection from its center.
Capture a window
Press Shift, Command and 4, then press Space. The pointer becomes a camera and the window under it is highlighted. Click to capture that window with its shadow, or hold Option while you click to leave the shadow out.
Open the Screenshot toolbar and record your screen
Press Shift, Command and 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar. It has buttons to capture the entire screen, a window or a selected portion, and to record the entire screen or a selected portion. Options lets you choose where files are saved, set a timer, show the pointer and pick a microphone for recordings. To end a recording, click the stop button in the menu bar.
Copy a screenshot to the clipboard
Add Control to any of the shortcuts above. ⌃⇧⌘3 (Control Shift Command 3) copies the whole screen and ⌃⇧⌘4 (Control Shift Command 4) copies an area, ready to paste with ⌘V (Command V) into a message, a document or an email. No file is saved.
Where screenshots are saved
By default, screenshots go to your desktop as PNG files named with the date and time. To use another folder, press ⇧⌘5, click Options and choose a location under Save to.
What HashShot adds
The tools in macOS are fine for quick shots. HashShot is for the jobs they leave out:
- Scrolling capture: whole web pages, chats and documents that are longer than your screen, joined into one image.
- Text capture: copy the words out of any part of the screen, even images, videos and locked PDFs, and read QR codes, all on your Mac.
- Annotation: arrows, shapes, text, numbered steps, a spotlight and a highlighter that snaps to words, all still editable later.
- Automatic redaction: emails, phone numbers, card numbers, IBANs and API keys are found and blurred for good before you share.
- Quick Access thumbnail: after each capture a thumbnail stays on screen with buttons to annotate, beautify, extract text, copy, save or pin it on top, and you can drag it straight into another app.
- Recording with sound: the Mac's own sound and your microphone, with smooth zooms on your clicks and captions made on your Mac.
Coming from Windows? See Snipping Tool for Mac for how the habits you know carry over.
HashShot shortcuts
HashShot uses its own shortcuts, so the ones in macOS keep working. You can change any of them in Settings.
| HashShot action | Default shortcut |
|---|---|
| Capture Area | ⇧⌘7 |
| Capture Window | ⇧⌘8 |
| Capture Fullscreen | ⇧⌘9 |
| Capture Previous Area | ⇧⌘6 |
| All in One | ⌃⇧1 |
| Capture Text | ⇧⌘1 |
| Scrolling Capture | ⌃⇧2 |
| Record Screen | ⇧⌘0 |
| Record GIF | ⌃⇧0 |
| Hide or Show Pins | ⌃⇧P |
Screenshot questions
How do I screenshot on a Mac?
Press ⇧⌘3 (Shift Command 3) to capture the whole screen, or ⇧⌘4 (Shift Command 4) to drag over part of it. The screenshot is saved to your desktop.
How do I screenshot only part of the screen on a Mac?
Press ⇧⌘4 (Shift Command 4), drag over the area you want and let go. Press Esc before you let go to cancel.
How do I copy a screenshot to the clipboard on a Mac?
Add Control to the shortcut. ⌃⇧⌘4 (Control Shift Command 4) copies an area and ⌃⇧⌘3 copies the whole screen, ready to paste with ⌘V.
How do I screenshot a whole web page on a Mac?
The shortcuts in macOS only capture what fits on screen. A scrolling capture app such as HashShot scrolls the page for you and joins it into one tall image.
How do I record my screen on a Mac?
Press ⇧⌘5 (Shift Command 5) and choose to record the entire screen or a selected portion. HashShot also records the Mac's own sound and adds zooms, a smooth pointer and captions.