Here's How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac

Updated on 8/9/2019 at 3:20 PM

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If you work on a computer, you know that it can be so much easier to describe what you're doing or looking at to someone by taking a screenshot. While it's an easy thing to do on phones, if you have a Mac, you may be wondering in the moment how exactly to take a screenshot (it's different than a PC's "print screen" option), especially if you recently updated your OS. Thankfully, it's also a breeze.

One important thing to note: if you've upgraded to macOS Mojave, you can use Shift-Command(⌘)-5 to take a variety of different screenshots or a video recording of the screen. However, if you haven't upgraded, Shift-Command-3 and Shift-Command-4 will continue to work in all versions of macOS.

To capture the entire screen: Press Shift-Command-3, then the screenshot will appear as a .png file on your desktop.
To capture a window: If you've upgraded, press Shift-Command(⌘)-5 on your keyboard. Click in the onscreen controls. Your pointer will change to a camera .
To capture a selected portion: If you've upgraded, press Shift-Command(⌘)-5 on your keyboard. Click in the onscreen controls. Drag to select the area of the screen you'd like to capture and click Capture in the onscreen controls.
To record a video of the screen: If you've upgraded, press Shift-Command(⌘)-5 on your keyboard. Click in the onscreen controls. Your pointer will change to a camera . Click any screen to start recording it, or click Record in the onscreen controls.