Guide
How to take a screenshot on a Mac.
Every built-in shortcut, where your screenshots go, and what to use when you need scrolling captures, recordings or annotations.
The built-in shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it captures |
|---|---|
| ⇧⌘3 | The whole screen. |
| ⇧⌘4 | An area you drag out. |
| ⇧⌘4 then Space | A single window. Click the window you want. |
| ⇧⌘5 | The Screenshot toolbar, with screen recording and options. |
Add ⌃ to any of these to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving a file. For example, ⌃⇧⌘4 copies an area.
Where are screenshots saved?
On the Desktop, by default. To change it, press ⇧⌘5, click Options and choose a folder under Save to.
Cancel or adjust a screenshot
- Press Esc to cancel before you release the mouse.
- Hold Space while dragging to move the selection.
- Hold ⇧ while dragging to resize in one direction only.
When you need more
The built-in tool can’t capture a page that scrolls, copy text out of a screenshot, record a GIF or keep your captures for later. That’s what Opaline is for. It adds its own shortcuts and leaves the ones above working:
| Opaline shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⇧⌘S | Capture an area. |
| ⇧⌘6 | Capture a window, with an optional background. |
| ⇧⌘7 | Scrolling capture of a long page. |
| ⇧⌘2 | Copy text from anything on screen. |
| ⇧⌘D | Record the screen to MP4 or GIF. |
| ⇧⌘1 | All-In-One: pick the mode after you select. |
Every capture lands in a thumbnail you can drag, copy, save, pin above other windows or annotate.