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How to screenshot on a Mac

A screenshot is a photo of what is on your computer’s screen.

The screenshot is usually saved to your Desktop folder unless you have changed the default setting. 

Full screen on a Mac 

  1. Pressing the ‘Command’, ‘Shift’ and ‘3’ keys (all at the same time) will capture the entire screen. 
  2. You should see the screen flash or change before it goes back to normal. 
  3. The screenshot usually gets saved to the Mac desktop.

Part of the screen on a Mac 

  1. Pressing the ‘Command’, ‘Shift’ and ‘5’ keys (all at the same time), will bring up the screen-capture window which allows you to capture different parts of the screen or a particular window.
  2. The cursor will then change to a crosshair pointer. 
  3. Move the crosshair to where you want to capture. 
  4. Click and drag to select an area. 
  5. To adjust an area, hold ‘Shift’, ‘Option’, or the ‘Space bar’ while you drag. 
  6. When you have selected the area you need, release your Mouse or Trackpad. 
  7. You should see the screen flash or change before it goes back to normal. 
  8. The screenshot usually gets saved to the Mac desktop.

Screen recording on a Mac

  1. Pressing the ‘Command’, ‘Shift’ and ‘5’ keys (all at the same time), will bring up the screen-capture window. Next to screen capture options, there are options for screen recordings – ‘Record the entire screen’ or ‘Record a portion of the screen’. These options appear with an icon in the bottom right corner that looks like a big dot with a thin circle on the outside.
  2. Select the screen recording option you need and click ‘Record’.
  3. Stop recording by clicking on the ‘Stop recording’ button in the menu.
  4. The recording usually gets saved to the Mac desktop. 

What to do if you have a different computer or device

We also have advice on:

If none of these screenshot methods work on your computer or device, we suggest you open your web browser and search ‘How do I take a screenshot/screen recording with a [add your device type/model]’. 

There are also some apps that can be used to take a screenshot or screen recording. Open the App Store and search ‘screen capture’ or ‘screen recorder’. 

How to take a screenshot on a Mac (video)

Audio

To take a full screenshot on an Apple Mac, press the Command, Shift, and 3 keys down all at the same time. 

The screenshot image will be saved to the Mac desktop.

To take a screenshot of only part of the screen, simultaneously press the Command, Shift, then the 4 keys. 

The cursor will then change to a cross-hair pointer.

Move the cross-hair to where you want to capture. Click and drag to select an area.

To adjust the area, hold Shift, Option, or the Space bar while you drag.

When you've selected the area you want, release your mouse or trackpad.

The screenshot image will be saved to the Mac desktop.

Find out more at eSafety for Women.

Taking a screenshot on a Mac

Last updated: 27/02/2023