How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac: A Complete Guide for Beginner

Anyone using Apple’s operating system must develop skills on how to take screenshots on a MAC. It is very essential since it helps you take screenshots of your essential documents and keep them for future use. 

Image source-Google | Image-By-Apple

The Mac operating system makes it easy for you to take screenshots of all your moments, like capturing a portion of your screen for work. Beginners may find it challenging to navigate through the various options available in the MAC operating system. Below is a complete guide on different ways of taking screenshots on a Mac. By the end of the guide, you will have gained all necessary skills on how to capture, edit, and share your screenshots as a genius. 

What is a screenshot?

A screenshot is an image that shows the contents of a computer display. Screenshots can be edited, shared with others, or stored for future use.

How to Capture a Screenshot

Capturing screenshots using mobile phones can vary with different generations. For example, taking screenshots may vary in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17, and also in Windows 12. Up to now, there are various ways used to take screenshots in MAC operating systems, namely;

Built-in Snipping Tools

• Screenshot Tool (macOS built-in): When using the screenshot tool, open the window that you want to capture, press and hold Shift + Command + 3 + spacebar. The cursor will then change to the camera icon. In case you want to cancel taking the screenshot, click the Esc (escape) bar.

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Use of Command + Shift + 3 keyboard shortcut: To take a screenshot using command + Shift + 3, press and hold the three keyboards together. If a thumbnail pops up at the corner of your screen, click it to edit your screenshot or wait for the screenshot to be saved to your desktop. This shortcut captures an image of your entire screen and saves it automatically. 

• Use of Command + Shift + 4: To take a screenshot using this shortcut, open the window where your screenshot is, then press and hold Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor will automatically turn into the camera, then move the camera icon over the window you want to capture and click it. A screenshot of the window you clicked will be taken, and a preview will be seen in the bottom right corner of the screen. 

• Use of Command + Shift + 5: When using this shortcut, Mac’s built-in screenshot app is opened. Next, a small gray menu of screenshot tools will appear. Select a tool and click the tool you want to use to take a screenshot. Click options where you will be able to set the timer, show the cursor in the screenshot, and indicate where you want to save the screenshot.

Preview App (macOS)

When using the preview app, ensure you open it on your Mac. Next, open the image or PDF you want to screenshot. If you want to screenshot the entire screen, choose the file, then screenshot from the entire screen. If you want to capture part of the screen, select your file, then screenshot from selection. 

Third-Party Snipping Tools

• Snagit: To capture your screenshot using the Snagit tool, press shift + command + 4, and your cursor will turn into crosshairs or Snagit’s screenshotting tool. Next, click and drag your cursor to your intended area. Or else you can use Snagit’s screenshotting tool to take accurate screenshots down to specific pixels. 

• Lightshot: To screenshot using the Lightshot snipping tool, press command + 9 and your entire screen will turn dark. You will then select an area, click, and drag the area you want to screenshot.

• Greenshot: To take a screenshot using the Greenshot snipping tool, press the print screen key on your keyboard, and then the entire screen will be captured by default. If you want to capture a specific area of the screen, press shift + print screen. The region mode will be selected and let you drag a box around your desired area.

• PicPick: When using the PicPick capturing tool to capture your screenshot, open the window you want to capture. Next, press and hold shift + command + 4 + spacebar together. The cursor will immediately change to the camera icon. If you want to cancel the screenshot, click the Escape bar, or else click the window to capture it. 

How to Edit a Screenshot With a Preview

Preview is a built-in app on Mac used to view and edit multiple formats of files easily. 

To edit your screenshot, first open Preview on your Mac and select the screenshot you want to edit. Next, click on the Show Markup Toolbar at the right top corner of the screen to see all the editing tools. Once you complete editing your screenshot, click the file tab and select save to save the edited screenshot.

Importance of Editing Screenshot

Editing screenshots helps you crop unnecessary parts of your images and annotations. To add on, editing helps you explain the most essential parts of your screenshot. Being in a digital age where information gets easily outdated, editing a screenshot also helps you update information without taking another screenshot. 

Conclusion

To conclude, taking screenshots is very essential for future reference. The above guidelines will help you learn different techniques of capturing screenshots. In case you have been struggling to capture your images, use the above snipping tools to gain new skills. Change your old skills and start capturing your images like a genius, whether you will use them for work, study, or entertainment.