If you’re trying to capture the content of your screen on Mac or are a recent convert from Windows to macOS, you might be wondering what the equivalent of the handy Windows Snipping Tool is on your new Apple computer. Fear not, as macOS has its own built-in screen capture tool that is just as easy to use and offers a variety of options to suit your needs and is completely free to use. In this article, we’ll dive into the various ways you can use the snipping tool on your Mac, including keyboard shortcuts and customization options. First let’s take a quick look at the main shortcuts you can use to capture and record the Mac screen.
Quick Links:
- Mac Snip Tool Shortcuts
- Advanced Mac screenshot and recording options
- How to Use the Snipping Tool on Mac demo
- Changing the default screenshot save location
- Screenshot the entire screen
- Capture only a portion of the screen
- Screenshot a Mac window or menu
- Capturing Menu items
Mac Snip Tool Shortcuts
- Capture the entire screen : Press Shift + Command + 3 on your keyboard
- Capture a portion of the screen : Press Shift + Command + 4, then move the crosshair pointer to where you want to start the screenshot. Press the mouse or trackpad button, then drag over the area you want to capture, release the mouse or trackpad button when you have surrounded the entire area you would to screenshot.
- Capture a window or the menu bar : Press Shift + Command + 4, then press the Space bar. Move the camera pointer over the window or the menu bar to highlight it, then click.
- Capture a menu and menu items : Open the menu, press Shift + Command + 4, then drag the pointer over the menu items you want to capture.
- Capture an image of your Mac Touch Bar : Press Shift + Command + 6 on your Mac keyboard
Advanced Options
To access the screenshot settings menu, simply press Shift + Command + 5 on your keyboard. From here, you can select the location where your screenshots will be saved and access advanced screen capture options, which we will cover in more detail below.
Here you can carry out a variety of screen capture options such as screenshots, capture a selection of your screen area, as well as record videos of your screen for tutorials and instructional videos. Apple has also provided a number of useful settings to customize your workflow even further if needed.
When you open the screenshot settings menu, you’ll see several options arranged in a row. Starting from the left, the first button, denoted by a cross within a circle, allows you to close the screenshot tool and return to your desktop. The next three buttons are for capturing screenshots: the first captures the entire screen, the second captures a selected window, and the third, represented by a dashed rectangle, allows you to capture a selected portion of your screen. If you hover your mouse pointer over any of these buttons, a tooltip will appear to remind you of its function.
How to Use the Snipping Tool on Mac
The last two buttons in the row, each with a small circle in the bottom right corner, are for recording video of your Mac screen. The first button allows you to record your entire screen, while the second, also represented by a dashed rectangle, enables you to record a selected portion of your desktop. These video recording features are particularly useful for creating tutorials or demonstrations.
Changing the Default Save Location
The Mac screenshot tool offers additional customization options, allowing you to choose where your screenshots and screen recordings are saved. By default, captured screenshots are saved to your Desktop, but you can change this location to better suit your needs.
To access these options, click on the ‘Options’ button in the screenshot tool. From the dropdown menu, you can select various save locations, such as your Documents folder, Clipboard, Mail app, Messages app, Preview app, or even a custom location of your choice. This flexibility ensures that your screenshots and recordings are saved exactly where you need them.
Furthermore, the Options menu provides additional settings to enhance your screenshot and recording experience. You can set a timer of either 5 or 10 seconds to give yourself time to prepare before the capture begins. Other useful settings include showing a floating thumbnail preview of your captured content, remembering the last selected area for subsequent screenshots, and including the mouse pointer in your screenshots or recordings. These options allow you to tailor the tool to your specific requirements and preferences.
Screenshot the Entire Screen
Capturing your screen on a Mac is a breeze with the various keyboard shortcuts available. To capture the entire screen, simply press Shift + Command + 3. This will take a screenshot of your whole screen and save it as a PNG file on your desktop, ready for you to use or share.
Capture Only a Portion of the Screen
If you only need to capture a specific portion of the screen, press Shift + Command + 4. This will turn your cursor into a crosshair pointer. Move the pointer to where you want to start the screenshot, then click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse or trackpad button when you have surrounded the entire area you wish to screenshot, and the selected portion will be saved to the location currently selected in the advanced options explained above, which can be accessed by pressing Shift + Command + 5.
Screenshot a Mac Window or Menu
Capturing only a specific Mac window or the menu bar is just as easy. Hold down Shift + Command + 4, then press the Space bar. The cursor will change to a camera icon. Move the camera pointer over the window or menu bar you want to capture, and it will be highlighted. Simply click to take the screenshot, and the selected window or menu bar will be saved the location you have set within your advanced options.
Capturing Menu Items
To capture a menu and its menu items, start by opening the menu you want to capture. Press Shift + Command + 4, then drag the pointer over the menu items you want to include in the screenshot. Release the mouse or trackpad button, and the selected menu and menu items will be saved to your chosen location on your Mac. Lastly, if you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can capture its contents by pressing Shift + Command + 6.
Having used both the Windows Snipping Tool and its Mac counterpart, I find the macOS version to be slightly more intuitive and user-friendly. The keyboard shortcuts mentioned earlier make it incredibly easy to access the various screen capture options, whether you’re taking a screenshot of the entire screen, a selected portion, or a specific window, or even recording a video of your screen.
That being said, both Windows and macOS offer straightforward methods for capturing your screen as images or videos, making it easy to create visual references, share information, or record tutorials. While the Mac screenshot tool might have a slight edge in terms of ease of use, users of either platform will find the screen capture process to be simple and efficient.
If you need further assistance with using your Mac or have questions about any other Apple-related topics, be sure to visit the official Apple Support site. There, you’ll find a wealth of information, guides, and resources to help you make the most of your Apple devices.
Capturing Screenshots in Microsoft Windows
If you’d like to learn more about capturing screenshots Windows PCs an easy way to share important information, whether you’re creating a tutorial, troubleshooting a problem, or just want to save a copy of something on your screen. Jump over to our guide on how to take screenshots on Windows or a step-by-step explanation.
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