All Mac computers come with built-in screenshot capabilities, so taking a screenshot on Mac does not require any additional software or apps and is completely free. In this article, you will learn how to take a screenshot on a Mac without software and with software. The following steps below should guide you throughout the process:
How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac Without Using Software
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To capture the entire screen, press Command + Shift + 3.
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To capture a selected portion of the screen, press Command + Shift + 4 and then select the area you want to capture with your mouse cursor.
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To capture a specific window, press Command + Shift + 4 and then press the Spacebar. The cursor will change to a camera icon, and you can click on the window you want to capture.
The screenshots will be saved as PNG files on your desktop.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac Using Software
Taking screenshots on a Mac is also possible using third-parties software options available for those who need more advanced screenshot capabilities. Here are a few popular options:
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Lightshot: A free and simple screenshot tool that allows you to capture and annotate screenshots with ease.
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Skitch: A free screenshot and image annotation tool developed by Evernote.
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Monosnap: A paid screenshot tool with advanced features such as image editing, cloud storage, and team collaboration.
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Snagit: A paid screenshot tool that includes advanced features such as video recording, image editing, and GIF creation.
These software options can be downloaded and installed on your Mac, and they provide additional functionality compared to the built-in screenshot capabilities of your Mac.
How to screenshot on Mac using lightshot
Lightshot is a free screenshot tool that you can use on your Mac to capture and annotate screenshots. Here’s how you can use Lightshot on your Mac to take a screenshot:
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Download and install Lightshot from their website.
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Once installed, open Lightshot and go to the area of your screen that you want to capture.
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Press the Lightshot keyboard shortcut, which is Command + Shift + 9 by default.
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Your screen will dim and you can select the area you want to capture by clicking and dragging your mouse.
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Once you have selected the area you want to capture, Lightshot will open the editing window where you can annotate your screenshot with shapes, text, and other tools.
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When you’re finished annotating, click the “Save” or “Upload” button to save your screenshot to your computer or upload it to Lightshot’s servers.
Note: You can also set your own custom keyboard shortcut for Lightshot in its settings if you prefer to use a different combination of keys.
Also Read: How to Screenshot on Windows For Free
How to screenshot on Mac using skitch
Skitch is a free screenshot and image annotation tool developed by Evernote that you can use on your Mac to capture and annotate screenshots. Here’s how you can use Skitch on your Mac to take a screenshot:
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Download and install Skitch from the App Store or their website.
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Once installed, open Skitch and go to the area of your screen that you want to capture.
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Press the Skitch keyboard shortcut, which is Command + Shift + 5 by default.
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Your screen will dim and you can select the area you want to capture by clicking and dragging your mouse.
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Once you have selected the area you want to capture, Skitch will open the editing window where you can annotate your screenshot with shapes, text, and other tools.
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When you’re finished annotating, click the “Save” button to save your screenshot to your computer or click the “Share” button to share it with others.
Note: You can also set your own custom keyboard shortcut for Skitch in its settings if you prefer to use a different combination of keys.
How to screenshot on Mac using monosnap
Monosnap is a paid screenshot tool with advanced features such as image editing, cloud storage, and team collaboration that you can use on your Mac. Here’s how you can use Monosnap on your Mac to take a screenshot:
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Download and install Monosnap from their website.
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Once installed, open Monosnap and go to the area of your screen that you want to capture.
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Press the Monosnap keyboard shortcut, which is Command + Shift + 6 by default.
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Your screen will dim and you can select the area you want to capture by clicking and dragging your mouse.
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Once you have selected the area you want to capture, Monosnap will open the editing window where you can annotate your screenshot with shapes, text, and other tools.
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When you’re finished annotating, click the “Save” button to save your screenshot to your computer, the “Upload” button to upload it to the cloud, or the “Share” button to share it with others.
Note: You can also set your own custom keyboard shortcut for Monosnap in its settings if you prefer to use a different combination of keys.
How to screenshot on Mac using snagit
Snagit is a paid screenshot tool that includes advanced features such as video recording, image editing, and GIF creation that you can use on your Mac. Here’s how you can use Snagit on your Mac to take a screenshot:
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Download and install Snagit from their website.
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Once installed, open Snagit and go to the area of your screen that you want to capture.
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Press the Snagit keyboard shortcut, which is Command + Shift + 7 by default.
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Your screen will dim and you can select the area you want to capture by clicking and dragging your mouse.
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Once you have selected the area you want to capture, Snagit will open the editing window where you can annotate your screenshot with shapes, text, and other tools.
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When you’re finished annotating, click the “Save” button to save your screenshot to your computer, the “Share” button to share it with others, or the “Edit” button to further edit your screenshot using Snagit’s advanced image editing tools.
Note: You can also set your own custom keyboard shortcut for Snagit in its settings if you prefer to use a different combination of keys.
Reasons why you may need screenshot on Mac
There are several reasons why you may need to take a screenshot on your Mac:
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Documentation: You can capture screenshots to document a specific issue or to include in a report, presentation, or tutorial.
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Sharing: Screenshots can be used to share what you see on your screen with others, whether it’s a bug, an error message, or a specific image or piece of information.
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Problem Solving: Screenshots can be useful when trying to diagnose and troubleshoot technical issues, as they provide visual information that can help explain what is happening.
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Memory Keeping: Screenshots can be a quick and easy way to capture and save information that you want to remember, such as flight details, website content, or shopping lists.
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Collaboration: You can use screenshots to collaborate with others on a project or to provide visual feedback on a design or other work.
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Marketing: Screenshots can be used to showcase features of your app or website, or to provide visual examples of how your product or service works.