To take screenshots on a Mac, use native keyboard shortcuts and tools instead of the Snipping Tool. 1. Press Command Shift 3 to capture the entire screen, saving the image to your desktop. 2. Use Command Shift 4 to select a specific area by clicking and dragging. 3. Press Command Shift 4 then Spacebar to capture a single window with a clean background. 4. For advanced options like timers or screen recording, press Command Shift 5, available in macOS Mojave and later. These built-in tools offer flexibility without needing third-party software.

If you're looking to take screenshots on a Mac, the Snipping Tool isn't actually a native app like it is on Windows. Instead, macOS has its own built-in screenshot tools that are just as useful once you know how they work. Here’s how to use them effectively.

How to Take a Screenshot of the Entire Screen

This is the simplest and most straightforward method. Press Command Shift 3, and your Mac will capture everything currently displayed on your screen.

• The screenshot will appear as a file on your desktop (by default), named something like "Screenshot [date] at [time].png".
• If you don’t see it right away, give it a second — it usually pops up quickly.
• You can change where screenshots are saved by using Terminal or third-party apps, but for most users, the desktop works fine.

This method is great when you want to show someone what your whole screen looks like — for example, if you’re troubleshooting an issue or showing off a setup.

How to Capture a Specific Area

If you only need part of the screen, not the whole thing, here's what to do:

1. Press Command Shift 4.
2. Your cursor turns into a crosshair.
3. Click and drag to select the area you want.
4. Release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot.

A few tips:

• While dragging, you can press the Esc key to cancel.
• Holding the Spacebar while selecting lets you move the selection around before capturing.
• This is super handy for grabbing just a window, a chart, or any specific section without extra clutter.

How to Screenshot a Window Without Background

If you want to capture just one window — like a Finder window, browser tab, or app — follow these steps:

1. Press Command Shift 4, then immediately press the Spacebar.
2. Your cursor changes to a camera icon.
3. Hover over the window you want to capture (it’ll highlight).
4. Click to take the shot.

This gives you a clean image of just that window, with the background removed automatically. It’s especially helpful when documenting workflows or sharing UI elements.

One thing to note: menus and dropdowns won’t stay open this way unless you click them first and then move your cursor quickly — which can be tricky.

Bonus: Using Delayed Screenshots (macOS Mojave and Later)

If you're using macOS Mojave or newer, there’s a hidden screenshot tool with more options:

1. Press Command Shift 5.
2. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen.
3. You can choose to record the screen or take a timed screenshot.
4. There’s also an option to set a 5- or 10-second delay, which is perfect for capturing drop-down menus or mouse actions.

From here, you can also choose where to save the screenshot or video, and even show the mouse pointer in recordings.

This menu is a bit more advanced, but it's worth checking out if you do more than basic screenshots.

That’s basically all you need to know. These tools are built into macOS, so no downloads required — just some quick keyboard combos and a little practice.

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