If you ever need to take a screenshot in Windows whilst using Boot Camp on your Mac – and with the Apple supplied keyboard, you may find it difficult to perform this action. However, this scenario occurs more often than you might think. Today, we still see users requesting Google Search to help them with this task. For that reason, we updated this post to reflect the current state of events, keyboards, and practice.
MacOS Mojave or later Press these keys to open the Screenshot app: Command + Shift + 5. Click on Options. Choose a folder that is listed, or choose Other Location to pick something else. Once you choose that destination, your settings will be saved. To close out of Screenshot app, hit the X button. Command + Shift + 3 takes a screenshot of the entire Mac screen. This is the most commonly used screen shot method for most Mac users. Command + Shift + 4 brings up a selection box so you can draw a region of the screen to take a screenshot of. Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click on the screenshot appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Use the contextual menu to choose where to save the screenshot (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, etc., send it, show it in the Finder, delete it, or mark it up.
'Print Screen' is a term used in the Windows environment to explain and give the ability for users to capture the content visible on the screen. Specifically, on Windows compatible keyboards, you will notice Print Screen is an actual button. On the Mac keyboards no button is assigned or labelled that way.
The good news is through a series of keystrokes you can perform the same function as Print Screen. On a Mac, you might hear the language of how to screen capture or how to screenshot.
Screenshot – Screen Capture – Print Screen in Windows on Mac
- To capture the entire screen simply press Function (fn) + Shift + F11.
- To capture the front most window press Option (alt) + Function (fn) + Shift + F11.
If you have your function keys mapped correctly in Windows you will be able to go without using the Function (fn) key. By default you will need to use it.
FAQ:
Where is the F11 Key located?
We have many people asking about the location of the F11 key. Please look closely – it's the third key from the top right corner, represented by the 'lower the volume' speaker icon.
Where is the destination of the screen capture?
Once you hear the click sound when taking the screen capture, the copy of your image is in your virtual clipboard. In order to retrieve it, you can open an application (such as Paint or Word) and use the 'Paste command' to see, alter, or modify this capture. Further, you can save as a file in a location of your choosing.
Screen shot process. There may be times when you need to take a screenshot on your Mac. You might have a software bug to report, an important pop-up, threaded web conversations, or even just a payment receipt you need for your records.
There are several ways to take a screenshot on a Mac computer running OS X or MacOS operating systems. You can
- Take a screenshot on Mac with Grab Utility.
- Use keyboard shortcuts to grab a screenshot.
- Use third-party applications to take your screenshot.
Keep in mind, you can also record your screen instead of taking a picture by using the QuickTime application.
How to take a screenshot on Mac with Grab Utility
The most common way to take a screenshot on a Mac is by using the built-in Grab application. This application can be found within your Utility folder located inside Finder and Launchpad.
- Click on Finder or Launchpad to locate the Utility folder.
- Click on Finder.
- Select Applications from the sidebar.
- Locate and double-click the Utilities folder to open it.
- Click on Launchpad and then click again on the Utilitiesbubble to open it.
- Locate the Grab icon inside the Utility folder/bubble and launch the application.
Using the grab application is easy. There is no 'windowed' user interface for this application. It is completely controlled from the MacOS or OS X menu bar and/or keyboard shortcuts.
Using the grab application, you can choose four different types of screenshots.
- Selection: This option allows you to highlight the desired area you want to capture. Select Selection or press Shift+Command+A on your keyboard. Click and drag the highlighted box to make your selection.
- Window: The Window option allows you to choose a specific window to capture. Select Window or press Shift+Command+W. Click on the desired window.
- Screen: Choosing the Screen selection lets you to capture the whole screen. Select Screen or press Command+Z. Click anywhere on the screen.
- Timed Screen: The Timed Screen choice captures the whole screen on a ten-second delay. Select Timed Screen or press Shift+Command+Z. Click anywhere on the screen to start the timer.
Choose the option that works best for your needs. Once you have taken the screenshot, a pop-up will appear to show you a preview of your shot. When you close the preview, your Mac will prompt you to save your image. If you are happy with the results, label the image, select a save destination, and click on the Save button. Otherwise, click Don't Save and try again.
Grab saves in .tiff
format automatically. If you need to convert the image into a friendlier format, you will have to do so with another application.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts
If you do not want to deal with launching the Grab application or converting your images from .tiff
to formats such as .png
or .jpeg
, then you are in luck. Mac has offered a way to take screenshots with keyboard shortcuts for decades now. This little-known feature is easy to use.
- Screen: Press Shift+Command+3 and a
.png
of the entire screen will automatically save to your desktop. - Selection: Press Shift+Command+4, click and drag curser to make your selection. Press Escape (esc) to cancel. A
.png
of your selection will be waiting on your desktop. - Window:Press Shift+Command+4 and the spacebar. Select desired window. Press Spacebar again to return back to selection mode or esc to cancel. A
.png
of the selected window will be saved to your desktop.
If you are using a PC keyboard, the following commands are as follows: How to select print screen.
- Control is the Ctrl key.
- Option is the Alt key.
- The button with the Windows logo is the Command key.
Newer versions of Mac OS or OS X label the saved file as 'Screen Shot' followed by the date and time. Older versions of Mac OS or OS X label the saved file as 'Image' followed by a number, but only if more than one file labeled 'Image' is located on your desktop.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac using third-party applications
Screenshot In Mac Pc
There are numerous applications available for taking screenshots. You can scour the web or look inside the Mac App Store for any screenshot application that might appeal to you.
- Click on the App Store located on the MacOS and OS X dock to launch the application.
- Type the word screenshot in the search box and hit enter.
Be aware that many screenshot applications do cost money. Check to see the cost before you download. If you do decide to download an application that costs money and you are not happy with it, you must remove it promptly in order to receive a refund.
Keep in mind, there are countless applications to try and using them will likely differ from the MacOS and OS X native process.
Lightshot, Apowersoft Screenshot, and Cloud App, are the top-rated applications in this category.
How to record your screen on a Mac using the QuickTime application
To record your screen instead of taking a photo, simply launch the Quickytime.app from Finder or Launchpad and press Control+Command+N on your keyboard.
- When the black box appears labeled 'Screen Recording,' click on the Record button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish recording your screen.
Screenshot In Macos
Microsoft word shortcuts for mac. If you are a diehard Apple fan and also own iOS devices, you can take screenshots with them by pressing the Home and Lock buttons at the same time. The image will be saved to your camera roll and you can access it through the Photos app.