3 easy ways to take a screenshot on MacBook: How it works
Last Updated: 2026-05-25 14:23:50
macOS offers multiple ways to take screenshots natively on a system without the use of any third-party apps. With the increasing workflow online, you are required to capture or take screenshots of your work regularly. However, unlike Windows, it can be quite complex for beginners, especially given its various functionalities, since we don’t have a direct option for taking screenshots.
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Mac offers three native ways to take screenshots easily.- Use keyboard shortcuts or the Screenshot app for screen capture.
- Lightshot app provides extra screenshot features for Mac users.
However, with a combination of shortcut keys, you can easily capture the entire screen, a window, or just a portion of the screen on a MacBook or other macOS-supported devices.
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Hence, here are some easy- to-follow methods to take a screenshot on a Mac system. From simple keyboard shortcuts to advanced built-in tools that rival professional screenshot software, here’s how to take a perfect screenshot on Mac.
How to take a screenshot on Mac
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Method 1: Take a screenshot through the native application
Mac’s native application provides easy methods to take full-screen captures or take a partial screenshot. It also includes options for changing your save location and delaying screenshots with a timer. Here are the steps to follow:
- Press and hold these three keys together Shift+Command+3 to take a screenshot of the entire screen
- If you want to take a screenshot of a particular area of a screen, press Shift+Command+3, drag the crosshair symbol to select the area of the screen which you want to capture
- Just press Shift+Command+5 to open the app and take a screenshot of the entire screen or start a screen recording
- You can also find the app by pressing Command+spacebar, which opens Spotlight search. Then search for Screenshot.
Method 2: Take a screenshot an image through the Touch Bar
If you've got an older MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, you can also take a screenshot of that section or what's currently showing on the Touch Bar. Just simultaneously press Command+Shift+6 to take a very wide and skinny screenshot of your Touch Bar. You can also use the Touch Bar to take a screenshot. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings app on a Mac and search for Keyboard
- Next, in the Keyboard navigation section, you will find the TouchBar Settings menu
- Now, click on Customise Control Strip, and look for the Screenshot icon
- Drag the ‘Screenshot button to the bottom of the screen to add it to the Touch Bar by default.
The Screenshot app will now replace one of the default menu options in the Touch Bar. You’ll now see a camera icon in the control toolbar, and you can press it anytime to open the native Screenshot app.
Method 3: Third-party screenshot app - Lightshot
If you don't want to use your Mac's built-in screenshot tools, you can also use a third-party app named Lightshot to easily capture screenshots. Here’s how to use it.
- Download and install Lightshot on your Mac computer through the App Store
- LightShot can then be activated by pressing Command+ Shift+ 9 on your keyboard.
- Click and drag the mouse pointer to select the area of your screen that you want to screenshot
- The highlighted area will appear normally, while everything else excluded from the screenshot will still be darkened
- You can also press Command+A to capture the entire screen.
- The toolbar appears on the side of the highlighted area that can be used to add other elements to your screenshot, such as text, lines, rectangles, arrows, and colours
- Press Command+S to choose the save location of the captured screenshots.
Where to find screenshots on Mac
All the screenshots taken on a Mac are saved on the desktop by default. However, you can change the location by pressing Command+Shift+5, which will then open the Screenshot app. Here in the bottom right corner, you will find the Options tab. Select one of the pre-listed locations or click on Other Locations to choose a folder you want your screenshots to be saved to by default.