How do you take a screenshot on your Apple MacBook?

Written by Rowan

Edited on

20 April 2026

·

11:23

How do you take a screenshot on your Apple MacBook?

When you take a screenshot of your screen, you can easily share with someone what you're doing. On your Apple MacBook, you take a screenshot with a convenient combination of keys. In this article, you can read how to take screenshots on your Apple MacBook or Mac desktop.

Take a screenshot

You want to take a screenshot of your screen. This is useful if you want to share something or want to capture something important. There are various reasons to take a screenshot. But how does that work?

  • Tip 1: take a screenshot of the whole screen.
  • Tip 2: take a screenshot of 1 window.
  • Tip 3: take a screenshot of a selection.
  • Tip 4: take a screenshot with the Screenshot app.
Take a screenshot
Screenshot MacBook entire screen

Tip 1: take a screenshot of the whole screen

If you want to capture the entire screen, use the following key combination:

  • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 3.
  • The screenshot will appear on your desktop.
Screenshot MacBook 1 window

Tip 2: take a screenshot of 1 window

If you want to take a screenshot of a specific window that's open, use a different key combination:

  • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4.
  • Press the spacebar, which turns your mouse into a camera.
  • Use the mouse to click the window that you want to take a screenshot of.
  • The screenshot will appear on your desktop.
Screenshot MacBook selection

Tip 3: take a screenshot of a selection

If you want to take a screenshot of a manual selection of the screen, go through the following steps:

  • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4.
  • The mouse now turns into a cross.
  • Hold down the left mouse button in the place you want to start your selection and drag the cross over the screen.
  • At the end of your selection, you release the left mouse button.
  • The screenshot will appear on your desktop.
Screenshot app

Tip 4: take a screenshot with the Screenshot app

The macOS Mojave and onwards provide a Screenshot app. In this app, you can find extra tools. If you want to open the app, use the following key combination:

  • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 5.

From left to right, the icons in the app mean the following:

  • Capture the entire screen
  • Capture a window
  • Capture part of the screen
  • Record the entire screen
  • Record part of the screen

Below Options, you can find things like a timer, the option to record the cursor, and you can select the location where you want to store your screenshots or recordings.

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