The Mac stands out with its powerful performance and user-friendly features, making it a top choice for professionals alike. But sometimes, whether you are trying to capture a presentation, save an important conversation, or document a technical issue, you need more than just notes. The best option that helps to satisfy these needs is nothing but a screenshot or screen recording.
But, do you know how to screen record on Mac correctly? It’s very simple in just a few steps, your Mac allows you to save, share, and keep track of all the visuals you need. This guide will show you how to easily take screenshots and record your screen on a Mac in 2025.
Taking Screenshot Using Built-in Screen Shot Tool
Mac computers come with a built-in screenshot tool, accessible via keyboard shortcuts, making it easy to capture what’s on your screen. Here’s a guide to the different ways you can take screenshots and screen recordings on your Mac.
Capturing the Entire Screen
- Shortcut: Press Shift + Command + 3.
- This shortcut instantly captures your entire screen and saves the screenshot to your desktop.
Capturing a Specific Portion of the Screen
- Shortcut: Press Shift + Command + 4.
- Your cursor will change to a crosshair, you can use it to click and drag to select the area that you want to capture.
Using the Screenshot App for More Options
- Shortcut: Press Shift + Command + 5.
- This opens the Mac screenshot toolbar, providing more options than the basic shortcuts. From this toolbar, you can:
- Capture the entire screen.
- Capture a selected portion of the screen.
- Capture a single window.
- Record the entire screen.
- Record a selected portion of the screen.
Expert Tip: Copy Screenshots to Clipboard
If you’d prefer to copy a screenshot directly to your clipboard instead of saving it, press the Control (Ctrl) key along with your chosen shortcut. For instance, Control + Shift + Command + 3, copies the screenshot to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it elsewhere without saving it to your desktop.
Screen Recording with the Screenshot Toolbar in macOS Mojave and Later
Since macOS Mojave, Apple has included a Screenshot Toolbar that makes screen recording easier. Here’s how to use it:
Open the Screenshot Toolbar
Press Shift + Command + 5 on your Keyboard to bring up the toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
Select the Screen Recording Option
You’ll see different icons in the toolbar. To record your screen, choose one of these options:
- Record the Entire Screen
- Record the Selected Portion
Start Recording
Click the recording button. If you selected “Record Selected Portion,” drag to choose the area and then click “Start Recording” within it. You can also try to click anywhere on the screen to start recording the full screen.
Stop Recording
To stop, click the stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc.
Save and Review
When you finish recording, a thumbnail will show in the lower-right corner of the screen. Click it to review and edit, or wait for it to save automatically to your desktop or another designated location.
Recording Screen Using QuickTime Player for All macOS Versions
If you’re using an older version of macOS or prefer a different method, QuickTime Player is a great alternative for screen recording. Here’s how to use it:
Open QuickTime Player
Go to Applications, find QuickTime Player, or press Command + Space and type “QuickTime Player” to open it.
Start a New Screen Recording
In the menu bar, click on File and choose New Screen Recording option after that a recording window will appear.
Configure Recording Settings
Click the small arrow which is present next to the record button to modify the settings:
Microphone: To record audio along with the screen, choose a microphone.
Options: Decide whether to show mouse clicks in your recording.
Begin Recording
Click the red Record button. You will be asked to either drag to select a specific area for recording or click anywhere on the screen to record the entire screen.
Stop Recording
To end the recording, select the stop button from the menu bar.
Save and Edit
QuickTime will open the File automatically once you stop the recording. You can trim and review the video. To save, click File, then Save, and choose a location.
How to Annotate Screenshots on Mac
Mac’s built-in tools make it easy to add annotations to your screenshots with text, highlights, shapes, and even signatures. Here’s how to do it:
Use the Floating Thumbnail for Quick Edits
A thumbnail will briefly appear in the bottom-right corner after taking a screenshot on Mac. Click it to open Markup View instantly, where you can add annotations without opening a separate app. Markup View provides various tools like text, drawing, and shapes.
Open Screenshots Directly in Preview with CMD+Shift+5
To streamline annotation, press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app menu. Under “Save To,” choose Preview. This setting opens your screenshots directly in Preview, allowing you to edit them right away instead of saving them to your desktop.
Annotate Saved Screenshots in Preview
If your screenshot is saved on the desktop, double-click it to open in Preview. Here, you’ll find all annotation tools to enhance your image with text, highlights, shapes, and more.
How to Take Delayed Screenshots
To take a delayed screenshot, press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app’s options menu. Under “Timer,” select either 5 seconds or 10 seconds to delay the capture, giving you time to set up your screen.
Customizing Screenshot Shortcuts
You can modify the default screenshot shortcuts in System Preferences. Open System Preferences, then go to Keyboard Shortcuts. Select Screenshots from the left menu, choose the screenshot option you want to change, and press the new key combination you want to use. The new shortcut will be saved automatically.
Final Thoughts
Hope that you have got an idea about how to screenshot on Mac and learned about recording screens on Mac. With just a few keyboard shortcuts and simple applications, you can efficiently document or share your Mac screen. Experiment with the options and find what works best for your needs.
