Take screenshots and screen recordings

Check your screen before you capture

A screenshot is an image of what is on the screen at that moment. It can include your email, client names, temporary codes or open tabs.

Close any conversations, documents and notifications that contain private information. Also check whether you are authorized to record a meeting or someone else's content.

Choose the kind of screenshot

• Full screen: press Shift + Command + 3. With several displays, you may get more than one file.
• A portion: press Shift + Command + 4 and drag to select the area. Release to capture; Esc cancels.
• A window: press Shift + Command + 4, then the Space bar. When the pointer becomes a camera, click the window.
• More options: press Shift + Command + 5 to open Screenshot. Click the capture or recording tool you need and review the Options pop-up menu before you continue.

After you capture, a thumbnail appears for a few seconds in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Click it to review or mark up the image. If you do not open it, the file is saved to the configured location, usually the desktop.

You will find every screenshot shortcut in our guide Mac keyboard shortcuts.

Record a short procedure

A short video helps when one image is not enough to show the steps you followed.

1. Press Shift + Command + 5 to open Screenshot.
2. Click the tool to record the entire screen or the one to record a portion of the screen.
3. Click the Options pop-up menu and check where it will be saved, whether there is a timer and which microphone will be used.
4. Click Record and perform only the necessary steps.
5. To finish, click the Stop Recording button in the menu bar.
6. Open the saved video and review its beginning and its end.

Before sharing the video, confirm it contains no private information. Some apps restrict capture of their content. Third-party video call or recording tools may request screen recording permission in Privacy & Security.

Make a useful screenshot when asking for help

Capture the error message with enough context to understand it. You can add an arrow in Preview, but keep a clean copy in case you need to edit again. For sensitive information, crop or properly redact it and check the result.