How to take a screenshot on a Mac. And have it copy itself.
The macOS shortcuts, how to copy it instead of saving it, and how to share it with a link.
To take a screenshot on a Mac press ⌘ ⇧ 3 for the whole screen or ⌘ ⇧ 4 to pick an area. It's saved as a PNG on the Desktop.
To copy it instead of saving it, add Control: ⌃ ⌘ ⇧ 4. With Hilo, ⌘ ⇧ 4 always copies it, and you can mark it up and share it with a link.
1. The whole screen: ⌘⇧3
Press ⌘ ⇧ 3. The screenshot shows briefly in the corner (click it to mark it up) and is saved to the Desktop. With several displays, you get one file per display.
2. An area or a window: ⌘⇧4
- Press ⌘ ⇧ 4: the pointer turns into a crosshair.
- Drag to pick the area. While dragging, hold Space to move it, or press Esc to cancel.
- For a whole window, press Space and click it. Hold ⌥ while clicking to leave out the shadow.
3. Copy it without saving a file: add Control
⌃ ⌘ ⇧ 4 (or ⌃ ⌘ ⇧ 3) sends it to the clipboard: paste it with ⌘ V into a chat, an email or ChatGPT, without filling your Desktop with files.
Good for: pasting it right away. Missing: it's four keys, and if you forget Control it ends up on the Desktop.
4. The screenshot toolbar: ⌘⇧5
Opens a toolbar with everything: screen, window or area, plus video recording. In Options you choose where they're saved (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard…), a 5 or 10 second timer and whether the pointer shows.
5. With Hilo: ⌘⇧4 and it's already copied
- Download Hilo for free. Hilo takes over the ⌘ ⇧ 4 shortcut (you can give it back to macOS in Settings).
- Pick the area: it goes straight to the clipboard.
- If you like, mark it up with arrows, boxes, text or blur, pin it on top of everything or share it with a link.
They're saved in the Hilo folder on your Desktop and, if you like, delete themselves after 7 or 30 days. Free on every plan.
The ways to take a screenshot, compared
| ⌘⇧3 · ⌘⇧4 | ⌃⌘⇧4 | Hilo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copies itself | No, it's saved | Yes | Yes |
| Arrows, text and blur | By hand, in the thumbnail | No | Yes |
| Pin it on top of everything | No | No | Yes |
| Share link | No | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free | Free |