How to Perform Print Screen in Mac OS X

If you’re new to MAC Computer, you might have wondered about missing Print Screen key on Mac Keyboard. Most of our newbie readers often been asking us about “How to do Print Screen in Mac OS X since there is no print screen button on the keyboard.” Despite the fact that Mac doesn’t provide any print screen key on the keyboard like windows, it still provides much more advanced print screen functions than on Windows. Instead of hitting a single print screen button, you’ll need to hit more than one key to perform print screen function on Mac.

How to Print Screen in Mac OS X and save to a file on Desktop

Unlike windows print screen, Mac OS X can capture screen either full screen, or specific screen area or any particular windows screen, and the screenshot will automatically get saved on to a file on the desktop in .png format. Follow the below commands to capture Print Screen in Mac OS X:

To capture a full-screen screenshot and to save it as PNG file on the desktop

Command ⌘ + Shift + 3

To capture a specific area screenshot using selection box and to save it as PNG file on the desktop

Command ⌘ + Shift + 4

To capture only windows screenshot and to save it as PNG file on the desktop

Command ⌘ + Shift + 4 + spacebar and click on window

How to Print Screen in Mac OS X and save to Clipboard

Using the below command will save the print screen in Mac clipboard instead of saving to a file on the desktop. You can use Command + V to paste the image.

To capture a full-screen screenshot, and to save it into clipboard

Command ⌘ + Control + Shift + 3

To capture a specific area screenshot using selection box and to save it into clipboard

Command ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4

To capture only windows screenshot and to save it into clipboard

Command ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4 + spacebar and click on window

Though Print Screen in Mac provides an excellent screen capture utility, but if you still want a more advanced screen capture tool, then you may try Snagit application on mac.