By default, Mac screenshots are saved to the desktop. But in Mojave or later, you can choose a variety of other places where your screenshot can be saved –
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If you were to use an app such as Grab (available in earlier versions of macOS) to take your screenshots then they might end up elsewhere. Grab is likely to save the screenshot to your Documents folder – and if you don't change the name of the image it will save as Untitled.
It is possible to change where screenshots are saved in Mojave or later:
Hold down Command + Shift + 5.
Click on Options.
Find the location you want to save to in the Save to section.
Or, if you want to save the image elsewhere, choose Other Location.
We have a separate article about changing where your screenshots go if you want more information, including details of how to change the location of screenshots in High Sierra and older versions of Mac software.
How to choose dimensions of screenshot – More about the author
There are a number of reasons why you might need a screenshot to be a certain size. Perhaps you have been asked to provide an image that's a specified number of pixels, a specific size, or maybe you want to take a number of screenshots that are the same dimensions.
You might be thinking you need to edit the screenshot after you've taken it to achieve this, but actually you can choose the dimensions of the screenshot as you take it – and use the same dimensions again.
If this is a one off and you need to take one screen shot at specific dimensions do this:
Press Command + Shift + 4.
Crosshairs will appear on your screen with some number – these represent the number of pixels that you will be grabbing. Click your mouse or trackpad and drag a marquee over the area of the screen you want to grab. You'll notice that the numbers beside the crosshairs will change.
How to take a screenshot on Mac
Drag until the measurement corresponds with the dimensions you require. For example, if you want a square make sure the width and height are the same.
Before letting go of the mouse button/trackpad, press the SpaceBar, then you can move the box around your screen until you have the area covered you want to screenshot.
Once you are happy with your selection, release the mouse button/trackpad.
If you frequently have to take images that are the same size – for example, we use 1,600 x 900 images so that tends to be our default – you could set up your crosshairs in advance by using Command + Shift + 5. Here's how:
Hold down Command + Shift + 5.
When the crosshairs appear on your screen drag these crosshairs to cover an area of screen that equals the pixel width and depth you need. You don't need to worry too much about how well you cover the area you want to grab because once you release the mouse button you will be able to move the box around your screen until you have the area covered you want to screenshot.
Once you are happy with your selection, click Capture (if you are using macOS Mojave or later).
How to screenshot a window
What if you want to screen grab or screenshot a single window on your desktop?
There are two ways to do this. You could press Command + Shift + 5 and choose Capture Selected Windows. Alternatively:
Hold down Command + Shift + 4.
When crosshairs appear, hit the Space key. You'll see a camera icon and the foremost window will turn gray.
Position your cursor over the window you want to grab (it will be highlighted) and click your mouse/press the trackpad.
A screenshot of the window (complete with shadow) will appear on your desktop.
Click to take a screenshot of this window only – and the resulting image will have a nice shadow effect, too.
