A useful screenshot shows someone exactly what they need to see. That might be one error message, a receipt, or a setting you cannot find. Choose the smallest capture that still explains the situation; a full desktop often makes the important detail harder to read.
Use Shift + Command + 4 to select an area. For the entire display, use Shift + Command + 3.
Go straight to the stepsBefore you begin
Hide sensitive information before capture.
What you’ll need
- A Mac with a keyboard
- The window you want to capture
Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Get the screen ready
Open your content. Move unrelated windows aside.
- 02
Choose your capture
Press Shift + Command + 4 together. Drag across the area, then release. For a whole-screen image, press Shift + Command + 3 instead.
- 03
Capture just one window
For this alternative, press Shift + Command + 4, release, then press Space. Click the window with the camera pointer. Escape cancels.
- 04
Find and check the image
Screenshots normally appear on the desktop. Open yours and check the crop before sharing. Shift + Command + 5 opens capture controls; Options shows the save location.
Choose the right screenshot for the job
For a support request, include the error and enough of the surrounding window to show which app produced it. For a receipt, include the date and order details you actually need to share. For a presentation, leave a little room around the subject so the image does not feel cramped.
Try a selected area first if your desktop contains unrelated work. A window capture is handy when the whole app matters. A full-screen image is better for explaining how several windows relate to one another. None of these choices changes what the recipient is allowed to see, so review the picture yourself.
A quick check before you send it
Open the saved image at a comfortable size and read the smallest text. If you have to guess at the words, take another capture with the relevant app enlarged. Avoid photographing a screenshot displayed on your laptop; send the image file so the recipient can zoom in.
Rename a file you intend to keep with something meaningful, such as “delivery-error-september-21”. If you are documenting a sequence, number the images in order. A short message explaining what you expected and what happened is often more helpful than drawing arrows over every part of the picture.
A quick final check
- The subject is readable without unrelated windows.
- Private messages and account details are out of view.
- The saved image is the version you intend to share.
Common questions & sticking points
How do I copy a screenshot without saving a file?
Hold Control along with the screenshot shortcut to copy the capture. Paste it into a compatible app with Command + V.
Why is a video window blank?
Some protected media apps restrict screenshots. The shortcut cannot override that restriction.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
Last source check: September 21, 2026