Taking a partial screenshot on a Mac is a simple task that can be very useful. Whether you need to capture a snippet of a web page, a specific image, or an area of your desktop, macOS makes it easy. By using a simple keyboard shortcut, you can take control of what portion of your screen you’d like to capture without the need for third-party software. This function is valuable for users who need to share only a part of their screen or save information for later reference.
MacOS provides flexibility with its screenshot capabilities. For users looking to capture just a part of their screen, the process is straight-forward. Pressing a few keys will turn your cursor into a crosshair, allowing you to draw a selection box around the content you wish to capture. After making a selection, the partial screenshot is created, and you can edit or manage the screenshot from there. This built-in feature is one of the many that enhance the Mac user experience, enabling productive and efficient work habits.
How to Take a Partial Screenshot on a Mac
Taking a partial screenshot on a Mac is quick and easy once you know the right keyboard shortcuts. Whether you want to capture a specific window, a selected area of your screen, or a menu, macOS offers several built-in tools that require no additional software.
This guide walks you through all the methods step by step.
Method 1: Capture a Selected Portion of the Screen
This is the most common way to take a partial screenshot on a Mac.
Steps
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
- Your cursor will turn into a crosshair.
- Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
- Release the mouse or trackpad to take the screenshot.
✅ The screenshot is automatically saved to your desktop (by default).
Helpful Tips
- Move the selection: While dragging, hold the Space bar to reposition the selection.
- Cancel the screenshot: Press the Esc key before releasing the mouse.
Method 2: Capture a Specific Window
If you only want to capture a single app window (not the entire screen), this method is ideal.
Steps
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
- Press the Space bar
- The cursor will change into a camera icon.
- Hover over the window you want to capture.
- Click to take the screenshot.
✅ The screenshot includes the window with a subtle drop shadow.
Method 3: Use the Screenshot Toolbar (macOS Mojave and Later)
macOS includes a visual screenshot menu that makes partial screenshots even easier.
Steps
- Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5
- The Screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Capture Selected Portion
- Drag to choose the area you want to capture.
- Click Capture
✅ This method also lets you choose where the screenshot is saved.
Where Do Partial Screenshots Go?
By default, screenshots are saved to your Desktop with a filename like:
Screen Shot YYYY-MM-DD at HH.MM.SS.png
Change the Save Location
- Open the screenshot toolbar (⌘ + Shift + 5)
- Click Options
- Choose a new save location (Documents, Clipboard, or a custom folder)
Copy a Partial Screenshot to the Clipboard
If you want to paste the screenshot directly into an email or document:
Steps
- Press Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4
- Select the area you want to capture
- Paste using Command (⌘) + V
Edit Your Partial Screenshot
After taking a screenshot:
- Click the thumbnail that appears in the corner of your screen
- Use Markup tools to crop, annotate, or draw
- Click Done to save changes
You can also open the screenshot later in Preview for more editing options.
Common Troubleshooting Tips
- Nothing happens? Make sure keyboard shortcuts are enabled in
System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots - Too many screenshots on your desktop? Change the default save location using the screenshot toolbar.
Final Thoughts
Taking a partial screenshot on a Mac is fast, flexible, and built right into macOS. Whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts or the screenshot toolbar, you can capture exactly what you need in seconds—no extra apps required.
Key Takeaways
- Mac users can take a partial screenshot using a simple keyboard shortcut.
- The cursor changes to a crosshair for selecting the desired area.
- Screenshots can be edited and managed immediately after capture.
Taking a Partial Screenshot on a Mac
Capturing specific content on your Mac screen is straightforward with built-in keyboard shortcuts. This section guides you through using these shortcuts to take partial screenshots effectively.
Understanding Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are quick key combinations that command your Mac to perform specific tasks—in this case, taking a partial screenshot. Press the Shift-Command-4 keys simultaneously to activate the screenshot selection mode. This action changes the cursor into a crosshair, which you can then use to draw a box around the screen area you want to capture.
Selecting the Desired Screen Area
With the screenshot mode active, you can select the exact portion of your screen for capturing. Click and drag the mouse or trackpad to create a selection box. As you drag, the selected area appears highlighted. If you need to adjust your initial selection, you can move it by holding down the Space bar while dragging. Release the mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. To cancel the action, simply press the Esc key before releasing the button. Your Mac saves this image file to your desktop by default unless you change the settings in the Screenshot app or use keyboard modifiers to save it to the clipboard.
Managing and Editing Screenshots
Once you capture a partial screenshot on a Mac, you may want to manage and edit the image. This section will guide you through finding and using the screenshot and exploring editing and sharing options.
Finding and Using the Screenshot
When you take a screenshot on a Mac, it automatically saves to the desktop by default. Look for a new PNG file with the name “Screen Shot” followed by the date and time. If your settings differ, the file could save to another location like the Documents folder. You can locate any file in Finder using the search function.
To open and manage screenshots, double-click the file. This action opens the screenshot in Preview, the default image editor on Mac. Here, you can quickly view, copy, or perform basic edits. Copying the image to the clipboard is straightforward. Simply select the image in Preview, click ‘Edit’ in the menu bar, and click ‘Copy’. You can then paste it into another application.
Editing and Sharing Options
Preview offers several tools for editing your screenshots. To add text or shapes, click on the Markup toolbar icon. It looks like a pencil tip. Here you can:
- Add Text: Click the ‘Text’ button to insert a text box.
- Change Style: Adjust the font, size, and color using the ‘Text Style’ tool.
- Draw and Annotate: Freehand drawing is possible with the ‘Sketch’ tool.
After editing, you might want to share the screenshot. While still in Preview, click on the ‘Share’ button in the toolbar—it resembles a square with an upward arrow. From here, you can send the image via email, Messages, or other supported apps.
If you prefer using another image editor, you can drag the screenshot’s thumbnail from the desktop directly into the application. Whether saving edits or sharing the final image, Mac’s simple tools make managing your screenshots easy and efficient.
