This is a compact reference for every built-in macOS screenshot shortcut, what each one does, and the modifiers that change its behavior. No history lesson, just the keys.

The core shortcuts

Shortcut What it does
⌘ + Shift + 3 Captures the entire screen to a file
⌘ + Shift + 4 Crosshair mode: drag to capture a region
⌘ + Shift + 4, then Space Camera mode: click a window to capture just it
⌘ + Shift + 5 Opens the Screenshot toolbar (capture, record, options)
⌃ + ⌘ + Shift + 3/4 Same captures, but to the clipboard instead of a file

Modifiers and variations

  • Control: copy to clipboard instead of saving a file. Works with 3 and 4.
  • Escape: cancel region selection at any time while the crosshair is active.
  • Space (during ⌘⇧4): lock the current selection’s size and move it around the screen without resizing. Press it again to go back to resizing.
  • Shift (while dragging): constrain the selection to one axis, so width or height stays fixed as you drag.
  • Option (while dragging): move the anchor point to the center of the selection so it expands or contracts in all four directions. This is the one to reach for when you need a selection of an exact size.
  • Shift + Option: constrain one axis and expand from the center at the same time.

The last three only apply while you’re still holding the mouse button down. Release the mouse and the capture happens, so these reshape a selection in progress rather than adjust a finished one.

The Screenshot toolbar (⌘ + Shift + 5)

The toolbar adds what the raw shortcuts don’t:

  • Capture entire screen, window, or selection.
  • Record the whole screen or a portion as video.
  • Timer: 5-second or 10-second delay so you can arrange windows first.
  • Options menu: choose save location (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or a custom folder), show or hide the floating thumbnail, and remember the last selection.

Changing where screenshots are saved

By default, captures land on the Desktop as PNG files named Screenshot <date> at <time>.png.

  1. Press ⌘ + Shift + 5.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Under Save to, pick Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, Preview, or Other Location… for a custom folder.

The choice persists across sessions.

Third-party shortcut: Shotivo

Shotivo adds its own global shortcuts on top of the system set:

Shortcut What it does
⌘ + Shift + 9 (default, configurable) Region capture with instant annotation editor
⌘ + Shift + W (default, configurable) Window capture
⌘ + Shift + S (default, configurable) Full-screen capture
⌘ + Return (inside the editor) Share, uploads and copies a public link

All three modes are also in the menu bar. Each capture shortcut can be changed in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts if one collides with something else you use.

When to use which

The shortcuts below pair with the annotation workflows: capture first, then mark up in whatever editor you reach for.

  • Quick glance / paste into chat: ⌃⌘⇧4 region to clipboard.
  • Full context for a bug report: ⌘⇧3, then annotate.
  • Clean single-window shot: ⌘⇧4 + Space.
  • Screenshot after arranging windows: ⌘⇧5 → Timer 5s.
  • Repeatable daily workflow (capture → mark up → link): a menu bar utility with global hotkeys keeps the whole loop to a few seconds per capture.