The fastest way: use the built-in screenshot tools
macOS comes with a screenshot editor already installed — you do not need to read anything. When you take a screenshot using Command-Shift-4 or Command-Shift-5, a small editing window appears when ready. You can crop, draw, add text, magnify, or blur parts of the image before you save it. This built-in tool handles most edits people actually need.
If you have already taken a screenshot and saved it, you can still edit it. Open the image in Preview (the app that comes with every Mac), then click the Markup toolbar button — it looks like a pen tip in a circle. From there you get the same drawing, text, and shape tools as the live screenshot editor.
Key Takeaways
- The screenshot tool built into macOS (Command-Shift-5) lets you edit before saving, with options to crop, draw, add text, blur, and magnify.
- If you already saved a screenshot, open it in Preview and click the Markup button to access the same editing tools.
- For straightforward crops and text, the built-in tools are faster than opening a separate app — they are already on your Mac.
- Markup tools include a pen, highlighter, text box, shapes, magnifier, and blur — enough for most work screenshots and social media posts.
Taking and editing a screenshot in one step
Press Command-Shift-5 to open the screenshot menu. You will see options to capture the whole screen, a window, or a selection. Choose the one you need, then take the shot. A thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner of your screen.
Click that thumbnail when ready — do not wait. A full editing window opens. You can now crop by dragging the edges, draw with the pen tool, add a text box, insert shapes, or blur sensitive information. The toolbar at the top of the editing window shows all available tools. When you are done, click Done, and the edited screenshot saves to your Desktop by default.
If you want to save it somewhere else or change the filename before editing, click Options in the screenshot menu and choose where to save. You can also set it to copy to clipboard instead of saving a file — useful if you are pasting into an email or document.
Editing a screenshot you already saved
Find the screenshot file on your Mac — usually on the Desktop or in Downloads. Right-click it and select Open With, then choose Preview. The image opens in the Preview app.
At the top of the Preview window, look for the Markup toolbar button — it is a pen tip inside a circle. Click it. A row of editing tools appears below the image. You get a pen for drawing, a highlighter, a text tool, shapes, a magnifier, and a blur tool. Select the tool you need, then click or drag on the image to use it. When you are finished, press Command-S to save the changes to the original file, or Command-Shift-S to save as a new file with a different name.
Drawing and annotating with Markup
The Markup tools work the same way whether you are editing during screenshot capture or after. Click the pen icon to draw freehand lines. Click the highlighter to mark text with a semi-transparent color. Click the text tool (the letter A) to add a text box — click where you want the text, type, then click outside the box when done.
For shapes, click the shapes icon (it looks like a rectangle). A menu drops down showing options for rectangles, circles, arrows, and lines. Select the shape, then click and drag on the image to draw it. You can change the color of any tool by clicking the color swatch next to the tool icons.
The blur tool is useful for hiding passwords, email addresses, or other sensitive information. Click the blur icon, then drag across the area you want to obscure. You can blur the same spot multiple times to make it more opaque.
Cropping to remove unwanted edges
In the screenshot editing window, look for the crop tool — it looks like two overlapping right angles in the top toolbar. Click it, then drag the corners or edges of the image to select only the part you want to keep. The area outside your selection darkens. When the crop looks right, press Enter or click the crop button again to explore it.
If you are editing a saved screenshot in Preview, you can also crop by selecting the rectangular selection tool (the first icon in the Markup toolbar), drawing a box around the part you want to keep, then going to Tools menu and selecting Crop. This removes everything outside your selection.
Magnifying part of a screenshot
The magnifier tool is helpful when you need to highlight a small detail or make part of the image larger. Click the magnifier icon in the Markup toolbar. A circular magnifying glass appears on your image — you can drag it to position it over the area you want to zoom. The magnified area appears in a circle, and you can resize the circle by dragging its edge.
This tool is useful for tutorials or instructions where you want readers to focus on a specific button or menu item. You can use it alongside other tools — for example, add an arrow pointing to the magnified area to draw attention to it.
Saving and sharing your edited screenshot
When you finish editing a screenshot you captured with Command-Shift-5, click Done. The edited image saves automatically to the location you chose in Options (Desktop by default). The filename includes the date and time — for example, Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png.
If you edited a screenshot in Preview, press Command-S to save changes to the original file, or Command-Shift-S to save as a new file. You can also export it in a different format — go to File menu, select Export, and choose JPEG, PDF, or another format from the Format dropdown.
To share a screenshot directly, you can copy it to your clipboard instead of saving a file. During screenshot capture, click Options and select Clipboard. After you take the shot and edit it, click Done. The edited image is now copied and ready to paste into email, Slack, or any other app.
When the built-in tools are not enough
The Markup tools cover basic edits: cropping, drawing, text, shapes, blur, and magnify. If you need more advanced features — like layers, filters, color correction, or resizing — you will need a separate app. Popular options include Pixelmator Pro, Affinity Photo, or GIMP (free). These are heavier tools and take longer to open, so use them only when Markup cannot do what you need.
For most work — annotating screenshots for documentation, blurring sensitive data, adding arrows or text boxes, or preparing images for social media — the built-in Markup tools are faster and simpler. They are already on your Mac and require no setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo an edit after I click Done?
If you have not closed the editing window, press Command-Z to undo. Once you click Done and the window closes, the edit is saved. If you saved to a file, you can reopen it in Preview and edit again, but the original unedited version is gone unless you made a copy first.
Where do screenshots save by default on a Mac?
By default, screenshots save to your Desktop with a filename like Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png. You can change this in the screenshot menu — press Command-Shift-5, click Options, and select a different location like Documents or Downloads.
How do I change the color of the pen or text in Markup?
In the Markup toolbar, look for the color swatch — it is a small square next to the tool icons, usually showing the current color. Click it to open a color picker. Choose the color you want, then use the tool. The color stays selected until you change it again.
Can I edit a screenshot on my iPhone and use it on my Mac?
Yes. Edit the screenshot on your iPhone using the built-in markup tools, then it syncs to your Mac through iCloud. Open it in Preview on your Mac and edit further if needed. You can also take the screenshot on your Mac directly, which is usually faster if you are already at your computer.
What file format should I use when saving an edited screenshot?
PNG is the default and works for most uses — it preserves quality without making the file huge. Use JPEG if you need a smaller file size for email or web. Use PDF if you want to preserve the exact layout and make it harder to edit further. For most screenshots, PNG is the right choice.