What "copy screen" means and why you'd do it
Copying your screen means capturing what you see on your display and saving it as an image file. On a Mac Pro, this creates a picture of your entire screen, a single window, or a selected area — whatever you choose. You might do this to show someone a problem you're having, save information from a website, document your work, or create instructions with pictures.
The image lands on your clipboard (temporary storage) or directly as a file on your desktop, depending on which method you use. Mac Pro has built-in tools for this — you don't need to buy or read anything.
Key Takeaways
- Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen, or Shift + Command + 4 to select just the part you want.
- Screenshots save to your desktop as image files by default, with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png".
- Hold the spacebar after pressing Shift + Command + 4 to switch to window-capture mode and click a single window.
- Shift + Command + 5 opens a menu where you can choose what to capture and where to save it before you take the shot.
The three main keyboard shortcuts
Mac Pro gives you three quick ways to capture your screen, each with a different purpose. The first, Shift + Command + 3, captures everything — your entire display. The moment you press these keys, the screenshot is taken and saved to your desktop as a PNG file. You'll hear a camera shutter sound (unless you muted your Mac).
The second shortcut, Shift + Command + 4, lets you select just the part you want. After you press it, your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you need, then release. That selected area becomes your screenshot.
The third, Shift + Command + 5, opens a menu at the bottom of your screen with buttons for different capture types. You can choose to capture the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion. This menu also shows you where the screenshot will save and lets you change that location before you capture.
Capturing a single window instead of the whole screen
If you only need one window — like a single browser tab or an open document — use Shift + Command + 4, then hold the spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon. Move it over the window you want and click. The entire window frame captures, including its title bar and borders.
Alternatively, use Shift + Command + 5 and click the "Capture Selected Window" button (it looks like a rectangle with a dot in the corner). Then click the window you want to capture.
Where screenshots go and how to find them
By default, screenshots land on your desktop with a filename like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". The date and time in the filename match when you took the shot. You can see them when ready on your desktop, or open Finder and look in the Desktop folder.
If you want to change where screenshots save, use Shift + Command + 5 to open the menu, then click "Options" at the bottom. You'll see a list of locations: Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, or Trash. Choose whichever you prefer. From that point on, new screenshots go to that location instead.
To save a screenshot to your clipboard instead of as a file, hold the Control key while you press your screenshot shortcut. For example, Control + Shift + Command + 3 captures your entire screen and copies it to the clipboard. You can then paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app without creating a separate file.
Editing your screenshot right after you take it
After you press Shift + Command + 3 or Shift + Command + 4, a small preview thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click it to open the screenshot in the Markup tool, where you can draw, add text, crop, or make other changes before saving.
If you miss that window, you can also right-click the screenshot file on your desktop, select "Open With", and choose "Preview" or "Markup". Both let you edit the image. When you're done, save the file (Command + S) and it replaces the original.
Troubleshooting when screenshots don't work
If your keyboard shortcuts aren't working, check whether an app has taken over those keys. Some programs — particularly video games or specialized software — can override Mac's built-in shortcuts. Try using Shift + Command + 5 instead, which is harder for apps to block, or restart the app that's running.
If you don't hear the shutter sound or see the thumbnail, your Mac may be set to silent mode. Check the volume control in the top-right corner of your menu bar. You can also check System Settings: open System Settings, go to Sound, and make sure "Alert volume" is not all the way down.
If screenshots are saving to the wrong location, open Shift + Command + 5, click Options, and confirm which location is selected. That setting sticks until you change it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just my menu bar or dock?
Yes. Use Shift + Command + 4 to open the selection tool, then drag a box around just the menu bar or dock. You can capture any portion of your screen this way, not just full windows.
What's the difference between PNG and other image formats?
Mac saves screenshots as PNG files by default, which keeps the image quality high and the file size reasonable. PNG is a standard format that works on any computer or website. You can convert it to JPG or other formats later if you need to, but PNG is the best choice for most uses.
Can I take a screenshot of something that's scrolled off the bottom of the screen?
Not with the built-in tools. The screenshot captures only what's visible on your display at that moment. If you need to capture a long webpage or document, you'll need to scroll and take multiple screenshots, or use a third-party app designed for full-page captures.
How do I screenshot on a Mac Pro with Touch Bar?
The keyboard shortcuts work the same way on any Mac Pro model. If you prefer, you can also press and hold the screenshot button in Control Center (the icon that looks like a camera in the top-right corner), though the keyboard shortcuts are faster for most people.