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Screenshots and Screen Recording

How to take screenshots and record your screen using built-in tools on Mac, Windows, and Linux

Every major operating system has built-in tools for taking screenshots and recording your screen. No extra software needed. Here are the keyboard shortcuts and options for each platform.

Take a screenshot of the entire screen:

  1. Press Cmd + Shift + 3
  2. The screenshot saves to your Desktop as a .png file
  3. A thumbnail appears briefly in the corner of the screen – click it to annotate or crop before saving

Take a screenshot of a selected area:

  1. Press Cmd + Shift + 4
  2. Your cursor turns into a crosshair
  3. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture
  4. Release to take the screenshot

To capture a specific window instead, press Cmd + Shift + 4, then hit Space. Your cursor turns into a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture.

Open the screenshot toolbar (screenshots and recording):

  1. Press Cmd + Shift + 5
  2. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen with options for:
    • Capture entire screen
    • Capture selected window
    • Capture selected portion
    • Record entire screen
    • Record selected portion
  3. Click Options to change where files save, set a timer, or choose whether to show the mouse pointer
  4. Click Record to start a screen recording, then click the Stop button in the menu bar when done

Where screenshots save: Desktop by default. To change this, open the toolbar with Cmd + Shift + 5, click Options, and pick a different location under Save to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots save?▾

On Mac, screenshots save to the Desktop by default. On Windows, Win + Print Screen saves to Pictures\Screenshots, while the Snipping Tool copies to your clipboard. On Linux with GNOME, they go to Pictures/Screenshots. You can change the save location on Mac through the Cmd + Shift + 5 toolbar options.

Can I record just one window instead of the whole screen?▾

On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + 5 and select Record Selected Portion, then size the selection to fit the window. On Windows, Win + Alt + R (Game Bar) records the active window automatically. On Linux with GNOME, the built-in recorder lets you select a specific area before recording.

How do I record my screen with audio?▾

On Mac, open the toolbar with Cmd + Shift + 5, click Options, and select a microphone under the microphone section. This records your voice but not system audio by default. On Windows, Xbox Game Bar (Win + Alt + R) records system audio and optionally microphone audio – check Game Bar settings to toggle the mic. The Snipping Tool recorder does not capture audio. On Linux, the built-in GNOME recorder does not capture audio. Use OBS Studio if you need audio recording.

How do I take a screenshot of a dropdown menu or tooltip?▾

These disappear when you click away, so you need a timed capture. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + 5, click Options, set a 5-second timer, then open your menu before the capture triggers. On Windows, open the Snipping Tool app, set a delay (3 or 5 seconds), start the snip, and quickly open the menu. On Linux with GNOME, the screenshot overlay may dismiss the menu, so use a third-party tool like Flameshot that supports delayed captures.