How to take screenshots and record your screen on Mac

By Joseph Keller
published

Screenshots macOS Big Sur Hero
Screenshots macOS Big Sur Hero (Image credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / iMore)
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It's never been easier to record videos of your screen or to take screenshots on your Mac. Here's what you need to know about taking screenshots in macOS Big Sur.

How to take screenshots on Mac

  1. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard to bring up the screenshot toolbar.
  2. Click on one of the following: Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Windows, or Capture Selected Portion to capture exactly what you want. Selecting Capture Entire Screen will take a screenshot immediately unless you set a timer.
  3. Click on your window or select your screen portion if you chose to capture something other than your whole screen. Your screenshot will be taken as soon as the selection is made.

To take a screenshot on Mac, choose what you want to capture, Click area/window you want to capture (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click on the screenshot that appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  2. Use the contextual menu to choose where to save the screenshot, send it, show it in the Finder, delete it, or mark it up.

To take a screenshot on Mac, Control-click screenshot in bottom-right, use contextual menu (Image credit: iMore)

How to record your screen on Mac

Screen recording is simple on Mac. You no longer have to rely on QuickTime to record screens. Instead, you bring up the same toolbar as you do for screenshots.

  1. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard to bring up the screenshot toolbar.
  2. Click either Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion. Your recording will begin immediately if you select Record Entire Screen.
  3. Select the portion of the screen you wish to record if you're only recording a part of it.

To record your screen on Mac, choose what to record, choose recording area if necessary (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click Record on the screenshot and recording control bar.
  2. Press the Stop button in the Menu bar to stop the recording.

To record your screen on Mac, click Record, press Stop button when done (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click on the recording that appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  2. Use the contextual menu to choose where to save the screenshot, send it, show it in the Finder, delete it, or mark it up.

To record your screen on Mac, Control-click recording, use contextual menu (Image credit: iMore)

How to choose a save location for screenshots and screen recordings on Mac

Although you can choose from a limited set of locations to save your screenshots and recordings after making them, you can also pre-select a destination beforehand.

  1. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard to bring up the screenshot toolbar.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Select Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, Mail, Messages, or Preview under Save to to set a save location.

To choose a save location for screenshots and screen recordings on Mac, press Command + Shift + 5, click Options, select save location (Image credit: iMore)

How to set a timer for screenshots and screen recordings on Mac

  1. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard to bring up the screenshot toolbar.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Select None, 5 Seconds, or 10 Seconds under Timer to set a timer.

To set a timer for screenshots and screen recordings on Mac, Command + Shift + 5, click Options, choose Timer setting (Image credit: iMore)

How to show the mouse pointer in screenshots on Mac

  1. Press Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard to bring up the screenshot toolbar.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Click Show Mouse Pointer.

To show the mouse pointer in screenshots on Mac, Command + Shift + 5, click Options, click Show Mouse Cursor (Image credit: iMore)

How to edit a screenshot on Mac

  1. Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click on the screenshot that appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen after taking a screenshot or screen recording.
  2. Click Markup.

to edit a screenshot on Mac, Control-click screenshot, click Markup (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Use the toolbar to draw or write, highlight, add shapes, insert text or a signature, rotate, or select text styles using the toolbar at the top of the Quick Look window.
  2. Click Done when you're finished.

To edit a screenshot on Mac, Use toolbar, click Done (Image credit: iMore)

How to edit a screen recording on Mac

  1. Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click on the recording that appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen after taking a screenshot or screen recording.
  2. Click Markup.

To edit a screen recording on Mac, Control-click recording, click Markup (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click the trim button close to the top-right corner of the Quick Look window.
  2. Grab the hold points at either end of the recording's timeline, and adjust their position to change the recording's length.

To edit a screen recording on Mac, click trim button, grab hold points (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click Done.

To edit a screen recording on Mac, click Done (Image credit: iMore)

Time to upgrade?

Are you considering a new Mac desktop or laptop? Be sure to check out our favorite Macs of the year.

Questions?

If you have any questions about how to take screenshots or make screen recordings on Mac, ask away in the comments.

Updated December 2020: Updated for macOS Big Sur.

macOS Big Sur

○ macOS Big Sur Review
○ macOS Big Sur FAQ
○ Updating macOS: The ultimate guide
○ macOS Big Sur Help Forum

Joseph Keller
Joseph Keller

Joseph Keller is the former Editor in Chief of iMore. An Apple user for almost 20 years, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.