macOS has excellent in-built screenshot support. If you are in a hurry, let me tell you straight up that to take a screenshot on your Mac, press together Command + Shift + 3. However, if your job demands to take screenshots frequently, learn more options to become super productive at this.
- Where Is Snipping Tool On Mac
- Where Is Windows Snipping Tool On Mac
- Snipit For Mac
- Best Snipping Tool For Mac
Feb 16, 2014 Actually there are many Snipping Tool alternative on Mac, such as the built-in Grab for Mac, it can be used to take screenshots on Mac, but it can automatically save screenshot in TIFF format. You need to use the 'Preview' app to change the format. The Snipping Tool for Windows from Microsoft is a practical tool. Sadly, it does not work on Mac OS X. But Apple also has a number of tools which help you create screenshots on your Mac or Macbook. Snipping Tool alternatives for Mac. Without installing another tool you can always take a screenshot on your Mac by pressing CMD +Shift +4.
Note: The keyboard shortcuts to do screenshots work the same way on MacBook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, Mac Mini, or any other Mac.
4 Keyboard Shortcuts to Take Screenshots on Mac
Capture the Full Screen
To take a screenshot of the full Mac screen, including the Dock, top menu bar and everything else: Press together Command + Shift + 3.
Capture Selected Portion of Screen
To take a screenshot of a selected portion: Press together Command + Shift + 4. You may leave the keys when you see the crosshair. Next, drag it to select a portion of the screen. When you are done with the selection, release the mouse key or trackpad touch. The Mac captures a screenshot and saves it.
Pro Tip: Suppose you make a selection of the wrong portion. You do not press the esc button and restart. Press and hold the Space bar to move the selection. Press and hold Shift to change the selection area only in one direction. And, press the Option key to increase or decrease the sides in proportion. Try it! You will love these.
Capture Any Open Window
To capture only an open window on Mac: Press together Command + Shift + 4. Leave the keys when you get the selection cursor.
Now, press the Space bar once.
Next, take the camera icon on any open window and click. Using this, you can even do a screenshot of just the Dock or the menu bar and so on. These screenshot files have a nice grey shading on their edges that look great.
Using Screenshot Tools
One button for all: Can not remember all the above keys? Just remember one set, and then you can use the tools you see to take a screenshot or even screen recording on Mac running macOS Mojave or later. For this, press together Command + Shift + 5.
After you take a screenshot using any method, you might see its thumbnail in the lower right corner. It will automatically disappear after a few seconds and get saved. Revit mac os x download. Or, you may also click on it to make edits like crop, markup, share, etc.
How to Use Preview App to Take a Screenshot on Mac
- Use Launchpad or go to Finder → Applications and open the Preview app.
- Click on File from the top menu bar.
- Choose Take Screenshot and then select one of the options.
Note: Suppose you want to take a screenshot of Chrome using Preview. For this, open the Preview app from the Dock or Launchpad. Then you will see the menu for Preview in the top bar. Do not click on the Chrome window. If you click on it or any other app window, its menu will take the place on the top bar.
How to Save Screenshots Directly to the Clipboard on Mac
When you do a screenshot, it is saved to the desktop or place decided by you. However, there is an additional throwaway method to grab a screenshot and get it copied automatically to the clipboard. This won’t save the actual file. You can paste the screenshot in apps like Notes, Word, Google Docs, etc. or even paste it on your other Apple devices courtesy of Universal Clipboard.
For this, press and hold the Controlkey when you take a screenshot using the above methods. For example,
- To take a full-screen grab and have it copied to the clipboard: Command + Shift + Control + 3.
- To take a screenshot of a selected portion and have it copied to the clipboard: Command + Shift + Control + 4.
- You can also use Command + Shift + 5, then press the Control button, and take the screenshot.
How to Take a Screenshot on MacBook Pro Using Touch Bar
You can also print screenshots using the TouchBar on MacBook. But first, you need to add the screenshot button to it. For this:
- Click on the Apple logo → System Preferences.
- Next, click on Extensions → Touch Bar.
- Click on Customize Control Strip → drag the Screenshot icon down to the TouchBar. When you see the icon on the TouchBar, you may drag it left or right at the desired position. Finally, click on Done.
Now onwards, tap on the Camera icon in the TouchBar to open the screenshot tools and take a screen capture.
Pro Tip: Wondered how to take the screenshot of the TouchBar itself? Press Command + Shift + 6
How to Take a Screenshot of Login Screen on Mac
Just like any other full screenshot! That is, after you power on your Mac, or are at any login window, or locked user authentication screen, press Command + Shift + 3 to take a screenshot.
This method works if you are running OS X 10.10 (Yosemite, released in 2014) and above.
Note: The screenshot file starts with LWScreenshot if it is of the main login screen (after you just power on or log out of the current user). Rest other login screenshots have the normal file name (Screen Shot Year-Month-Date and Time)
Where to Find Screenshots on Mac?
By default, screenshots are saved on desktop. You will find all of them here.
Pro Tips:
- If you have several screenshots, select them all, right-click and then choose New Folder with Selection.
- You can also drag the screenshot thumbnail to any folder.
How to Change Default Location of Saved Screenshots on Mac
- Press Command + Shift + 5.
- Click on Options.
- From under Save to, choose a predefined location. Or click on Other Location.
Usb 3 external hard drive mac. All future screenshots will save on the selected location. This setting will stay in effect even if you restart the Mac.
How to Change Keyboard Shortcuts to Take Screenshots on Mac
The default keys are great. However, you may modify them to any key you like. For this:
- Click on the Apple logo from the Menu bar and choose System Preferences.
- Now, click on Keyboard → Shortcuts.
- Click on Screenshots.
- Select a shortcut and then press the enter key.
- Now, press the desired new key or multiple keys combination.
How to Print Screen on Mac Using Windows Keyboard
If you use a Windows keyboard with Mac, the steps to take a screenshot remains the same. However, you have to use Windows keyboard equivalents.
Where Is Snipping Tool On Mac
Mac Key | Windows Key |
Control | Ctrl |
Option | Alt |
Command | Windows |
Delete | Backspace |
Return | Enter |
So, to take a full screenshot on Mac using Windows Keyboard, press: Windows + Shift + 3.
To capture a selected part, press: Windows + Shift + 4 and so on…
How to Change Screenshot File Format on Mac
By default, the screenshots on Mac are taken in .PNG format. But, you can change it to JPG (or even TIFF/ PDF/ GIF). The process involves using the Terminal. But it is straightforward. We have an easy guide that tells you how to do this.
How to Disable Screenshot Thumbnail Preview on Mac
When you take a screenshot on modern Macs, you see its thumbnail for a few seconds. You can click on it to edit it or share it via AirDrop, Mail, Messages, etc. But, if you do not fancy this and think of it as an unnecessary intrusion, here is how to turn it off.
- Press Command + Shift + 5.
- Click on Options.
- Under Options, click on Show Floating Thumbnail to unselect it.
Signing off…
This is how you can master screenshots on Mac. I hope this guide is helpful. If you have any further related questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
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I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.
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Are you a Windows user looking for a highly-rated, multi-use snipping tool as an alternative to Windows Snipping Tool? There are numerous snip it apps available with a variety of special features and services. You can find a snipping tool for Windows with cloud storage, image editing tools, screen recording capabilities, and integrations with other productivity and messaging apps. Use our guide below to find the right Windows snipping tool for your needs and budget.
Windows Snipping Tool
Before beginning our list of the 5 best alternatives to the native Windows Snipping Tool, let’s review the tool and discuss its uses as well as its drawbacks. If you already know Windows Snipping Tool well and are looking for alternatives, skip to the next section.
Windows Snipping Tool is a free snipping tool that lets you take screenshots, edit your snips, and share them with others. You can find this snipping tool through your Windows search bar or by adding it as a shortcut. You can take rectangle snips or a specific part of your screen, fullscreen shots, or free-form snips that can be of any shape. Screen capture can also be delayed by up to 5 seconds so you can switch to the screen you want to snip.
To use the snipping tool, simply drag your cursor over the portion of your screen that you wish to capture. Once you make your snip, the tool opens an editing screen where you can use a pen, highlighter, cropping tool, or open with Paint 3D for more options. Your snip can then be saved to your computer, printed, or emailed.
Snip & Sketch
For Windows 10, Microsoft has introduced a new snipping tool product called Snip & Sketch. Snip & Sketch provides a simpler interface and includes a window snip option that can screen capture your browser window instead of the fullscreen. Screen capture can also be delayed for up to 10 seconds. In addition to the sketching tools from Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch lets you edit your snips with a pencil, ruler, and touchscreen. Finally, Snip & Sketch lets you share screenshots not just over email, but also via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, OneNote, Feedback Hub, Cortana Reminders, and nearby sharing over wifi or Bluetooth.
Both Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch are currently installed on Windows 10 computers, but in the future, Snipping Tool will be discontinued and fully replaced by Snip & Sketch.
Transfer files between macs. One of the biggest drawbacks with both Windows Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch is their lack of cloud storage capabilities. If you take several screenshots every day, then your desktop screen can fill up rather quickly with files. It can also prove time-consuming to sort screenshots or find them if you need quick access. Additionally, Microsoft’s snipping tools do not include screen recording capabilities or any integrations with work productivity apps.
Overall, Windows Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch are good clipping tools for users who make the occasional snip for personal reasons but poor choices for businesses that rely on quick and efficient screenshot editing, storage, security, and sharing to communicate effectively with customers and team members.
Where Is Windows Snipping Tool On Mac
Here is our list of the 5 best snipping tool alternatives for Windows.
Best Snippings Tools for Windows
Droplr
Best for businesses and enterprise customers looking for a high-resolution snipping tool that includes cloud storage, enterprise-level security, and screen recording for a low cost.
Droplr is a highly-rated, low priced snipping tool that also includes screen recording and GIF creation. Droplr saves screenshots and recordings directly to the cloud and creates a short link for your snip that can be instantly shared with others. All of your snips are displayed on your online Droplr account and can be sorted using boards and tags. You can also change the privacy settings for your snips, boards, and tags to limit access. Droplr includes enterprise-level security with encryption and SSO.
Droplr includes over a dozen integrations so that you can drop your snips directly into various messaging and productivity apps. For example, you can integrate Droplr with Intercom to drop your snips directly into a chat with a client or with Slack to share snips instantly with co-workers. You can also integrate Droplr with Photoshop if you need more mark-up options then the arrows, emoticons, text, pencil, highlighter, and shapes included with Droplr.
Droplr’s snip it app is available on Windows, Mac, and Chrome Extension. The snipping tool shortcut can be accessed on the menu bar of your screen on Mac. Droplr offers a 7-day free trial for any of its products. Droplr’s pricing begins at $4/month (or $6/month when billed monthly) and includes all of the above core products along with 500GB of file storage, 50GB/month of bandwidth, and click analytics. Higher-priced plans increase the amount of file storage and bandwidth, add more analytics, and include custom branding. For large businesses that need unlimited file storage and bandwidth, single sign-on (SSO), or custom domains, pricing begins at $5 per seat per month.
Snipit For Mac
Snagit
Best for businesses that use visual instructions to convey information to customers and team members.
Snagit is a clipping tool developed specifically for businesses to create visual instructions. It also lets users take panoramic shots that can capture scrolling webpages and create videos using screenshots and audio. Snagit can extract the text from a screenshot so that you can paste it in another document. The mark-up tool features a number of professional annotation tools such as preset and custom templates, step tools, and text editing.
Snagit includes a dozen integrations with products such as Microsoft Suite, Google Drive, and Facebook to allow easy sharing. However, unlike Droplr, Snagit’s snipping tool does not integrate with most work productivity apps. Snagit can be installed on Windows or Mac.
Snagit includes a dozen integrations with products such as Microsoft Suite, Google Drive, and Facebook to allow easy sharing. However, unlike Droplr, Snagit’s snipping tool does not integrate with most work productivity apps. Snagit can be installed on Windows or Mac.
Snagit’s single license pricing is a $49.95 flat fee that lets you install it on two machines. Discount pricing is available for businesses with several users, education services, and governments and non-profits. Snagit’s 2020 upgrade, which includes templates, video creation from images, and integrations with Slack and Box costs an additional $24.95 for current users. Unlike Droplr, all your snips are saved to your local drive with limited free cloud storage that is upgradeable for $99.95 per year available through Snagit Screencast.
Best Snipping Tool For Mac
CloudApp
Best for businesses and enterprise customers who are looking for a snipping tool alternative that integrates with the work apps they already use.
Similar to Droplr, CloudApp is a cloud-based snipping tool, screen recorder, and GIF maker. CloudApp uploads your screenshots and recordings to your personal cloud account and creates a shareable URL that you can send to grant access to them. It also includes mark-up tools such as arrows, emoticons, basic drawing tools, and blurring tools for sensitive information.
CloudApp integrates with over 30 apps including Zapier, Trello, Sketch, and WordPress. Their snipping tool is available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Linux, and as a Chrome extension. CloudApp includes a free version with the above features and 1 minute limit for screen recordings, 15 second limit for GIFs, 100 MB/file upload size, .5 GB/link/day bandwidth, and 25 drop limit. CloudApp’s paid plans begin at $9/month for unlimited video recording and drops, 1 minute GIFs, 1 GB/file uploads, 2 GB/link/day bandwidth, and custom branding. CloudApp offers custom enterprise pricing starting at $17/month per seat.
You can read more about CloudApp for teams and CloudApp for enterprises on our How-To’s page.
Greenshot
Best for individuals looking for a free snipping tool with more features than Windows Snipping Tool.
Greenshot is a free snipping tool for Windows (with a paid version for Mac) that includes mark-ups and integrations. Greenshot can take fullscreen and window shots, snips of a selected area, and scrolling web pages on Internet Explorer. Greenshot’s mark-up tool includes arrows, text, drawing, image manipulation, blurring, paint, and shapes. After annotating your snip, you can save it on your computer, print it, copy it to your clipboard, email it, or upload it to photo sites or Microsoft Office programs. Greenshot includes free plug-ins with Jira, Box, Imgur, and Microsoft Office.
Overall, Greenshot is an excellent free alternative to Windows Snipping Tool with enhanced markups and integrations. However, it is not frequently updated (the last update was in August 2017) and does not include integral features for businesses such as cloud storage and enterprise-level security.
Overall, Greenshot is an excellent free alternative to Windows Snipping Tool with enhanced markups and integrations. However, it is not frequently updated (the last update was in August 2017) and does not include integral features for businesses such as cloud storage and enterprise-level security.
PicPick
Best for artists and graphic designers looking for a snipping tool alternative with professional-level markup tools.
PicPick is another clipping tool made specifically for Windows that includes fullscreen shots, snips, and scrolling shots along with mark-up tools. PicPick’s includes an extensive list of markup tools such as a color palette, pixel ruler, magnifier, protractor, whiteboard, crosshairs, text, image size and brightness manipulators, highlighter, blur, arrows, and shapes. PicPick integrates with Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Facebook, and Microsoft Office. Your snip can also be copied to the clipboard or print it directly from the tool.
PicPick offers both a free home version and a $29.99 product for professionals. The paid version allows for commercial use and includes auto-updates, lifetime upgrades, technical support, and no ads. PicPick’s paid version is the best snipping tool for freelance graphic designers or small businesses for internal purposes that need enhanced image editing options but don’t require cloud storage or screen recording tools.
What About Mac Snipping Tools?
Droplr, CloudApp, and Snagit all work on Mac, and Greenshot is available for Mac as well (but at a price). Windows Snipping Tool and PicPick are Windows-only tools. If you would like to look at more of the best clipping tools for Mac, you can check out our article 5 Best Snipping Tools for Mac.
Additionally, if you want more information about snipping tools and how to use them, check out our article How to Use a Snipping Tool.
Snipping Tool for Windows Selection Guide
There are many options for snipping tools on Windows, but in general, the tools above will do an excellent job capturing and annotating screenshots. Whether you are a single user, small team, or large enterprise, features are pretty consistent among these tools. The differences among them will come down to price, security, and integrations, so here’s a table to guide your selection so you can choose the best snipping tool for your needs. You can also use this table to compare Windows Snipping Tool vs Snagit, Droplr, CloudApp, Greenshot, and PicPick.