Screenshot Shortcut
Common screenshot keyboard shortcuts across platforms and how to customize them.
A screenshot shortcut is a keyboard combination that starts a screen capture without opening an app first. Operating systems ship default shortcuts, and capture apps add their own for actions such as starting a timed capture or capturing a saved area.
Shortcuts trade flexibility for speed. One key combination captures one image in a fixed mode, such as full screen or a selected area. Options such as a delay, a save location or a format are set elsewhere, usually in a toolbar or settings panel. On a Mac, built-in screenshots are saved as PNG to the Desktop by default.
Shortcuts by platform
| Action | macOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Full screen | Shift+Command+3 | Windows logo key+Print Screen |
| Area | Shift+Command+4 | Windows logo key+Shift+S |
| Window | Shift+Command+4, then Space | Alt+Print Screen |
| Toolbar | Shift+Command+5 | Windows logo key+Shift+S |
| To clipboard | Add Control | Print Screen |
Customizing shortcuts
On macOS, open System Settings, then Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts, and select Screenshots to change or turn off each shortcut. The save location and timer are set under Options in the Shift+Command+5 toolbar. On Windows, the Print Screen key behavior is set in the keyboard settings.
Shortcuts vs automation
A shortcut captures one image per key press. For 5 images that is fine. For 200 pages of a document, each with a page turn, a loop that captures, sends a key and waits is faster and keeps every frame the same size.
Common mistakes with screenshot shortcuts
- Two apps registering the same combination, so one stops working.
- Forgetting that Control sends the capture to the clipboard, not a file.
- Capturing with the wrong display active on a multi-monitor setup.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot uses Shift+Command+R for Start Auto Capture and Command+. for Finish Capture. Capture Now uses the Action Capture manual shortcut, Shift+Command+2 by default. See navigation and shortcuts.
Common questions
How do I screenshot only one window on a Mac?
Press Shift+Command+4, press Space, then click the window. Hold Option while clicking to leave out the shadow.
Can I change the screenshot format on a Mac?
Not in System Settings. The Terminal command defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg changes it.
Sources
Related resources
- Navigation and shortcuts: all Temposhot shortcuts.
- Action Capture runtime: manual capture during a run.
- Automated capture: replace repeated key presses.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- Print ScreenHow the Print Screen key works on Windows, its variations, and when to use dedicated screenshot tools instead.
- Screenshot ClipboardHow screenshot clipboard capture works, when to use clipboard vs file save, and platform differences.
- Window CaptureWhat window capture is, how it differs from full-screen and region capture, and when to use it.
- Area ScreenshotWhat an area screenshot is, how to select a custom region, and when to use one instead of full-screen capture.
- Screen CaptureWhat screen capture means, the different capture methods, and how to choose the right one.
- Screenshot AutomationWhat screenshot automation is, how it differs from manual capture and screen recording, and where teams use it.