Window Capture

Window capture is a screenshot of a single application window, with its edges detected by the system instead of drawn by hand. The result contains only that window: no desktop, no Dock, no other apps.

On a Mac, press Shift+Command+4, then Space, and click a window. The pointer turns into a camera and the window under it is highlighted. By default macOS adds a drop shadow with a transparent margin around the window; holding Option while clicking leaves the shadow out. On Windows, Alt+Print Screen copies the active window to the clipboard.

Window capture vs full-screen vs region capture

Mode	Captures	Best for
Window	One app window	Clean app screenshots
Full screen	The whole display	Context, multi-window states
Region	A drawn or fixed rectangle	One panel, exact size

Window capture gives clean edges without cropping. Region capture gives a fixed size that does not depend on the window. Full screen shows everything, including private items.

Where window capture is used

• Documentation and help articles about one app.
• Bug reports that should not show other windows.
• App store and marketing images.
• Recording one app while others stay private.

How window capture works

The system knows the position and size of every window, so a capture tool can ask for one window's content directly. Frameworks such as ScreenCaptureKit on macOS let apps capture a specific window and follow it if it moves. The capture uses the window's actual pixels, at 2x on Retina displays.

Common mistakes with window capture

• Keeping the macOS shadow when the image goes on a dark background, which adds an uneven border.
• Capturing a window that shows private data in a sidebar.
• Resizing the window between captures in a sequence, which changes image sizes.

Taking the same screenshots again and again?

Temposhot Auto Capture has a Windows tab in the source picker, and Action Capture can target the Active Window or a Specific Window, with Capture outside clicks for clicks elsewhere. See capture sources.

Common questions

How do I capture a window without the shadow on a Mac?

Hold Option while you click the window after pressing Shift+Command+4 and Space.

Can I capture a window that is behind another window?

Window-level capture tools can often record a covered window's own content. Results depend on the tool and the app.

Sources

• Take a screenshot on your Mac (Apple Support)
• ScreenCaptureKit (Apple Developer)

Related resources

• Capture sources: screens, windows and custom areas.
• Action Capture guide: capture targets for click steps.
• Image converter: change a capture's format.