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Take a screenshot or record your screen on your Mac

macOS has one shortcut that does everything — capture the whole screen, a selection, a single window, or record video — and it has been there since Mojave.

  • DifficultyEasy
  • Time5 min
  • RiskLow
  • ReversibleYes
  • PlatformmacOS
  • Updated

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Low risk. This fix only checks things, or changes settings you can switch back in the same place. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

macOS screen capture shortcuts as keycaps — Command+Shift+5 for the full toolbar, Command+Shift+4 to drag a box, and adding Control to copy to clipboard

What usually goes wrong

  • Add Control to any of these shortcuts to send the capture to the clipboard instead of a file, which saves a trip through Finder.
  • Screen recording needs permission under Privacy & Security and macOS only prompts once, so grant it there if you declined.

Steps

How to verify the fix

The capture appears on your Desktop as a dated PNG, or pastes straight into an app if you held Control.

If this didn't fix it

If nothing happens, check the shortcuts are enabled under System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, Screenshots. If a recording has no sound, pick a microphone under Options before you record.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

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