The famous MacBook Air indeed comes from ultraportable notebook computer line owned by Apple Inc. In spite of many rivals out on the market, MacBook Air still holds its place at the top due to its innovative design and features that can't be matched by other brand. So far its latest model is the MacBook Air model 6, which is released early this year. Aside from these factors, users keep on patronizing this notebook because of its portability and reliability, and so far it has been one of the thinnest out there.
- How To Take A Screenshot On Macbook
- Macbook Air Screenshot Shortcut
- Print Screen Macbook Air
- How To Print Screen Mac
- How Do You Screenshot On Mac Airbook
On the other hand, new MacBook Air users may be confused with the ways on how to operate this device due to its unique operating system that only Apple provides. The usual thing that might puzzle individuals is on how to take a screenshot on a MacBook Air? In case that you're one of them, here is a sort of a comprehensive guide for you to follow. Let's start with a video which will show you how to use professional applications to do this job.
I. Take Advantage of the Optimal Tool
A full screen capture in Mac:- In order to have a full screen image capture in Mac, you can bring a shortcut command in use. This command just includes you to press a few keys all together at a same time. You only need to make use of your keyboard and you never need any application in order to follow this approach. Press and hold Shift + Command (⌘) keys together on your keyboard to view on-screen controls. Click the ‘Capture entire screen' icon. Now your pointer will be converted to a camera icon. Click any screen to take a screenshot or tap Capture on the on-screen menu.
You can move screenshots directly into your MacBook's Clipboard by customizing your Screenshot Utility on Mac to Save to destination option. Here's how to set it up: Open the new screenshot by using the keys Shift+Command/⌘+5. Choose Clipboard as the Save to destination. Click on ‘X' to exit out of screenshot utility. After that, you can hit and launch it on your Desktop. When it is over, hit it to launch on your Mac. On the main interface, choose Video Recorder as your recording mode. Choose Your Recording Area. Now, let's move onto the recording area settings part. As you can see there are 2 buttons available for you to option, Full or Custom.
II. Make Use of Keyboard Shortcuts
III. Use Mac's Built-in Screen Capture Utility
IV. Utilize Free Simple Third-party Application
V. Adopt Professional Paid Program
Method One: Using Apowersoft Mac Screenshot
There can be various ways on how to screenshot on a MacBook Air, and one of them is by using Apowersoft Mac Screenshot. This innovative tool is very easy to use yet provides the great quality screenshot that you can get. It also supports the new Macbook Air Retina. With the help of this application you can capture anything that appears on your computer monitor. When you've taken a screenshot with this tool, its built-in image editor will pop up, which enables you to add lines, arrows, texts, etc. to the screenshot. When the screenshot is done, you can either save it to your local disk or upload it to the free space provided by the developer. To access all its functions, you just need to click the button below to download and install it on your Mac.
Tips: If you upload it to the free space, you will get links to the screenshot. You can use these links to embed the graph in blogs and forums. With all those features and this free Cloud benefit, this tool is undoubtedly the optimal way to take screenshot on Apple MacBook Air.
Method Two: The Default Way of Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Another great way to capture screen on MacBook Air even on Macbook Air Retina 2015 is by taking advantage of the Mac Air's default keyboard shortcuts. By using the proper keyboard combination you can easily screenshot Apple MacBook Air. Here is a more detailed instruction.
1. Capture full screen with keyboard shortcuts
To save an image of your computer screen, all you need to do is to press the key combination of 'Shift+Command+3', then click the mouse and drag it to the region you want to capture. Upon pressing these keys, you will hear a camera shutter to notify you that a full screenshot is done. The captured image will then be saved automatically into your desktop with the corresponding date and time.
How To Take A Screenshot On Macbook
2. Capture part of screen with keyboard shortcuts
In case that you just want to grab a selected area of your MacBook Air's screen, then all you need to do is to press a combination of 'Shift+Command+4' keys. By this time, the cursor will turn to cross-hair. You can simply click and drag a region to create screenshot for it. Then you will find the screenshot on your desktop, if you desire to take a screenshot and directly copy it to clipboard, just press the 'Shift+ Ctrl +Command+4' keys.
Method Three: Using Grab
The next way to take screenshot is by utilizing a flexible and powerful tool named Grab. It can also be used on MacBook Air with Retina display. This tool has a built in timer which is great in taking multiple screenshots at regular intervals. Moreover, this application also allows its user to select between numerous file formats. Added to that, it can modify the dimensions and portion of the screenshots. To use it, the first thing that you must do is to download the utility and run it. Upon opening it you will be given some preferences to choose from such as: Timer, Area, File, and Resize. Users are also given an opportunity to modify the size of the screen area from Width and Height.
Method Four: Using Jing
As another option to do a screenshot on a MacBook Air Retina is called Jing. This application can help any Mac users to save anything visible in their computer screen. Furthermore, it also has a quick sharing feature which is great especially in this era of social media. To use this screenshot tool on your MacBook Air, here are the steps:
- Launch the program and a sun-like thing will appear on the upper right corner of your screen which serves as a Jing menu.
- Now to take a screenshot, move the cursor across the menu and click the one that looks like a cross-hair.
- Click and drag to select the area to be captured, after that just release the mouse and your screenshot is done.
Method Five: Snagit for Mac
For the fifth method of taking screenshot on Mac, you can use this well known screen capture tool that is available for both Windows and Mac. With the use of this app, users can grab anything on their monitor and at the same take can take advantage of its editor and simple interface. To take screenshot using Snagit here are the steps for you:
- Open the webpage or program that you want to capture.
- Launch Snagit and move the cursor across the window and it will turn into a frame around the window.
- Click the red 'Capture' button, and an orange crosshairs will display.
- Select the region to capture just click the 'Camera' icon and you are done.
Related posts:
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.
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. 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
Macbook Air Screenshot Shortcut
- 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 External hdd compatible with mac and pc. 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.
Print Screen Macbook Air
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.
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.
| 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.
You may also read here:
How To Print Screen Mac
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.
How Do You Screenshot On Mac Airbook
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/ankur/How to Turn ON or OFF Facebook Nearby Friends on iPhone
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/ankur/How to Reset Hosts File to Default on Mac and Windows PC
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/ankur/
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/ankur/How to Turn off Unread Mail Count in Mail App on iPhone
