Mac Snipping Tool: Quick Guide to Screenshots

If you’re looking for the mac snipping tool, you’ll be glad to know your Mac has a built-in Screenshot app that makes capturing anything on your screen quick and easy.

With just a few keyboard shortcuts, you can snap the full screen, a window, or a custom area—no extra downloads needed. The mac snipping tool also lets you mark up, edit, and share your snips right after you take them.

Whether you’re saving images, building tutorials, or recording your screen, these features make it simple. Keep reading to master the mac snipping tool and capture anything in seconds!

What Is The Mac Snipping Tool And How Does It Work?

On macOS, the "snipping tool" functionality is built-in and accessed through keyboard shortcuts. You can capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom portion of the screen.

To capture a specific area, press Command + Shift + 4, which turns your cursor into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture, then release the mouse button. 

Mac Snipping Tool vs. Windows Snipping Tool

Here’s the thing: Mac doesn’t call it “Snipping Tool” like Windows does. Instead, it’s baked right into macOS. Windows users need to open a separate app, but on a Mac, you just hit a shortcut.

Press Shift + Command + 5 and the screenshot toolbar appears. No downloads, no setup, just instant access.

Windows gives you freeform, window, or full-screen snips in its app. On Mac, you get similar options—capture the whole screen, a single window, or a custom area—all with a few key presses. Both systems save your screenshots as image files so you can share or edit them easily.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Built-In Snipping Tool Features And Shortcuts On Mac

The Mac snipping tool lets you snap full screen, window, or selected area screenshots. You can even record your screen. To open it, just press Shift + Command + 5 and a toolbar pops up at the bottom.

There are quick shortcuts too:

• Shift + Command + 3: Grab the whole screen.
• Shift + Command + 4: Select a piece to capture.
• Shift + Command + 5: Opens the toolbar for more options and recording.

Screenshots save to your desktop by default, but you can change that in the toolbar’s options. After you snap, a thumbnail shows up in the corner. Click it to edit or share right away.

This snipping tool works on all recent macOS versions. You don’t need to download anything extra—Apple’s made it super easy to grab images or videos with just a couple of keystrokes.

Want your screenshots and files available everywhere? Find out how with How to Sync iPhone and iPad in the Easiest Way.

How To Take And Edit Screenshots With The Mac Snipping Tool

The built-in Mac snipping tool lets you capture your screen in different ways. Whether you want the full display, a single window, or just a slice, it’s pretty straightforward, and you can edit before saving or sharing.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Full Screen, Window, Or Selected Area

Mac gives you a few handy keyboard combos for screenshots. Each shortcut grabs a different part of the screen:

When you press Command + Shift + 5, a toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen. You’ll see buttons for grabbing the whole screen, a window, or a selected area. You can also start a video recording from here.

If you want to pick exactly what’s in your screenshot, the selected area option lets you drag out the section you want. These shortcuts work on all the latest macOS versions, like Ventura and Sonoma.

Editing, Annotating, And Saving Snips On Mac

After you take a screenshot, a little preview pops up in the bottom right. Clicking that thumbnail opens Markup, the built-in editor.

Markup lets you add text, draw shapes, highlight, and crop. You’ll find pens, shapes, a magnifier, and color choices in there.

When you’re done, hit "Done" to save. By default, your screenshots land on your desktop, but you can tweak the save location in the Screenshot Toolbar’s “Options.” You can also drag that thumbnail straight into an email or document if you’re in a hurry.

The Mac snipping tool covers basic editing without any extra apps. If you need more, open the file in Preview—double-click the screenshot from your desktop. There, you can add more notes or export in different formats like PNG or PDF.

Need more space to save your snips and screenshots? Learn how to organize and manage your files with The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your iCloud Storage.

Best Third-Party Mac Snipping Tool Alternatives

If you need more than what Apple’s built-in screenshot tool can do, there are third-party options. These apps often make editing, sharing, and organizing screenshots a breeze.

Here are some popular choices and what they’re good for:

Shottr is lightweight and zippy, so you can annotate and copy screenshots right away. It’s a favorite free tool among Mac users.

CleanShot X really shines with features like scrolling screenshots and cloud storage. You can record videos too, which is perfect for work or school stuff.

Lightshot is super easy to use and makes sharing a snap. The editing tools are basic, but sometimes that’s all you need.

Snagit packs in advanced editing and screen recording. It’s geared toward people who want more than just a quick snip.

If you like sharing and uploading options, Monosnap helps you save screenshots online or share them securely.

Your choice depends on what you care about—speed, simplicity, or deep editing. All these tools play nicely with the latest macOS, including Sonoma.

Final Thoughts

The Mac snipping tool makes it easy to capture and edit anything on your screen. With built-in shortcuts and editing options, you can quickly take snips for work, school, or fun. You don’t need to download extra software—everything you need is already on your Mac.

Now that you know how to use the Mac snipping tool, you can save time and work smarter every day. Try out the shortcuts and explore third-party apps if you want even more features. Snipping on Mac is simple once you know how!

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Wondering which device is best for your workflow? See a clear comparison in our guide iPad Pro vs. MacBook Pro: Which One Should You Buy?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use the snipping tool on a Mac?

Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot Toolbar at the bottom. You can choose to capture the whole screen, a window, or a selected area by dragging.

After you snap, a little thumbnail pops up. Click it to edit, share, or save your screenshot.

Is there a free snipping tool for Mac?

Yep, macOS comes with free snipping features, so you won’t need extra software for basic screenshots. The Screenshot Toolbar and keyboard shortcuts should cover most situations.

If you want more, some free apps are in the App Store, but a few might offer paid upgrades.

How to snip on Mac and paste?

When you take a screenshot, hold Control with the shortcut if you want to copy instead of save. For example, press Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4 to copy a selected area.

Now you can paste it into documents, emails, or chats with Command (⌘) + V.

Is there a tool on Mac like snipping tool?

Yes, the Screenshot tool in macOS works a lot like Snipping Tool on Windows. It lets you capture parts of your screen, single windows, or the whole display.

You can also use Preview to open and edit screenshots. For advanced editing, try third-party apps like Skitch or Snagit—some are free, some paid.

What is the shortcut for snipping tool?

The main shortcut is Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 to bring up the Screenshot Toolbar.

For a quick full-screen capture, hit Command (⌘) + Shift + 3. To grab a selected area, use Command (⌘) + Shift + 4.

How do I clip an image on my Mac?

Want to grab a piece of your screen? Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. Drag your mouse to highlight the area you want, and boom—the image lands on your desktop.

Got an existing image you want to crop? Open it in Preview. Use the selection tool, then head to Tools > Crop to keep only the part you picked.