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Screenshot just the part you need, no cropping

How to screenshot part of the screen on Windows or Mac

On Windows, press Windows + Shift + S and drag a box. The snip goes to your clipboard. On a Mac, press Cmd + Shift + 4 and drag. The image lands on your desktop.

How to do it

  1. Windows: press Windows + Shift + S, then drag a box around what you want. It goes to your clipboard, ready to paste.

  2. Mac: press Cmd + Shift + 4, then drag. The image lands on your desktop.

  3. Mac bonus: press Cmd + Shift + 4, then tap the spacebar, then click a window to capture just that window.

On Windows, a notification pops up after the snip. Click it if you want to draw on the screenshot or save it as a file.

On a Mac, add Control to the shortcut (Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 4) if you'd rather have it on the clipboard instead of cluttering the desktop.

Other ways to do it

  • ShareX (Windows) App

    Pick it if you want scrolling captures, GIFs or automatic file naming.

    Stick with this tip if you take a few screenshots a week and want nothing to install.

  • Print Screen, then crop By hand

    Pick it if your keyboard shortcut is taken or the snip overlay won't open.

    Stick with this tip if you don't want to open an editor just to crop.

Questions people ask

Where does the Windows snip get saved?

It goes to the clipboard. Current Windows 11 builds also save a copy in Pictures > Screenshots. If it isn't there, click the notification and save it from Snipping Tool.

How do I capture just one window on a Mac?

Press Cmd + Shift + 4, then the spacebar, then click the window.

Can a Mac screenshot go to the clipboard instead of the desktop?

Yes. Add Control: Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 4.

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