How to print screen on macbook air?

Author: May 23, 2024

How to

How to print screen on macbook air?

How to Print Screen on a MacBook Air

Taking a screenshot, often referred to as “printing screen,” is a common task that allows users to capture the display of their MacBook Air. Whether you want to save an image of the entire screen, a specific window, or just a selected portion, macOS offers several methods to accomplish this easily. This guide will walk you through the various techniques for taking screenshots on a MacBook Air.

Methods for Taking Screenshots

1. Capturing the Entire Screen

To capture the entire screen, follow these steps:

  1. Press Command (?) + Shift + 3: This key combination will instantly capture everything visible on your screen.
  2. Find the Screenshot: The captured image will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop by default. The file will be named with the date and time of the screenshot.

2. Capturing a Selected Portion of the Screen

If you only need to capture a specific area of your screen, you can do so with this method:

  1. Press Command (?) + Shift + 4: Your cursor will turn into a crosshair.
  2. Select the Area: Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Once you release the mouse button, the screenshot will be taken.
  3. Find the Screenshot: The image will be saved on your desktop as a PNG file.

3. Capturing a Specific Window

To capture a specific window or menu:

  1. Press Command (?) + Shift + 4: Your cursor will change to a crosshair.
  2. Press Spacebar: The cursor will turn into a camera icon.
  3. Click on the Window: Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture and click. The screenshot will be saved on your desktop.

4. Using the Screenshot Toolbar

macOS Mojave and later versions provide a more versatile screenshot tool:

  1. Press Command (?) + Shift + 5: This opens the screenshot toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. Choose Your Option: The toolbar offers options to capture the entire screen, a selected window, or a selected portion. It also provides options to record your screen.
  3. Take the Screenshot: Select your desired option and click “Capture” to take the screenshot.

5. Capturing the Touch Bar

For MacBook models with a Touch Bar, you can capture an image of it as well:

  1. Press Command (?) + Shift + 6: This captures the entire Touch Bar and saves the image to your desktop.

6. Using Preview

You can also use the Preview application to take screenshots:

  1. Open Preview: Go to Applications > Preview.
  2. Select File > Take Screenshot: Choose from the available options (From Selection, From Window, From Entire Screen).

Customizing Screenshot Settings

You can customize where your screenshots are saved and other settings:

  1. Open the Screenshot Toolbar (Command (?) + Shift + 5).
  2. Click on Options: Here you can choose the save location, set a timer, and decide whether to show the floating thumbnail, among other settings.

Conclusion

Taking screenshots on a MacBook Air is a straightforward process, thanks to the intuitive keyboard shortcuts and tools provided by macOS. Whether you need to capture the entire screen, a specific portion, or a single window, the built-in functionalities make it easy to quickly save and share your screen captures. By mastering these techniques, you can efficiently document your work, share information, or troubleshoot issues with others.