Where screenshots are saved on a Mac, and how to find one
Updated
Mac screenshots go to the Desktop unless you change it, named with the date and time they were taken. Knowing the naming, the shortcuts and the settings makes them much easier to find later.
The shortcuts and what they save
| Shortcut | What it captures |
|---|---|
| Shift-Command-3 | The whole screen |
| Shift-Command-4 | An area you drag to select |
| Shift-Command-4, then Space | One window, chosen with a click |
| Shift-Command-5 | The Screenshot toolbar, with capture and screen recording options |
Add the Control key to any of the first three to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving a file. Screen recordings started from the Screenshot toolbar are saved as movie files in the same location as screenshots.
How they are named
Screenshots are named with the date and time, such as Screenshot 2026-10-18 at 10.15.32. Older versions of macOS used Screen Shot with a space, so if you search for old ones, try both spellings. Screen recordings are named Screen Recording followed by the date and time.
Change where they are saved
- Press Shift-Command-5.
- Click Options in the toolbar.
- Under Save to, pick a folder, or choose Other Location to pick any folder.
A Screenshots folder inside Pictures or Documents keeps the Desktop clear and gives you one place to search and clean.
To set it in Terminal instead, run defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Pictures/Screenshots after creating that folder. The change applies to the next screenshot.
Other useful settings
- Floating thumbnail: in the Shift-Command-5 Options menu, Show Floating Thumbnail controls the preview in the corner. Click it to mark up or share before the file is saved.
- Format: screenshots are PNG files by default.
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpgin Terminal switches to smaller JPEG files. - Timer: the Options menu has a 5 or 10 second timer, useful for capturing open menus.
Find a specific screenshot
- Search Spotlight or Finder for Screenshot plus a date, or sort the Desktop by Date Created.
- Make a Smart Folder with Kind is Image and Name begins with Screenshot to see every screenshot in one place, wherever it was saved.
- If you remember what was in it rather than when, see searching for text in screenshots.
- If you used Control for the clipboard, there is no file. Paste it into Preview with File, then New from Clipboard, to save it.
Find and clear screenshots in FileSift
FileSift handles the two questions people ask most about screenshots. To find one, type screenshots this month, or search for words that appear inside the image; FileSift makes the text in screenshots searchable with Apple's on-device text recognition. To clear them, the Clean Up screen lists old screenshots with the space they use, and moves the ones you choose to the Trash after confirming the count and size. See also how to delete old screenshots.
Common questions
Why can I not find a screenshot I just took?
It may have gone to the clipboard if you held Control, or to a folder set in the Screenshot toolbar's Options menu.
Can I change screenshots from PNG to JPEG?
Yes, with the Terminal command above. PNG keeps text sharper; JPEG files are smaller.
Related guides
- How to delete old screenshots on a Mac
- How to search for text inside images and screenshots on a Mac
- Video files on a Mac: where they take up space and how to clear them
- How to use Smart Folders on a Mac
- PDF files on a Mac: where they pile up and how to find them
More in File types, or see all guides.