Copy a screenshot to the clipboard and paste it on Mac

Copying a screenshot to the clipboard puts the image in memory so you can paste it, instead of saving a file. On a Mac, add Control to any of the 3 built-in screenshot shortcuts, then paste with Command, V (Apple Support). For example, press Control, Shift, Command, 4, drag over the area, and paste the image straight into a message or document. No file lands on your desktop.

I use this whenever I need to drop a screenshot into Slack, email or a doc and do not want another file to clean up later.

Copy a screenshot with the keyboard

This is the fastest method, and it is built into macOS. The full list of capture keys is in my Mac screenshot shortcuts guide.

Whole screen: Control, Shift, Command, 3
Part of the screen: Control, Shift, Command, 4, then drag
One window: Control, Shift, Command, 4, then Space, then click the window

Press one of the shortcuts above.
If you chose part of the screen, drag over the area and let go.
Click where the image should go and press Command, V.

While you drag, hold Space to move the selection without changing its size, and press Esc to cancel. For a window, hold Option while you click to leave out the window shadow. These are the same selection moves I cover in how to screenshot part of the screen on Mac. Source: Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Mac.

Use the Screenshot toolbar instead

If you copy screenshots all day, set the clipboard as the destination once and stop adding Control every time.

Press Shift, Command, 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
Click Options.
Under Save to, choose Clipboard.
Take screenshots as normal with the toolbar, or with Shift, Command, 3 and Shift, Command, 4.

Later captures now copy instead of saving a file. To go back to files, open Options, Save to again and pick a folder such as Desktop.

Already took a screenshot and a file is about to save? While the small thumbnail is still showing in the corner of the screen, Control-click it and choose Save to Clipboard. You can also drag that thumbnail straight into an app, which skips the clipboard altogether. Apple describes both options in the Mac User Guide.

Paste the screenshot into an app

Press Command, V in any place that accepts images. Messages, Mail, Slack, Notes, Pages and Word all take a pasted screenshot. Click into the message or document first, because the image goes where the cursor is.

Two limits catch people out:

Some web forms and text-only fields accept typed text only. If paste does nothing there, save the screenshot as a file and use the attach or upload button instead.
A pasted screenshot is a copy, not a file. If you need to keep it, save the file version as well before you move on.

You can also paste on a nearby iPhone or iPad with Universal Clipboard, as long as both devices use the same Apple Account and have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff on. Paste soon after copying, because the copied image is only held for a short time.

Coming from Windows, where Snipping Tool copies by default? My Snipping Tool for Mac guide maps each Windows action to the Mac shortcut.

Clipboard history and its limits

On most Mac setups the clipboard holds one item at a time. Copy a line of text, a link or another image after your screenshot and the screenshot is replaced. If you still need it, paste first and copy other things afterwards.

Recent macOS versions added a clipboard history in Spotlight. Press Command, Space, then Command, 4 to see recent copied items, pick the screenshot, and paste it again. If nothing shows, turn on Results from Clipboard in System Settings, Spotlight. History only keeps recent items for a limited time that you choose in those Spotlight settings, so treat it as a short term recovery option, not storage. If the screenshot has already aged out or been replaced on an older system, take it again or copy it from the saved file.

If the screenshot will not paste

Work through these in order:

A file appeared on the desktop instead. You probably missed the Control key, or the Screenshot destination is set to a folder. Open Shift, Command, 5, Options, Save to and check.
Nothing happens when you press the shortcut. Open System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, Screenshots and check the screenshot shortcuts are on and have not been changed.
Paste works in one app but not another. The field likely does not accept images. Save a file and attach or upload it there.
The screenshot you copied earlier has gone. Something else replaced it on the clipboard. Check Spotlight clipboard history if your macOS offers it, otherwise retake the shot.
The thumbnail disappeared too fast. Take the shot again and either Control-click the thumbnail right away, or drag it into the app while it is on screen.

If you annotate before you paste

Disclosure: Znip is the app I build.

When a screenshot needs an arrow, a step number or a private detail covered before it goes into a message, I use Znip. It captures an area, a window or the full screen, lets you add arrows, text and numbered steps and cover private details, then copy the edited image and paste it where it needs to go (Znip FAQ). Znip is in invite-only beta for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 15 or later. For a quick copy with no editing, the built-in Control shortcut above is all you need.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut to copy a screenshot to the clipboard on Mac?

Control, Shift, Command, 4 for part of the screen. Add Control to any screenshot shortcut to copy instead of saving a file, then paste with Command, V.

How do I paste a screenshot on Mac?

Click into the message, email or document and press Command, V. The app or field must accept images.

Why did my screenshot save as a file instead of copying?

The Control key was not held, or the Screenshot toolbar destination under Options, Save to is set to a folder rather than Clipboard.

Can I get back a screenshot I copied earlier?

Only if it is still the current clipboard item, or still in Spotlight clipboard history on a recent macOS version. Otherwise copy it from the saved file or take it again.