How-to / Screenshots
Snipping Tool for Mac: the built-in equivalent and shortcuts
There is no Snipping Tool on Mac, but Shift Command 4 and Shift Command 5 do the same job. Every Windows Snipping Tool feature mapped to its Mac shortcut.
Snipping Tool is the Windows app for taking screenshots. A Mac has no app by that name, but macOS has 3 built-in ways to capture: the entire screen, a window, or a portion of it (Apple Support). Press Shift, Command, 4 to snip part of the screen, or Shift, Command, 5 for a toolbar with every capture and recording option.
I switched between Windows and Mac for years, so here is how each Snipping Tool feature maps to the Mac.
The Mac equivalent of Snipping Tool
- Windows, Shift, S: Shift, Command, 4 (or Shift, Command, 5 for the toolbar)
- Rectangle snip: Shift, Command, 4, then drag
- Window snip: Shift, Command, 4, then press Space and click a window
- Full screen snip: Shift, Command, 3
- Free-form snip: Not built in
- Delay: Shift, Command, 5, then Options > Timer
- Copy to clipboard: Add Control to any shortcut
- Markup with pen and highlighter: Click the floating thumbnail
- Record the screen: Shift, Command, 5, then Record
Sources: Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Mac and Mac User Guide.
How to snip on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command, 4. The pointer becomes a crosshair.
- Drag over the area you want.
- Release to take the screenshot. Press Esc to cancel.
The screenshot saves to your desktop as a PNG. I cover all the selection tricks in how to screenshot part of the screen on Mac.
Copy a snip straight to the clipboard
Windows Snipping Tool copies to the clipboard by default. On a Mac, hold Control as well: Control, Shift, Command, 4 copies your selection instead of saving a file. Then paste it with Command, V.
Mark up a snip
After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner for a few seconds. Click it to draw, highlight, add text and shapes, crop, or share. If you do nothing, the file saves.
Use the Screenshot toolbar for more options
Press Shift, Command, 5 to open the toolbar. It has buttons for the entire screen, a window or a selected portion, plus screen recording. The Options menu lets you set a timer, choose where files save, hide the floating thumbnail and show the mouse pointer.
You can also change the shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots.
When to use a dedicated app
The built-in tools cover most everyday snips. They do not do scrolling captures, blur or redaction, text recognition from the capture editor, or share links. If you need those, a dedicated app is worth it.
Disclosure: Znip is the app I build.
- Znip does area, window, full screen and scrolling screenshots, annotation and redaction, on-device text recognition, screen recording and optional share links. It is in invite-only beta for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 15 or later.
- Shottr is a small, fast screenshot app with scrolling capture and OCR. It is free to use, with a $12 licence for commercial use (shottr.cc).
- CleanShot X is a polished all-rounder for $35 once (CleanShot pricing).
I compared these apps on price, editing tools and sharing before writing this guide. For more options, see my guide to the best screenshot apps for Mac.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut for Snipping Tool on Mac?
Shift, Command, 4 to select an area, or Shift, Command, 5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
Can I download Snipping Tool for Mac?
No. Snipping Tool is a Windows app. The Mac's built-in Screenshot tools do the same job.
Can I do a free-form snip on Mac?
Not with the built-in tools. Take a rectangle snip, then crop or mask it in the markup window or another editor.
Where do Mac snips go?
To your desktop by default, named "Screenshot" with the date and time. You can change the location in Shift, Command, 5 > Options > Save to.