How to snip on MacBook – In this article, we will show you how to snip in Mac using built-in tools like keyboard shortcuts, the Screenshot app, and Preview to capture your MacBook screen.

Are you a MacBook user looking to capture a screenshot or snip part of your screen for work or personal use? Don’t worry – macOS has built-in tools that make it easy to snip your screen with just a few clicks.

Whether you’re capturing a full screen, a specific window, or just a small portion of your screen, this guide will show you how to snip on a MacBook efficiently and without any hassle.

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What is Snipping on a Mac?

Snipping on a Mac refers to capturing a screenshot of what’s displayed on your screen. Unlike traditional screenshots, snipping allows you to select specific portions of your screen. You can snip parts of a webpage, an image, or even a part of a document. macOS offers several ways to snip, which we’ll explore below.

How to snip in Mac Using Built-in Tools for Snipping

Apple provides various built-in keyboard shortcuts and tools to help you snip content on your MacBook, whether you want a quick capture or a more refined selection. Let’s look at the options you can use.

1. How to snip in Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts

The quickest way to snip a portion of your screen is by using keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts give you the flexibility to capture your screen with precision.

• Capture the Entire Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3. This will capture the entire screen and save it as a file on your desktop.

• Capture a Selected Portion of the Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. This turns your cursor into a crosshair that you can drag to select the area you want to snip. Once you release the mouse button, your snip will be saved to the desktop.

• Capture a Specific Window: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then hit the Spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon. Click on the window you want to capture, and it will be saved as a screenshot.

• Capture the Touch Bar (if available): If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can capture it by pressing Command (⌘) + Shift + 6.

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2. How to snip in Mac Using the Screenshot Tool (macOS Mojave and Later)

Starting with macOS Mojave, Apple introduced a Screenshot app that brings more control to the snipping process. To access the Screenshot tool, follow these steps:

1. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5.
2. A small menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with options to:
   • Capture the entire screen.
   • Capture a selected window.
   • Capture a selected portion of the screen.
   • Record the entire screen or a selected portion (for screen recordings).

   After you select the appropriate option, click the Capture button to snip the desired content.

This tool also allows you to choose where your screenshot is saved and provides a countdown timer for more precise capturing.

3. How to snip in Mac Using Preview for Snipping

Preview is a built-in app on macOS that can help you snip and edit screenshots. Here’s how to snip using Preview:

1. Open Preview (found in Applications).
2. From the menu, select File > Take Screenshot.
3. You will see options to:
   • From selection – Drag to select the portion of the screen you want to snip.
   • From window – Capture a specific window.
   • From entire screen – Capture the entire screen.

After selecting your snip, the image will open in Preview, where you can crop, edit, or save it.

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4. How to snip in Mac Using Third-Party Apps for Snipping

While macOS provides powerful built-in tools, you might want additional features or more control over your snipping. There are several third-party apps available for snipping and screen capturing, including:

• Snagit: A powerful screen capture tool that offers advanced features like scrolling captures, annotations, and editing.
• Lightshot: A simple and easy-to-use screenshot tool that allows you to snip portions of your screen and share them quickly.
• Skitch: A user-friendly tool by Evernote that lets you capture, annotate, and share your screenshots.

These apps can be a good choice if you need more functionality than the default macOS tools offer.

Tips for Better Snipping on Your Mac

Here are some tips to help you make the most out of snipping on your MacBook:

1. Use Snip Delays for Better Precision: When using Command (⌘) + Shift + 5, you can set a delay (up to 10 seconds) to give you time to set up your screen for the perfect capture.

2. Edit After Snipping: Once you capture a snip, you can use the Markup tool that appears automatically on the thumbnail preview to annotate, crop, or draw on your snip.

3. Change the Default Screenshot Save Location: If you don’t want screenshots to save to your desktop, you can change the save location by opening Command (⌘) + Shift + 5, then clicking the Options button. Here, you can choose from several locations or even set up a custom folder.

4. Use the Touch Bar (if available): If you’re using a MacBook Pro, the Touch Bar can display snipping tools and shortcuts for a quick and easy snip.

See Also: 3 Steps to Screen Record on Mac

Conclusion

Snipping on a Mac is simple and intuitive with the variety of tools and keyboard shortcuts available. Whether you’re capturing part of your screen for a project or need to snip a funny meme to share with a friend, macOS has got you covered. With the Screenshot app, Preview, and third-party tools, you can capture exactly what you need with minimal effort. So go ahead and try out these options to snip like a pro on your Mac!

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