Tech Reference

How to find your screenshots on a Mac and choose where they go by default, so that you never lose track of your pictures

Written by William Antonelli
MacBook Pro
It's easy to change where screenshots go on your Mac. Crystal Cox/Business Insider
Updated
Read in app

There are few things more frustrating than saving a file, only to realize that you have no idea where on your computer it's actually been saved to.

You could spend your time combing through every folder and subsection, looking for it — or you could just take the time beforehand to make sure your files always go to the right place.

On a Mac, there are several ways to take a screenshot of your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected section. And luckily, it's easy to decide where you want all of your screenshots to go automatically.

Here's what you should know about where screenshots go on your Mac.

Where screenshots go on a Mac, and how to change it

By default, any screenshot you take on your Mac will go to the Desktop. Once you press any of the screenshot shortcuts, the picture will appear on your Desktop, labeled as "Screen Shot," followed by the date and time.

You can also hold down the Control key while you take the screenshot to copy it to the clipboard. Your Mac's clipboard is the space that anything you copy or "Cut" goes to — in other words, once the screenshot is saved there, you can paste it by pressing Command + V. 

When you copy a screenshot to the clipboard, it won't be saved to your hard drive. This means that unless you paste the picture somewhere and save that, the screenshot will disappear as soon as you copy something else.

Although these are the two spaces where screenshots go by default, you can choose a new saving location at any time. To do this:

1. Press Shift+ Command + 5. If you're running MacOS Mojave or newer (if you've bought or updated your Mac since 2018, this should be the case), this will open the advanced screenshot menu.

where do screenshots go mac 1
The advanced screenshot menu will let you take pictures or videos.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

2. In the menu bar that appears near the bottom of the screen, click "Options."

3. A pop-up will open, divided into a few sections. The first section, "Save to," will let you pick where your screenshots will be saved by default — you can click one of the preset options, or select "Other location" to choose a new folder.

where do screenshots go mac 2
Choose a preset option, or create your own shortcut.  William Antonelli/Business Insider

Once you've chosen a new location, any screenshot you take (without holding Control) will be saved there.

Devon Delfino contributed to a previous version of this article.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Read next

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.