# How to screenshot part of the screen on a Mac > Press Shift, Command and 4 and drag over the area. Hold Space bar to move the selection, Esc to cancel. Steps from Apple's support article. Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-part-of-screen-on-mac/ Last updated: 2026-11-04 Published 2026-11-04. To screenshot part of the screen on a Mac, press `Shift-Command-4`, then click and drag over the area, then let go. Press Esc to cancel. This is from Apple's support article, checked on 4 November 2026. ## Steps with the shortcut 1. Press `Shift-Command-4`. The pointer turns into a crosshair. 2. Click and hold, then drag over the area you want. 3. Hold Space bar while you drag to move the selected area without changing its size. Apple says this moves the selection rather than resizing it. 4. Release the mouse or trackpad button to capture. 5. If you change your mind before releasing, press Esc. ## Steps with the Screenshot toolbar 1. Press `Shift-Command-5`. 2. Click the tool for capturing a portion of the screen. 3. Drag the frame to move it, or drag its edges to resize it. Apple describes this in its guides for macOS 14, 15 and 26. 4. Click **Capture**. The toolbar has two advantages. You can adjust the frame after you draw it, and you can set a timer in **Options**. Apple's pages for macOS 15 and 26 also list **Remember Last Selection**, which saves the portion for the next capture. That helps when you shoot the same part of the screen again and again. ## Where it goes The result is a `.png` file, on the desktop by default for the shortcut. Look for a name that starts with "Screenshot". If you want it on the clipboard, add `Control`: `Control-Shift-Command-4`. See [screenshot to the clipboard on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-to-clipboard-on-mac/) and [where Mac screenshots are saved](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/where-mac-screenshots-are-saved/). ## If you only need text from the image Apple's pages for these steps do not cover reading text from a screenshot, so this page does not describe it. ## Related captures To capture a single window, read [how to screenshot a window on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-a-window-on-mac/). For the whole screen, press `Shift-Command-3`. NotchStar's [Screenshot Tray](https://www.notchstar.com/features/screenshot-tray/) displays the finished capture under the notch so you can drag it straight into a message or folder. You do not need it for the steps above. ## Keep reading. - [Screenshot Tray: your screenshots wait under the notch](https://www.notchstar.com/features/screenshot-tray/): Every screenshot lands in a tray under your Mac notch. Drag it into a chat, an email or a folder, or send several at once. - [How to screenshot a single window on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-a-window-on-mac/): Press Shift, Command and 4, then Space bar, then click the window. Hold Option to leave out the shadow. Steps from Apple's support pages. - [How to screenshot on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/how-to-screenshot-on-mac/): Press Shift, Command and 3 for the whole screen, 4 for a selection, 5 for the Screenshot toolbar. Steps checked against Apple's guides for macOS 13 to 26. - [How to take a screenshot to the clipboard on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-to-clipboard-on-mac/): Add Control to any screenshot shortcut, for example Control, Shift, Command and 4, then paste with Command and V. Steps from Apple. ## More in Screenshots. - [How to screenshot on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/how-to-screenshot-on-mac/): Press Shift, Command and 3 for the whole screen, 4 for a selection, 5 for the Screenshot toolbar. Steps checked against Apple's guides for macOS 13 to 26. - [How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Sonoma](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-on-mac-sonoma/): Screenshot shortcuts and the Screenshot toolbar on macOS Sonoma 14, with the Options menu, the floating thumbnail and how to copy to the clipboard. - [How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Sequoia](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-on-mac-sequoia/): Take screenshots and recordings on macOS Sequoia 15: shortcuts, the Screenshot toolbar, every Options menu item and where the files go. - [How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Tahoe 26](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-on-mac-tahoe/): Screenshot shortcuts on macOS Tahoe 26 plus what is new: the HDR or SDR Capture Format and recording a selected window. Checked against Apple's guides. - [How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Ventura](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/screenshot-on-mac-ventura/): Screenshot shortcuts and the Screenshot toolbar on macOS Ventura 13, with Options, the floating thumbnail, copying to the clipboard and recordings. - [Where Mac screenshots are saved](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/where-mac-screenshots-are-saved/): Mac screenshots made with the keyboard shortcuts are saved to the desktop by default. How the file is named, and how to find one that is not there.