How to screenshot part of the screen on a Mac

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 and 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. For the whole screen, press Shift-Command-3.

NotchStar’s 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.