Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't have an official snipping tool, but you can achieve similar functionality with the built-in Screenshot app. As the name suggests, it's handy for taking screenshots of a specific portion of the screen.

You don't need to install any third-party app to take screenshots, as the macOS capture tool does the job quite well. So, if you recently switched from Windows, keep reading as we'll look at how to snip on the Mac.

How Do You Use the Snipping Tool on Your Mac?

The Screenshot app on your Mac lets you take a screenshot of the entire screen or a specific part of the screen. You can also use it to capture a specific window.

The Mac's snipping or capture tool doesn't work everywhere. For instance, you won't be able to make snippets on Mac of certain apps (Apple TV and Netflix, for example) due to Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions.

To use the snipping tool on Mac, press the keys Shift + Command + 4 simultaneously. When you do this, a crosshair will appear on the screen. You can drag it to capture a specific portion of the screen.

The part of the screen that's going to be captured will darken. If you want to move the darkened area while using the snipping tool, hold the Space bar while dragging it. You can also choose to show your cursor in Mac screenshots.

To stop using the snipping tool, press the Esc key. You can also press the trackpad (right-click or Control-click if you're using a mouse) if there's no darkened area on the screen.

You can also use the snipping tool to capture an entire window. Press the Shift + Command + 4 + Space bar keys simultaneously, and the cursor will be replaced with a Camera icon.

Hover the icon over any window on the screen, and it'll be highlighted blue or yellow.

Creating Snippets on Mac Using the Snipping Tool
Image Credits: Apple

When you're ready to snip the screen, release the trackpad (or mouse). A thumbnail will appear in the right corner of your Mac. You can click on it to edit or annotate it using your iPhone or iPad.

If you slide the thumbnail to the right using the trackpad, it'll be saved to the desktop. If you don't do anything, it'll automatically be saved after a few seconds.

You can also use the snipping tool on the Mac by pressing Command + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. Pressing the keys will open up the Screenshot app with a list of options at the bottom of the screen.

Drag the frame to the portion of the screen you want to snip and click on Capture. Note that the area outside the frame will darken when you open the snipping tool by pressing Command + Shift + 5.

Snipping on Mac With the Screenshot App

If you're using a Mac with macOS Mojave or above, you can change the default location of screenshots you take with the snipping tool. Open the Screenshot app by pressing Command + Shift + 5 and click on Options.

Click on Other Locations from the dropdown menu and choose the new default location for the screenshots.

Adding the Snipping Tool to the Touch Bar

If you're not happy with pressing so many keys at the same time, and you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar, you can add the Screenshot app shortcut to the Touch Bar. Here's how:

  1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard.
  2. Click on the dropdown menu next to "Touch Bar shows" and click on App Controls.
  3. Click on Customize Control Strip.
  4. A list of icons for app shortcuts will appear on the screen. Click on the Screenshot app shortcut and drag it down to the Touch Bar. It'll automatically be added to it.

There are a few common ways to fix your MacBook's Touch Bar if it doesn't display anything, but it's very unlikely for the Touch Bar to malfunction.

Once you've added the shortcut, all you have to do to open your Mac's snipping tool is click on the Camera icon on the Touch Bar. Drag the frame to the area you want to capture and click on Capture.

Adding Shortcut for Snipping Tool to Mac's Touch Bar

Start Snipping on Your Mac

Learning how to snip on Mac is easy and fast. You only need to press a few keys together and capture the portion of the screen you want in your frame.

There are many other methods you can use to take screenshots on your Mac, but snipping using the keyboard shortcut is the most convenient way to do it.