How to Snip on Mac? – (5 Steps + Best Alternative)

How to Snip on Mac

How to Snip on Mac: Capturing specific parts of your Mac screen has always been challenging. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the straightforward process of using the snipping tool to take precise screenshots on your Mac.

Let’s get started!

Why can’t i snip on Mac?

If you’re wondering why you can’t snip on your Mac using the built-in screenshot feature, there might be a simple solution to get you back on track. Here’s what you can do to troubleshoot the issue:

  • Access System Preferences: Begin by clicking on the “Apple” menu in your screen’s top-left corner. From the dropdown menu, select “System Preferences.”
  • Navigate to Keyboard: In the System Preferences window, find and click on the “Keyboard” icon. This will open the Keyboard settings panel.
  • Open Shortcuts Tab: You’ll see several tabs at the top within the Keyboard settings. Click on the “Shortcuts” tab to access the keyboard shortcuts configuration.
  • Select Screenshots: You’ll find various categories on the left side of the Shortcuts tab. Scroll down and select “Screenshots.” This is where you can customize the shortcuts related to capturing your screen.
  • Enable Options: In the Screenshots section, you should see a list of screenshot-related actions and their corresponding keyboard shortcuts. Make sure that all the options are checked or active. If any of them are unchecked, you won’t be able to snip or take screenshots using those specific shortcuts.

What is Apple’s snipping tool called?

Apple’s snipping tool is called “Grab.” It’s a built-in application that allows users to take screenshots on Mac computers. The Grab app can be found in the Utilities folder on your Mac.

How to snip on Mac?

Snipping on your Mac is a breeze, thanks to a handy shortcut. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Launching the Snip Tool – How do I snip on a Mac?

Launching the Snip Tool on Mac

To begin, press the following key combination: Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. This keyboard shortcut will activate the snip tool, allowing you to select the area you want to capture.

Step 2: Selecting the Snip Area

After pressing the keyboard shortcut, you’ll notice that your cursor transforms into a crosshair icon. Single-click and hold your mouse or trackpad button. Then, while holding down the button, drag the cursor to create a rectangular outline around the specific part of the screen that you want to capture.

Step 3: Releasing the Mouse Button

Release the mouse or trackpad button once you’ve positioned the rectangular outline around the desired area. At this point, the snip tool will capture the content within the outlined region.

Step 4: Viewing Your Snip

Congratulations, you’ve successfully taken a snip of the chosen screen area! The captured screenshot will automatically be saved to your desktop as a PNG file.

Step 5: Optional Next Steps

If you want to take another snip or have completed your screenshot tasks, you can close the snip tool by pressing the Escape (Esc) key on your keyboard.

What are the Limitations of Built-in snipping Tools

While the native Mac OS screenshot and screen recording features are versatile, they come with limitations.

 You’re restricted to capturing only what’s visible on your screen, and the files tend to pile up with generic names like “screenshot 2023-02-26.”

Moreover, the shapes you can capture are limited to regular rectangles, and there needs to be an efficient way to manage and organize your captured files.

The Best snipping tool alternative for mac – Is there a free snipping tool for Mac? (Video)

For Mac users, the shortcuts “Command + Shift + 3” and “Command + Shift + 4” have become second nature, summoning the built-in screenshot feature to capture our screens effortlessly.

But what if we told you there’s a tool that takes this capability to the next level, offering many features beyond the built-in options?

Let us introduce you to Capto, an ingenious application designed to enhance your Mac’s screen capture, recording, and editing experience.

Capto

Capto
Source: Setapp

Capto is a dynamic and user-friendly suite of screen recording, capturing, and video editing tools that go above and beyond the capabilities of the default Mac OS features. With Capto, your screen capture and recording potential expands exponentially.

Versatile Screen Recording

Capto empowers you to record your entire screen or any specific region. But here’s the kicker: you’re not limited to basic rectangular shapes. Want to capture an image in the shape of a cloud? With Capto, that’s entirely possible.

Full-Page Screenshots

Ever wished you could capture an entire web page, even the parts you can’t see? Capto’s got your back. It offers a built-in browser to capture full-page screenshots, including scrolled portions.

Annotations and Editing

Capto doesn’t just stop at capturing. It provides a comprehensive toolset for annotating and editing your screenshots and recordings. Arrows, text, blur, highlights, and more are at your fingertips, making collaboration and communication a breeze.

Effortless File Management

One of the standout features of Capto is its file management capabilities. Say goodbye to the chaos of generic file names cluttering up your desktop. Capto offers an organized interface that categorizes and sorts your captures seamlessly—no more manual sorting is required.

Personalized Organization

Capto allows you to create your own organizational structure and even add tags to your captures. This means you can quickly locate your files when you need them most.

Video: Snipping tool for Mac – Better than Built-In!

Conclusion

And there you have it! With just a few simple steps, you can snip specific sections of your Mac screen quickly and efficiently. This technique is incredibly useful for highlighting and sharing specific information without the need to capture the entire screen.

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