Snipping Tool on Mac: Capture Screenshots Quick & Easy

Let’s be real if you’ve switched from Windows to Mac, one of the first questions that smacks you in the face is, “Where’s the damn Snipping Tool?” You want to grab a quick screenshot, maybe snip a meme, highlight a weird bug, or just save a snippet of genius before it vanishes from your screen forever. On Windows, it was simple: open Snipping Tool, snip, done.

But on a Mac? Things are… different.

Don’t worry though I’ve got you. Here’s your crash course on how to snip like a pro using your Mac. No downloads needed (unless you want extras). Let’s dive in.

Wait, Is There a Snipping Tool on Mac?

Short answer: Yes, but not with the same name.

Mac doesn’t call it “Snipping Tool.” Instead, it gives you a powerful built-in tool called Screenshot. It does everything the Windows Snipping Tool does and then some.

Snipping Tool Shortcuts on Mac (Memorise These)

Here’s your holy grail of screenshot shortcuts:

Pro tip: Add Control to copy your screenshot instead of saving it as a file. It’s great for pasting directly into chats, documents, or Slack memes.

How Do I Snip a Clip on Mac?

Need to snip a video clip instead of a still image? Use the Screen Recording option in the Screenshot toolbar.

1. Press Command + Shift + 5

2. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion

3. Hit Record

4. When done, click the stop icon in the menu bar

Want something more pro-level? Try QuickTime Player (pre-installed) for audio + screen recording.

Can I Copy and Paste Screenshots on Mac?

Absolutely. Here’s how:

• Hold Control while using your screenshot shortcut (like Command + Shift + 4)

• The screenshot will go to your clipboard

• Paste anywhere using Command + V

This is your go-to trick if you’re sending a screenshot in email, iMessage, Discord, or uploading to a website.

Snipping Tool Download for Mac? (If You Want More Power)

While the built-in Screenshot tool is pretty solid, sometimes you want extras like annotations, shapes, or blur tools. Here are some great snipping tool alternatives for Mac:

1. Skitch by Evernote

Super clean interface with arrows, shapes, text, and more.

2. CleanShot X (paid but worth it)

Fancy features like scrolling capture, screen recording with webcam, annotation, and cloud storage.

3. Monosnap

Another free & powerful option with upload, blur, arrows, and sharing built-in.

4. Snagit

It’s the industry standard, especially for tutorial creators and trainers. Not free, but ultra-polished.

Where Do Screenshots Save on Mac?

By default, your screenshots land on the desktop with filenames like Screenshot 2025-07-12 at 10.34.56 AM.png.

Don’t want them cluttering your desktop? Here’s how to change the save location:

1. Open the Screenshot toolbar (Command + Shift + 5)

2. Click Options

3. Select a new folder under “Save to”

Boom. Cleaner desktop.

Customise Your Snip Settings (Without Any App)

The Screenshot toolbar (Command + Shift + 5) also lets you:

• Set timer (5 or 10 seconds delay)

• Choose microphone input (for recording)

• Show/hide mouse pointer in the capture

Handy for tutorials or screen walkthroughs.

Snipping Tool for Mac vs Windows: What’s the Difference?

So yeah, Apple’s version is more shortcut-based, but once you get the hang of it it’s fast and fluid.

Is Mac’s Snipping Tool Good Enough?

The built-in Screenshot utility on Mac is powerful, fast, and already sitting on your machine waiting to be used. For most users, it’s more than enough. If you’re into detailed tutorials or content creation, tools like Skitch or CleanShot X can step up your game.

Rachel Singh

Rachel combines her technical expertise with a flair for clear, accessible writing. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, she specializes in creating detailed tech-focused content that educates our readers about the latest in web development and SEO tools at Spinbot blog.