How to Copy a Screenshot to Clipboard on a Mac (All Methods & Versions)

Copying a screenshot directly to your clipboard on a Mac is a handy way to quickly paste it into apps like Messages, Mail, Slack, Word, or Photoshop without saving a file.

Here’s how to do it on any Mac, whether you’re using Intel or Apple Silicon, and regardless of your macOS version.

Here’s a summary for the different methods you can use followed by more detailed instructions on how to do them including on older versions of macOS.

Task	Shortcut	Action
Copy entire screen	⌘ + Control + Shift + 3	Copies full screen to clipboard
Copy selection	⌘ + Control + Shift + 4	Copies selected area
Copy window	⌘ + Control + Shift + 4, then Space	Click to copy window
Use Screenshot app	⌘ + Shift + 5 > Options > Clipboard	Use GUI instead of shortcut
Use Terminal	screencapture -c or -i -c	Command-line method

Method 1: Use Keyboard Shortcuts with the Control Key

macOS includes built-in shortcuts to copy screenshots directly to the clipboard. All you need to do is add the Control key while using the usual screenshot shortcut.

1. Copy Full-Screen to Clipboard

• Press: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 3
• Result: Screenshot of the full screen is copied to the clipboard (not saved as a file).
• Paste: Press Command (⌘) + V to paste it into any app that accepts images.

2. Copy Selected Area to Clipboard

• Press: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4
• Result: Crosshairs appear. Drag to select an area. The selection is copied to clipboard.
• Paste: Use Command (⌘) + V in apps like Notes, Mail, or Photoshop.

3. Copy Specific Window to Clipboard

• Press: Command (⌘) + Control + Shift + 4, then tap Space
• Result: Cursor turns into a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture – it goes to the clipboard.

Note: These shortcuts work on all Macs (Intel and Apple Silicon) and on macOS Mojave (10.14) and newer.

Method 2: Use the Screenshot App (Command + Shift + 5)

Since macOS Mojave (10.14), you can open the Screenshot Utility by pressing:

• Command (⌘) + Shift + 5

Then:

1. Click Options.
2. Under “Save to,” select Clipboard.
3. Choose whether you want to capture the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion.
4. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard instead of saved.

Your Mac will remember the “Clipboard” setting next time you open the tool.

Method 3: Use Preview App (Manual Copy)

You can also use Preview to copy screenshots manually if you’ve already taken a screenshot or want more control.

1. Open Preview.
2. From the menu, choose File > Take Screenshot > From Selection / From Window / From Entire Screen.
3. Once the screenshot appears in Preview, press Command (⌘) + A to select all, then Command (⌘) + C to copy.
4. Now you can paste it anywhere.

This method is available on most versions of macOS, including older ones like High Sierra (10.13) and Sierra (10.12).

Method 4: Use Terminal (Optional Automation)

You can copy a screenshot to clipboard using Terminal if you prefer automation or scripting.

Copy Full Screen to Clipboard:

screencapture -c

Copy Selection to Clipboard:

screencapture -i -c

-i = interactive mode (you select the area)

-c = copy to clipboard

Works on all versions from macOS 10.4 Tiger onward.

Method 5: Third-Party Screenshot Tools (If You Need More)

If you often work with screenshots, third-party apps may offer clipboard-first workflows:

• CleanShot X: Lets you set clipboard as the default destination.
• Snagit: Captures and sends directly to the clipboard with editing tools.
• Skitch (by Evernote): Allows quick edits and easy clipboard copy.

These apps are Apple Silicon and Intel compatible, and generally support macOS 11 Big Sur and later.

How to Confirm It’s Copied to Clipboard

After copying:

• Open Preview, go to File > New from Clipboard
• Or paste in Notes, Pages, or Mail using Command (⌘) + V

If an image appears, your screenshot was successfully copied.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If your paste isn’t working, check that you included the Control key in the shortcut.
• Clipboard may be overwritten by other apps – take the screenshot and paste immediately if it’s time-sensitive.
• If using remote desktop software or virtual machines, macOS clipboard may not sync across environments.