If you’re wondering where screenshots are saved on a Mac, they’re normally saved to your Desktop by default. Every screenshot you take is saved as a PNG file with a name such as “Screenshot 2026-06-19 at 10.30.15”.
If you want to change where screenshots are saved on your Mac, macOS makes it easy using the built-in Screenshot app. You can save screenshots to Documents, Downloads, iCloud Drive, an external drive, or any custom folder.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly where Mac screenshots are stored and how to change the screenshot save location in macOS Golden Gate, Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey and earlier versions of macOS.
Contents
- Quick Answer: Where Are Screenshots Saved On A Mac?
- Screenshot Save Location Quick Reference
- Where Are Screenshots Saved On A Mac?
- How To Change Where Screenshots Are Saved On Mac
- How To Save Screenshots To The Downloads Folder
- How To Save Screenshots Directly To Clipboard
- How To Find Lost Screenshots on a Mac
- Screenshots Not Saving On macOS Tahoe?
- How To Change Screenshot Save Location Using Terminal (Older Versions of macOS)
- FAQ
Quick Answer: Where Are Screenshots Saved On A Mac?
By default, screenshots on a Mac are saved to the Desktop.
To change the screenshot save location:
- Use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + 5.
- Click Options.
- Select a folder under Save To or select Other Location… to browse to a preferred folder on your Mac.
- All future screenshots will be saved in that location.
Screenshot Save Location Quick Reference
| Task | How To Do It |
|---|---|
| Find screenshots on Mac | Check the Desktop folder |
| Change screenshot save location | Shift + Command + 5 → Options |
| Save screenshots to Downloads | Options → Downloads |
| Save screenshots to Documents | Options → Documents |
| Save screenshots to Clipboard | Options → Clipboard |
| Choose a custom screenshot folder | Options → Other Location |
| Reset screenshot location | Select Desktop under Save To |
Where Are Screenshots Saved On A Mac?
The default screenshot folder on a Mac is the Desktop.
When you take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts such as:
- Command + Shift + 3 (full screen)
- Command + Shift + 4 (selected area)
- Command + Shift + 5 (Screenshot toolbar)
the image is automatically saved to your Desktop unless you’ve previously changed the save location.
Screenshots are normally saved as PNG files and include the date and time in the filename, making them easy to identify.
If you’re having trouble finding a screenshot you’ve just taken:
- Open Finder.
- Select Desktop from the sidebar.
- Look for files beginning with “Screenshot”.
Alternatively, use Spotlight Search (Command + Space) and search for “Screenshot 2026” (or whichever year you took the screenshot in).
How To Change Where Screenshots Are Saved On Mac
If you’re using macOS Mojave or later, including Golden Gate, Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur or Catalina, changing the screenshot folder only takes a few seconds.
1. Open the Screenshot Toolbar
Press: Shift + Command + 5
Alternatively:
- Open Spotlight Search (Command + Space)
- Search for Screenshot
- Launch Screenshot.app
2. Click Options
The Screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.
Click Options to view available screenshot destinations.
3. Choose A New Save Location
Under Save To, you’ll see several locations including:
- Desktop
- Documents
- Clipboard
- Messages
- Preview
Simply select the location you want to use.
4. Choose A Custom Screenshot Folder
If you’d prefer to save screenshots somewhere else:
- Click Options
- Select Other Location
- Choose or create a folder
- Click Choose
All future screenshots will now be saved to that folder.
How To Save Screenshots To The Downloads Folder
One of the most common requests is moving screenshots away from the Desktop and into Downloads.
To save screenshots to Downloads:
- Press Shift + Command + 5
- Click Options
- Select Other Location…
- Browse to your Downloads folder
Every screenshot you take from then on will automatically be saved in your Downloads folder instead of cluttering your Desktop.
How To Save Screenshots Directly To Clipboard
If you don’t want screenshots saved as files, you can send them directly to the Clipboard and paste them into another application.
Method 1: Change The Save Location To Clipboard
- Press Shift + Command + 5.
- Click Options.
- Select Clipboard.
Method 2: Use A Keyboard Shortcut
For individual screenshots:
- Press Command + Shift + 4.
- Hold down the Control key.
- Drag to select the area to capture.
- Release the mouse or trackpad.
The screenshot is copied directly to the Clipboard rather than being saved as a file.
For more on this and ways to do it on older versions of macOS, check out our guide on how to copy screenshots to clipboard on a Mac.
How To Find Lost Screenshots on a Mac
If you still can’t find where screenshots have been saved on your Mac then simply search for them using Spotlight on your Mac (Command + Space).
Search “screenshot 2026” (replacing 2026 with the appropriate year you took the screenshots) and you’ll instantly see a list of screenshots taken on your Mac.
Screenshots Not Saving On macOS Tahoe?
Some users have reported a bug in macOS Tahoe where screenshots don’t save even though a valid location has been selected.
This appears to be related to the Show Floating Thumbnail feature.
If screenshots aren’t saving:
- Open the Screenshot toolbar with Shift + Command + 5.
- Click Options.
- Disable Show Floating Thumbnail.
You can also avoid interacting with the thumbnail when it appears. In many cases, the screenshot saves correctly after a few seconds if the thumbnail is left untouched.
How To Change Screenshot Save Location Using Terminal (Older Versions of macOS)
If you’re using macOS High Sierra or earlier, screenshots are managed by the older Grab utility and you’ll need to use Terminal to change the save location.
To change where screenshots are saved:
1. Create A Screenshot Folder
Create a folder wherever you’d like screenshots to be stored.
For example:
Documents > Screenshots
2. Open Terminal
Open Spotlight Search and search for: Terminal
3. Enter The Following Command
Type:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture locationLeave a space after the word location.
4. Drag Your Folder Into Terminal
Drag the folder you created into the Terminal window.
The folder path will automatically be inserted.
5. Press Enter
Press Return on your keyboard.
6. Restart The macOS Interface
Type:
killall SystemUIServerPress Enter.
Future screenshots will now be saved to the new folder.
Reset Screenshot Location Back To Desktop
To restore the default screenshot location:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Desktop
killall SystemUIServerFAQ
Why are my screenshots not saving on Mac?
This may happen if the screenshot folder has been deleted, permissions have changed, your storage is full, or there’s a temporary macOS bug affecting screenshot saves.
Where do screenshots go on Mac?
By default, screenshots are saved to the Desktop. However, you can change the screenshot destination using the Screenshot toolbar.
Where are screenshots stored in macOS Tahoe?
Screenshots are stored on the Desktop by default unless you’ve selected a different folder under the Screenshot app’s Save To settings.
Can I save screenshots to Downloads instead of Desktop?
Yes. Open the Screenshot toolbar with Shift + Command + 5, select Options and choose Downloads.
Can I save screenshots directly to Clipboard?
Yes. Either choose Clipboard from the Save To menu or use Control + Shift + Command + 3 when taking a screenshot.
How do I find a screenshot I just took?
Open Finder and check your Desktop folder, or use Spotlight Search and search for “Screenshot”.