Setting defaults increases efficiency and saves you time and hassle
I’ve always been slightly annoyed that screenshots are saved to my desktop screen. As someone who is constantly taking screenshots for client tutorials, accounting records, etc, it has alway felt like a messy ways to save them. It becomes a multi-part process where I take the screenshot, then move it to the location I need. I personally use the Download folder to house all of the files that I need temporary access to, so I would much rather have screenshots saved there by default. For every screenshot I take, I’ll estimate that changing this setting saves me 5-10 seconds. These are tiny increments of time that add up to some big time savings when you take screenshots all the time. Luckily this is a very easy setting to change and I’m kicking myself for not looking into it sooner.
How to change where Mac screenshots are saved. (Tested on Mojave)
- Press Command + Shift + 5.
- Click on “Options”.
- Select your preferred folder location. If you don’t see your preferred location in the quick list, choose “Other Location”. You can navigate to the folder you wish the screenshot to go to, or even create a new folder.
That’s it! Now your screenshots will be saved in the folder of your choice.
Visual Directions:
1) Press Command + Shift + 5.
2) Click on “Options”
3) Select your preferred location for screenshots. If you don’t see your preferred location in the list, choose “Other Location”. You can navigate to the folder you wish the screenshot to go to, or even create a new folder.
How to take a screenshot
Screenshot your whole screen: Press Command + Shift + 3.
Screenshot part of you screen: Press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor will change to bullseye that you can drag over the area you want to screenshot. (If you change your mind that this pint, you can always hit the “esc” button.)
Want more control over your screenshots?
New with Mohave, you can use Command + Shift + 5 to pull up “inscreen controls” that alow you to take screenshots or record video of your screen or portions of your screen. Options include Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Window, Capture Selected Portain, Record Entire Screen, and Record Selected Portion. Learn more about it at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208721