Where Do Screenshots Go on a Mac?

What to Know

• Screenshots on Mac are saved to the Desktop folder by default.
• Save a screenshot to a different location using Options in the Screenshot app.
• Find a lost screenshot using the Search feature in Finder.

This article explains where screenshots are saved by default on Mac along with how to change that default location. If you misplace a screenshot, we’ll also walk through various ways to locate it.

Where Are Screenshots Saved on Mac?

When you capture a screenshot on your Mac, it is saved to your Desktop by default.

Within a few seconds of taking the screen capture, you’ll see it land on your Desktop with the file name “Screenshot [date] at [time].png.”

After you capture a screenshot, you’ll see it on your Desktop within seconds. If you have the Show Floating Thumbnail option selected in the Screenshot app, you’ll see that thumbnail display in the corner of the screen briefly before the screenshot pops onto an empty spot on your desktop.

You can also use Finder to open the Desktop folder and view the screenshot there using these steps:

1. Open Finder.

2. Select Go in the menu bar.

3. Choose Desktop.

   

4. Alternatively, press Command + Shift + D on your keyboard to open the Desktop in a Finder window.

How to Change the Default Location for Screenshots

To change the default location for screenshots, you can do so using the Screenshot app in macOS Mojave or later.

1. To launch the app, open Finder, select Go > Utilities, and open Screenshot, or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + 5.

   

2. Select the Options menu in the Screenshot app’s floating toolbar.
   

3. Choose a location below Save to at the top of the pop-up menu.

   

4. Capture your screenshot, and this one will go to your selected location, as will any future screenshots.

How to Find a Lost Screenshot on Mac

If you change the default location for screenshots temporarily or move a screenshot from your Desktop to another spot that you cannot remember, you have a few ways to find it.

Search With Finder

If you believe you saved the screenshot to a folder, but aren’t sure which one, you can use Finder on Mac to search for it. While you can also use Spotlight to search on Mac, you can easily narrow down the search results, if necessary, by using Finder instead.

1. Open Finder and type a keyword into the Search box on the top right. For instance, if you retained the default file name, you can enter “screenshot” and pick Name Contains “screenshot” in the suggestions.

2. To search your entire computer, select This Mac next to Search below the toolbar.

   

3. If needed, you can include additional search parameters to narrow down the results. Select the plus sign on the top right.

4. Then choose a search attribute. For example, you can pick Kind and then Image or you can pick Created date and then add the date range.

   

5. Continue this process until you locate the lost screenshot.

If you use Clipboard as the default location for screenshots, you can still use Finder by going to Edit > Show Clipboard and viewing the image. Just keep in mind that the screenshot only remains in this location until you save another item to your clipboard.

Search With Mail or Messages

If you choose Mail or Messages for your screenshots, you can use the search tool in each of these apps. For example, if you retained the default file name, you can search with the below options.

In Mail, enter “screenshot” in the Search box on the top right and choose Attachment name contains “screenshot” in the suggestions. You’ll then see emails that contain attachments using that name.

In Messages, enter “screen shot” in the Search box on the left and then move down to Photos to find the image. Double-click the screenshot and you’ll see it display in the corresponding text message conversation.

Other Tips for Screenshots

You should keep the following in mind when you use screenshots on your Mac:

• By default, your screenshots will be in the PNG file format. You can use Preview to convert them.
• If you change the default location for screenshots, you must visit that new spot to see the image.
• When you choose a folder such as Documents or Other Location, open that folder using Finder.
• When you choose Clipboard, the screenshot stays on your virtual clipboard to paste where you like.
• When you choose Mail, Messages, or Preview, the screenshot opens in that application for you to send, edit, or save.