macOS · Screenshot straight to the clipboard
Screenshot
Windows · Linux
Not on this systemMac
Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4Puts the selected area straight into the clipboard instead of a file; the rule is that adding Ctrl to any screenshot combination sends it to the clipboard.
- Group
- Screenshot
- Keys held
- 4
Cmd sits where Windows puts Ctrl. Text movement is the exception: end of line is Ctrl+A/E or Cmd+←/→, not a Cmd version of the Windows key.
Reading the key names
- Keys joined by + are pressed together: Ctrl+Shift+P means hold Ctrl and Shift, then P.
- On a Mac, Cmd is ⌘, Option is ⌥ (labelled Alt on some keyboards), Control is ⌃ and Shift is ⇧.
- Windows Ctrl usually becomes Cmd on a Mac, but not always — this reference lists both combinations separately.
- With a Korean, Japanese or Chinese input method active, shortcuts built on letter keys may not fire. Switch to Latin input and try again.
- When a combination does nothing, another program has often claimed it as a global shortcut first.
Common questions
Q. What is the shortcut for Screenshot straight to the clipboard in macOS?
Puts the selected area straight into the clipboard instead of a file; the rule is that adding Ctrl to any screenshot combination sends it to the clipboard. It is — on Windows and Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4 on a Mac.
Q. Is it the same on Windows and Mac?
No — — on Windows, Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4 on a Mac.
Q. How many keys is that?
4 pressed together. The combination sits under Screenshot in macOS.