How to Change Where Screenshots Are Saved on Mac

It is possible to create a messy desktop by taking many screenshots of your Mac. Learn how to change the location and format of your screenshots on a Mac.

Screenshots from a Mac: Where can they be found?

When you use keyboard shortcuts like Command + Shift + 3, your screenshots will be automatically saved to your desktop. Right clicking the floating thumbnail will save it in your Clipboard or Documents.

Where screenshots are saved on a Mac

You have two options for changing the default directory to save screenshots on a Mac. Screenshots in macOS Mojave allow you to modify the default directory for saving screenshots. This allows you to enter commands to control your Mac.

Where to save screenshots in macOS Mojave or Later

1. Launch the Screenshot app from the Utilities directory. You can also open the Screenshot app by pressing Command + Shift + 5.
2. Click here to see the Options Your information will be displayed on the top tile of the menu. Get up to options:
   • Desktop: This default setting saves the screen shot using the following format Screenshot [date] at(time).
   • Documents: This will save the screenshot to your Documents Folder. The file name should include the date and the time.
   • Clipboard: You can copy the screenshot from to another program that can view it or edit it.
   • Mail: The attached screenshot will allow you to create a new email in the Mail app.
   • Messages: This will attach the screenshot to a message you can send to a person
   • Preview – This will launch Preview. An image editing app. Your Mac will temporarily name the file Untitled until you change it.
   • Other Place – This lets you navigate to any other location than those listed.
3. Choose a Save to option. Your Mac will remember the last saved option and apply it to any subsequent screenshots.

How do I change the default location for saving screenshots in macOS High Sierra or Earlier?

1. Terminal Open. You can find the Terminal app in the Utility folder.
2. Enter the command below followed by a space. :
   defaults write com.apple.screencapture location
   Note: You must place a space after every word to make the command work.
3. Drag a folder to be saved into the Terminal command line. Add the file path to Terminal as a new line.
4. Use the following command:
   Killall SystemUIServer
5. Enter and Return. Save your next picture in the folder that you have created

Convert screenshots to JPG or any other file format

By default, Macs save screenshots to PNG files. These files are usually larger than JPEG files, but both are acceptable for use in social media. JPGs are generally more popular. However, you can convert a screenshot to JPG with the Terminal.

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command, followed by a space.
   You have the option to save your images in different formats. You can save the PDF files to Adobe if you need to edit or open an image in Adobe. You can save the original image data as a TIFF file if you want to preserve it even after you have modified it. You can save the images as GIF files if you need them to be loaded quickly online. You can select from any of these commands and then add a space.
   
   Please notify us that there must be a space between file type and command.
3. Enter. Save the command to Terminal.
4. Verify that the default option is not changed. Click on an image to take a screenshot.

You have the ability to customize how you take screenshots on your Mac. Learn how to modify the default screenshot settings. Take a Screenshot with a Mac