How to Crop a Screenshot on a Mac

There are many software options to crop a screenshot on a Mac. Here, we’ll show you different ways of taking screenshots including a desktop screen recorder for Mac, hotkeys, and more.

Best for: making and editing screenshots and recordings

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One of the best ways to take and edit a screenshot on a Mac is with the help of Movavi Screen Recorder. This is a screen capture and screen crop Mac tool you can download to your device and start using today. Movavi Screen Recorder allows you to not only take screenshots but also to make screen recordings too, so it offers a lot of versatility. It's also a very easy-to-use program with built-in editing features that let you crop, annotate, and alter your screenshots on the fly at the touch of a button.

Pros:

• Screenshot only what’s needed: capture a single window, an entire web page, or just a part of it
• Edit screenshots you’ve taken: add text, arrows, and frames to highlight important elements
• Save and share the results in just a few clicks
• Record your on-screen activity with system sound and microphone to improve efficiency with simple, lightweight recordings
• Upload your videos to YouTube and Google Drive right from the app to streamline your processes

Cons:

• Only the full version of the program gets you all the means to express your ideas with this software

Here’s how to crop a screenshot on a Mac using Movavi Screen Recorder.

Best for: speed and convenience

There are various hotkey combinations you can learn and use on your Mac to perform different tasks and access certain shortcuts, including one set of hotkeys that can let you take screenshots and another set that allows you to take partial screenshots. This is a really quick and convenient way to capture screenshots and then crop them to the size you want. However, the downside with this method is that you have to remember the precise combinations of keys to press, which can be difficult for people who have trouble remembering technical inputs.

Pros:

• Very quick and convenient

• Allows for whole screenshot capture or partial screenshots

• No downloading or installation required

• No need for any extra apps or services

Cons:

• Can be difficult to remember the precise combinations and inputs

This is how to edit a screenshot on a Mac using the hotkeys:

1. To screen crop on a Mac using hotkeys, you first need to get whatever you want to capture up on the screen.

2. To take a full screenshot, press the Shift, Command, and 3 keys all at the same time. A thumbnail should appear in the corner of the screen, you can click on this to crop it.

3. To capture a partial screenshot, press the Shift, Command, and 4 keys together at the same time. Then drag the crosshair to choose the area of the screen you want to capture. Again, a thumbnail should appear in the corner, and you can click this to make any extra crops or edits.

4. To capture an individual window or menu, press the Shift, Command, 4, and spacebar keys at the same time. You should see a camera icon, which you can then hover over the window you want to capture. Again, click on the thumbnail that appears to edit.

Best for: ease of use

Another method you can use when it comes to how to take a cropped screenshot while using a Mac is to make use of the built-in Screenshot app. This is very similar to the Snipping Tool seen on other devices and platforms; it's a lightweight, easy-to-use, beginner-friendly app that can be activated by pressing a hotkey combination or making use of the Launchpad. The Screenshot app can be used for taking screenshots of different sizes and sections of the screen, as well as screen recordings too, and it comes with additional features like a timer.

Pros:

• An easy-to-use tool

• Built-in, so no downloads or installs needed

• Also works with screen recordings

• Various editing options and other features

Cons:

• Quite a basic tool

Read on to learn how to screenshot on a Mac and crop the images you captured using a built-in app.

1. The Screenshot app is automatically installed on all Macs, so you don't need to download or install it, but you will need to launch it. You can do this by either pressing the Shift, Command, and 5 keys at the same time or by using the Launchpad.

2. Once the tool is open, click on the relevant button to capture a screenshot. You can use the different buttons to make different types of screenshots, including the entire screen, window, and portions of the screen. You can also use this tool to make screen recordings.

3. Make use of the options, if desired, to configure the tool to your liking and use extra features.

4. Click on the Capture button to take your screenshot or click on the window you want to capture if you're doing an individual window screenshot.

5. A thumbnail of your capture will appear. You can click on this and then crop it as desired.

Best for: precise cropping

You can also choose to make use of the Preview tool in order to make cropped screenshots on your Mac. The Preview tool is usually used to let you view image files that are stored on your device or new images you made, like screenshots. In this tool, it's possible to simply click on the crop button and then drag and mark out the area of the image you want to keep. It's really easy to use, and you can also use Preview to edit images like screenshots in other ways, such as resizing them, annotating, or adjusting the color.

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly

• Installed on all Macs

• Can be used for other forms of editing too

Cons:

• Easy to make mistakes when dragging the box

This is how to screenshot and crop on a Mac with the Preview app:

1. To use the Preview tool, first, click on the screenshot image you want to view.

2. The image should open in the preview window. You can then click and drag on it to mark the area you want to keep, as well as the area you want to remove.

3. Once you've dragged out your selection, click on Tools and then Crop, or simply use the hotkey shortcut Command and K to crop the image.

4. Save your image before closing the Preview window.

Best for: advanced editing

You may also make use of the built-in Photos app on your Mac to make cropped screenshots very easily. This app can also be used for advanced editing of your images and screenshots, allowing you to adjust the color, resize the image, apply filters, and so on. It offers a lot of features but isn't the fastest option when all you want to do is crop a screenshot.

Pros:

• Built-in – no installation or download needed

• Easy to use for beginners

• Lots of different editing options, including filters and resizing

Cons:

• Not the fastest option for cropping

Follow the steps below to screenshot crop on a Mac in Photos:

1. The Photos app is installed on all Mac devices, so there's no need to download or install it. Instead, simply open the app via the Launchpad and then click on a screenshot you want to edit.

2. Click on the Edit button in the top corner and then select the Crop tab at the top.

3. You can then use the preset aspect ratios on the side to choose the right ratio for your image and then drag the sides and corners of the image inwards to crop it.

4. You can also click and drag on the center of the image to move it around or use the wheel on the side to adjust the rotation.

5. Click on the Done when you're finished to save the cropped image.

Best for: MacBook Pro users

Another very simple method for making cropped screenshots on a Mac is with the use of the touchpad. You can use the Touch Bar itself to take screenshots with a single tap, but this only works on newer MacBook Pro models, as older Macs don't have the same functionality.

Pros:

• Really simple and straightforward

• Lets you take different sizes and types of screenshot

• Works in seconds

Cons:

• Only works with newer MacBook Pro models

Here’s how to take a screenshot on a Mac and crop it using the touchpad:

1. The Photos app is installed on all Mac devices, so there's no need to download or install it. Instead, simply open the app via the Launchpad and then click on a screenshot you want to edit.

2. First, you need to enable the Screenshot icon on the Touch Bar. You should see a camera-shaped icon appear.

3. Tap the camera icon and select the type of screenshot you'd like to take.

4. Take the screenshot and then click the thumbnail to edit and save where you want.

When choosing the best option for you, it’s important to take into account several things:

• Ease of use. Need a quick, sure, and simple way to edit your screenshot? Why not just use one of the basic built-in tools that you already have on your MacBook Air/Pro or iMac? These offer everything you need and don’t require extra software or skills. Get rid of unwanted apps, clean up and optimize your Mac easily with tools that help you keep your machine shiny and new.
• Features. Inbuilt tools are usually basic and only offer the minimum functionality. If your goal is to take, edit, annotate, and share your screenshot, it’s probably best to choose a program specifically created for this purpose.
• Price. Of course, those programs that offer extended functionality are likely to have a paywall, whereas the built-in tools offering basic editing tools are completely free. Depending on your budget, pick the tool that covers your needs at a price that you find comfortable.