how to take screenshot on mac without saving

How to Take a Screenshot on Mac Without Saving: A Step-by-Step Guide

Taking screenshots on a Mac is easier than you think, with plenty of options and customizations available. Whether you need to capture a specific part of the screen or save an image for later use, MacOS has got you covered. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of taking a screenshot on your Mac without saving it to your desktop.

Step 1: Hold Down the Shift, Command, and 4 Keys

To take a partial screenshot, hold down the Shift (⇧) + Command (⌘) + 4 keys on your keyboard. This will enable the screenshot tool, allowing you to capture a specific portion of the screen.

Step 2: Press the Control Key

While holding down the Shift and Command keys, press the Control (⌃) key on your keyboard. This will send the image to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file.

Step 3: Capture Your Screen

Go to the screen you want to capture and use the crosshair cursor to select the area you want to capture. You can drag the crosshair to select the desired portion of the screen.

The Benefits of Universal Clipboard

When taking screenshots on Mac, they are saved as images in the PNG file format on your desktop. However, if you press a modifier key (Shift, Control, Option/Alt, and Command keys) when taking a screenshot, it will send the image to the system clipboard instead. This feature is known as Universal Clipboard, which is available in iOS 10 or later and macOS Sierra or higher.

Using Universal Clipboard Across Devices

Universal Clipboard makes copying and pasting super simple across macOS and iOS devices. For example, let's say you take a screenshot on your Mac and want to import it into the Notes app on your iPhone. With Universal Clipboard, you can save the screenshots directly to the clipboard on your Mac, making them available across your devices.

Taking a screenshot on Mac without saving it is easy and straightforward. By following these simple steps, you can capture and send images to your clipboard for quick pasting into other apps or documents. Whether you're working on a project or simply need to share an image with someone, Universal Clipboard makes copying and pasting super simple across macOS and iOS devices.

How to take screenshot on mac without saving