How to screenshot a specific window on Mac

Use window capture when you want the contents of one app window without manually drawing a crop.

The built-in shortcut

1. Open the window or menu.
2. Press Shift-Command-4.
3. Press Space. The pointer changes to a camera.
4. Move over the target and click.

Apple documents both window and menu capture. To omit the window shadow, hold Option while clicking.

The file is saved to the current Screenshot destination. Apple’s support page says the default is the Desktop, but the destination may have been changed in Shift-Command-5 > Options.

Use the Screenshot toolbar

Press Shift-Command-5 and choose the window-capture tool. Move the pointer over the target window and click it. The toolbar’s Options menu can set a timer, destination, thumbnail, pointer, and other capture settings.

Do not rely on the icon’s ordinal position: Apple’s toolbar can change between macOS releases. Use the tool’s window icon or the label exposed by your version.

Capture a menu

For a menu or menu items, open the menu first. Press Shift-Command-4, press Space, and click the highlighted menu or menu bar. Apple also documents dragging over menu items after opening the menu.

This is why a menu should not be treated as an ordinary app window. If the target closes before you can click it, use the Screenshot toolbar timer or a selection capture instead.

Terminal version

The macOS screencapture manual documents window selection and shadow control:

screencapture -W "$HOME/Desktop/window.png"
screencapture -W -o "$HOME/Desktop/window-no-shadow.png"
screencapture -c -W

The first command opens interactive window selection. The second omits the shadow. The third sends the selected window to the Clipboard. Use an existing destination folder and do not replace a file you still need.

These commands were not executed in this review; the local macOS manual was used as a syntax reference only.

Window capture does not promise a complete reconstruction of a window hidden behind another window. Bring the target forward or use a region capture when the visible composition matters.

Format and app limits

The output format follows the capture path you choose. On supported Macs using macOS Tahoe 26 or later, Apple’s Screenshot app exposes SDR/PNG and HDR/HEIF choices. Do not describe every window capture as a PNG with transparent corners unless you have selected a format and verified that behavior for the target Mac.

Some apps may not allow screenshots of their windows. If the result is blank, try a normal document window before troubleshooting your shortcut.

Related guides: Mac screenshot keyboard shortcuts that still work · How to take a partial screenshot on Mac.

Source note: Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Mac, Apple User Guide: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac, and the local macOS screencapture manual, retrieved September 20, 2026.