# How to Change the Default Screenshot Filename on Mac

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Source: https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/change-screenshot-filename-mac/
Source observed: 2026-09-19T03:00:32.592Z
Last checked: 2026-09-19T17:04:18.587+00:00
Indexed: 2026-09-19T03:07:02.005+00:00

---

# How to Change the Default Screenshot Filename on Mac

**April 14, 2026 · LazyScreenshots Team**

macOS normally names screenshots `Screen Shot [date] at [time].png`, which makes project searching, sorting, scripts, Git commands, documentation, and team sharing harder. We explain how to change the prefix, remove timestamps, automate renaming, and batch-rename existing files.

## Change the screenshot prefix with Terminal

Open **Terminal** and run:

```sh
defaults write com.apple.screencapture name "screenshot"
killall SystemUIServer
```

New screenshots use `screenshot [date] at [time].png`. `killall SystemUIServer` restarts the process that handles screenshots so the change takes effect immediately.

Useful prefixes include:

- `"ss"` — short and terminal-friendly
- `"cap"` — short for “capture”
- `"debug"` — useful for bug-related screenshots
- `"lazyscreenshot"` — a brand or project prefix

To restore the macOS default:

```sh
defaults delete com.apple.screencapture name
killall SystemUIServer
```

## Remove the date and time

To use only the prefix, disable the timestamp:

```sh
defaults write com.apple.screencapture include-date -bool false
killall SystemUIServer
```

Files are then named `screenshot.png`, `screenshot 1.png`, `screenshot 2.png`, and so on. macOS adds an incrementing number to avoid overwrites. This produces cleaner names but removes timestamp information.

Restore the date and time with:

```sh
defaults write com.apple.screencapture include-date -bool true
killall SystemUIServer
```

macOS does not let you change the date format itself. It uses `YYYY-MM-DD at H.MM.SS AM/PM` based on your locale. For ISO 8601 timestamps, underscores, or Unix epoch timestamps, use the Folder Action approach below.

## Auto-rename screenshots with a Folder Action

1. Open **Automator** and create a new **Folder Action**.
2. Set **Folder Action receives files and folders added to** your screenshot location, usually Desktop or a custom Screenshots folder.
3. Add a **Run Shell Script** action, set **Pass input** to **as arguments**, and use:

```sh
for f in "$@"; do
  filename=$(basename "$f")
  extension="${filename##*.}"

  # Only rename screenshot files
  if [[ "$filename" == Screen\ Shot* ]] || [[ "$filename" == screenshot* ]]; then
    timestamp=$(date +"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
    newname="ss_${timestamp}.${extension}"
    mv "$f" "$(dirname "$f")/${newname}"
  fi
done
```

4. Save the Folder Action. It runs whenever a new file is added to the folder.

The example renames screenshots to a format such as `ss_20260414_154217.png`: no spaces or special characters, sortable by date, and convenient in Terminal commands and scripts. Adjust the prefix and `date` format as needed.

## Batch-rename existing screenshots in Finder

Select the screenshots in Finder with **Cmd+A** or **Cmd-click**, right-click, and choose **Rename...**. Finder provides three modes:

- **Replace Text** — replace `Screen Shot` with `ss` or another value.
- **Add Text** — prepend or append a project name such as `onboarding-`.
- **Format** — use a pattern such as `bug-report 1.png`, `bug-report 2.png`, and so on.

For bulk cleanup, replace `Screen Shot `, including the trailing space, with an empty string to leave only the date and time. For advanced batch renaming, the free NameChanger app or the `rename` command can provide regex-based renaming; Homebrew installs the latter with `brew install rename`.

## Why filenames matter for developer workflows

- **Git and version control:** spaces and parentheses require quoting in Git commands, shell scripts, and CI configuration. A name such as `Screen Shot 2026-04-14 at 3.42.17 PM.png` can break an unquoted `git add` and create noisy rename diffs.
- **Documentation and READMEs:** `![Bug](Screen%20Shot%202026-04-14%20at%203.42.17%20PM.png)` is difficult to read, while `![Bug](ss_20260414_154217.png)` is manageable and `![Bug](login-error-dark-mode.png)` is self-documenting.
- **Searching and sorting:** descriptive names make Spotlight searches useful.
- **Team sharing:** `checkout-button-missing.png` communicates the issue more clearly than a timestamped filename.

## A smarter approach to screenshot naming

Terminal and Automator settings solve prefix and timestamp problems, but they still leave timestamp-based names that do not describe screenshot content. LazyScreenshots captures, annotates, organizes, and shares screenshots in one step, sending them directly into Claude, Cursor, Slack, or GitHub without managing files in Finder.

We capture, annotate, and auto-paste screenshots into Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT for **$29 one-time**.

[Try LazyScreenshots — $29 one-time](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/)

## Related

- [How to Organize Screenshots on Mac: Stop Losing Important Captures](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/organize-screenshots-mac/)
- [Mac Screenshot Settings: Change Save Location & Format](https://www.lazyscreenshots.com/blog/mac-screenshot-settings-location-format/)

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