Guide

How to change where screenshots are saved on a Mac

Press Shift-Command-5, click Options, and choose a folder under "Save to"; new screenshots go there from then on.

The built-in way

From the Screenshot toolbar

Make a folder for them first, for example Pictures/Screenshots.
Press ⇧⌘5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
Click Options. Under "Save to", choose Other Location… and pick the folder.
Press Esc to close the toolbar. The setting sticks.

This only changes where new screenshots go. The ones already on your Desktop stay there.

Another way

Move the old ones in one go

Click the Desktop and press ⌘F. Set the search to "Desktop".
Type "Screenshot" and drag the results into your new folder.

With Omaculate

Let Oma do it, and check her work first

If you like having screenshots on the Desktop while you work, Omaculate can move them into Desktop/Screenshots for you instead. With Grand Oma it happens as each one lands.

Recipe: Move screenshots into a folder A screenshot on the Desktop is moved to Desktop/Screenshots, as it arrives.

Questions

Where do screenshots go on a Mac by default?

To the Desktop, named "Screenshot" followed by the date and time.

Can screenshots go to the clipboard instead of a file?

Yes. Hold Control as you take one, for example Control-Shift-Command-4, or choose Clipboard under "Save to" in the Screenshot toolbar’s Options.

More guides

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