Quick Answer: To take a screenshot on a MacBook Air 2020, simply press the Shift + Command + 3 keys simultaneously.
Are you a proud owner of the sleek and powerful MacBook Air 2020? If so, you may have found yourself in a situation where you needed to capture what’s on your screen. Whether it’s a funny meme, an important document, or a memorable moment from a video, taking screenshots is an essential skill to have. Fear not, because today we are going to show you how to easily take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020.
Taking a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020 is a breeze once you know the simple keyboard shortcut. By pressing the Shift + Command + 3 keys at the same time, you can instantly capture everything that is currently displayed on your screen. It’s like freezing a moment in time with just a few clicks. So let’s dive in and learn how to capture those priceless moments on your MacBook Air 2020, shall we?
How to Take a Screenshot on MacBook Air 2020
Taking screenshots has become an essential feature for many MacBook users, whether you need to capture an important moment, share information with others, or keep a record of something for later reference. If you recently purchased the MacBook Air 2020 and want to know how to take screenshots efficiently, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will guide you step by step on how to capture screenshots on your MacBook Air 2020, exploring various methods and providing additional tips and tricks along the way.
Method 1: Capturing the Entire Screen
The first method we’ll explore is capturing the entire screen. This is useful when you want to capture everything displayed on your MacBook Air’s screen, including open applications, windows, and the desktop.
To take a screenshot of the entire screen on your MacBook Air 2020, follow these simple steps:
1. Locate the “Shift” key on your keyboard. It is usually marked with an upward-facing arrow.
2. Press and hold the “Shift” key.
3. While holding the “Shift” key, locate the “Command” key (also known as the “⌘” key) on your keyboard. It is typically adorned with the Apple logo.
4. While still holding the “Shift” key, press the “Command” key and simultaneously press the “3” key.
5. Release all the keys simultaneously.
Your MacBook Air 2020 will capture a screenshot of the entire screen, and a thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. You can click on the thumbnail to open it in the Markup tool, where you can make annotations, add text, or crop the screenshot to your liking. If you don’t want to edit the screenshot immediately, it will be saved to your desktop by default with a filename in the format “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png”.
Method 2: Taking a Screenshot of a Selected Portion
Sometimes, you may only need to capture a specific portion of your screen rather than the entire display. Luckily, macOS provides a built-in method to accomplish this.
To take a screenshot of a selected portion on your MacBook Air 2020, follow these steps:
1. Locate the “Shift” key on your keyboard.
2. Press and hold the “Shift” key.
3. While holding the “Shift” key, locate the “Command” key.
4. While still holding the “Shift” key, press the “Command” key and simultaneously press the “4” key.
5. Your cursor will change into a crosshair, allowing you to select the portion of the screen you want to capture. Click and drag to create a selection.
6. Once you’ve selected the desired portion, release the click.
Similar to capturing the entire screen, a thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Clicking on the thumbnail will open the screenshot in the Markup tool for editing, or it will be saved to your desktop if you decide not to edit it immediately.
Method 3: Snapping a Screenshot of a Specific Window
If you want to capture a specific window, such as an application or a browser window, the MacBook Air 2020 offers a hassle-free method to do so.
To take a screenshot of a specific window on your MacBook Air 2020, follow these straightforward steps:
1. Locate the “Shift” key on your keyboard.
2. Press and hold the “Shift” key.
3. While holding the “Shift” key, locate the “Command” key.
4. While still holding the “Shift” key, press the “Command” key and simultaneously press the “4” key.
5. Your cursor will change into a crosshair.
6. Press the Spacebar on your keyboard. The crosshair will transform into a camera icon.
7. Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture. The window will be highlighted in blue.
8. Click on the highlighted window to capture the screenshot.
Just like in the previous methods, a thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Clicking on the thumbnail will open the screenshot in the Markup tool for editing, or it will be saved to your desktop if you choose not to edit it immediately.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Now that you know how to take screenshots on your MacBook Air 2020 using various methods, let’s explore some additional tips and tricks to enhance your screenshot-taking experience:
- If you want to change the default location where screenshots are saved, you can do so by using the “Terminal” application and entering a simple command. This allows you to save your screenshots in a specific folder of your choice.
- If you want to copy a screenshot directly to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, you can add the “Control” key to any screenshot method. For example, to copy a selected portion of the screen to your clipboard, you would press “Shift + Command + Control + 4”.
- If you have a MacBook Air with a Touch Bar, you can customize it to include a screenshot button for quick access. This can be done through the “Keyboard” settings in the System Preferences.
Taking screenshots on your MacBook Air 2020 is a breeze with the built-in methods provided by macOS. Whether you need to capture the entire screen, a specific portion, or a particular window, the step-by-step instructions in this article will have you capturing screenshots in no time. Remember to explore the additional tips and tricks to further enhance your screenshot-taking experience. So go ahead, capture those important moments, share information effortlessly, and keep a record of anything you need with ease on your MacBook Air 2020!
M1 Macbook Air – How To Screenshot On Macbook
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I take a screenshot on MacBook Air 2020?
To take a screenshot on MacBook Air 2020, you can use the following methods:
1. How do I capture the entire screen?
To capture the entire screen, press the Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 3 keys simultaneously. The screenshot will be automatically saved on your desktop as a PNG file.
2. Can I select a specific area to capture?
Absolutely! If you want to capture a specific area, press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 4 keys. The pointer will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the desired area. Once you release the mouse button, the screenshot will be saved on your desktop.
To capture a specific window or menu, press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 4 and then Spacebar. The pointer will change to a camera icon. Simply position the camera over the window or menu, and click to capture. The screenshot will be saved on your desktop automatically.
4. Can I include the mouse pointer in the screenshot?
Absolutely! If you wish to include the mouse pointer in your screenshot, you can press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + 4, then press the Spacebar, and finally hold down the Option (⌥) key. The camera icon will appear, and you can click anywhere to capture the screenshot with the mouse pointer included.
5. How do I take a screenshot and copy it to the clipboard?
If you want to take a screenshot and copy it directly to the clipboard for easy pasting, use Command (⌘) + Control (⌃) + Shift (⇧) + 3 to capture the entire screen, or Command (⌘) + Control (⌃) + Shift (⇧) + 4 to capture a specific area. The screenshot will be saved to the clipboard and can be pasted into another application.
Final Thoughts
To take a screenshot on the MacBook Air 2020, simply press the Shift + Command + 3 keys together, and your entire screen will be captured instantly. If you just want to capture a specific portion of your screen, press Shift + Command + 4, then drag the crosshair cursor to select the area you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop. With these simple steps, capturing screenshots on your MacBook Air 2020 is a breeze. So, next time you need to take a screenshot, remember this quick and easy method.
