How To Fix a Screenshot that Isn’t Working on Mac

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If you’ve ever tried to take a screenshot on your Mac, only to find out that the image didn’t save, you’re not alone. It’s fairly common for screenshots to not save correctly, and there are several reasons why this can happen.

You’ve tried every trick in the book, and you’re not sure what you’re doing wrong. You know how to take a screenshot on your Mac, but when you try to open the image file and share it with someone else, nothing happens—it’s just not working!

This guide will walk you through some of the most common reasons why your screenshots on MAC not working, and how you can fix it!

Why screenshot on mac are not working quick fix
Hands over MacBook on white table

What Is a Screenshot?

A screenshot is a digital image of anything displayed on a computer screen. Screenshots can be taken using various methods, including keyboard shortcuts and third-party software. 

The most common reason for taking a screenshot is to save the state of a program or application, such as when one has just installed it and wants to show others what it looks like at that stage.

Screenshots are also useful for creating tutorials, showing bugs or errors in programs, and documenting workflows. For example, if you are writing documentation for a program, you might need to take screenshots while following certain steps.

The image produced by a screenshot can be saved in many different file formats including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP. These formats can be used for displaying images online or printing them out for viewing offline.

Mac Screenshot Utility

The Mac Screenshot Utility is a built-in program that allows you to take screenshots on your Mac. You can use it to take screenshots of the entire screen, a single window, or a selected area. To take a screenshot using the Mac Screenshot Utility, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”

2. Click the “Keyboard” icon.

3. Click the “Shortcuts” tab.

To see a preview of the screenshot before you save it, press Command-Shift-4. This will allow you to select an area of the screen to capture.

Can I use Keyboard shortcut settings to preview screenshots?

Yes, you can use shortcuts to preview screenshots on a Mac. To do this, press the Command (Cmd) and Shift (Shift) keys and then the number 3 key. This will take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it as a file on your desktop.

Restart your MacBook

Tech Support First Solution, Any Time I have An Issue With My Computer This Is The First Method To Try To Fix Anything!

Yes, restarting your Macbook can fix the screenshot not working.

If you are experiencing this issue, try restarting your computer and see if that fixes the problem.

so simply restart your mac.

How to Take a Screenshot on Mac?

A screenshot is a picture of what’s happening on your screen. You can take a screenshot whenever you need it, and it’s very easy to do on Mac. Here are the steps to take a screenshot in any version of Mac.

1. Press Shift, Command, and 3 at the same time. The screen will flash white briefly as the screenshot is saved.

2. A thumbnail will appear on the desktop of your Mac. This is also where your screenshots are stored in case you want to access them later or share them with someone else.

3. To find out where your screenshots are stored, open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder… in the menu bar at the top of your screen. 

How to Fix “Screenshot on Mac Not Working”?

The ability to take a screenshot is built into Mac OS. It helps you to take screenshots of your work, website or any other things that you want to capture. But when it comes to taking screenshot on Mac, it seems to be very difficult.

The most common issue that I have seen with people who use Mac is “Screenshot not working”. The reason behind this problem is simple, if you are using an old version of Mac Os, then it may not recognize the new version of macOS and hence the screenshot button will not work.

I am going to share some tips that can help you fix “Screenshot on Mac Not Working” issue and take a high-quality screenshot on your Mac easily.

how to check your mac screenshot is not working quick fixes
man fixing hardware

What you will need to check?

Make Sure Your Mac Has the Latest Updates

If you’re unable to take screenshots on your Mac, it could be because your system is missing important updates. To check if there are any available updates, open the App Store app and click on the Updates tab. Here, you should see a list of all available updates that you can download by clicking Update All.

Check if you have enough memory:

Check whether your Mac has enough memory available for the software to function correctly. If there’s not enough memory, the software may fail to work properly and this could cause problems when taking screenshots.

Make sure that the shortcut keys are enabled. 

To check this, open System Preferences and click Keyboard. You should see an option for “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.” Select this option if it’s not already selected and click OK to save changes.

Check permissions and settings

Sometimes when you try to take a screenshot on your Mac, it doesn’t work because there’s something wrong with your permissions or settings. To fix this issue, follow these steps:

  • Open System Preferences by clicking its icon in the Dock or by clicking Apple menu > System Preferences…
  • Click Security & Privacy and then click Accessibility in the left sidebar of the Security & Privacy preferences window.
  • Click “Enable access for assistive devices” and then close out of System Preferences by clicking the red button in its top-left corner.

Reasons why Screenshot not Working on Mac:

There are many reasons why screenshots could stop working. Here are some of them:

  • The keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot has been changed by another app or program. If you have a Mac computer, you will need to check that the shortcuts are set up correctly if you are using a keyboard shortcut. The screenshot shortcuts have been deactivated, and if you wish to take a screenshot of your screen, press the ‘Command+Shift+3’ button in order to capture a screenshot of your entire screen, or the ‘Command+Shift+4’ key in order to capture a screenshot of just a part of it.
  • The keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot is being blocked by a third-party app, like an antivirus program.
  • In the System Preferences, you may have disabled the option to select “Grab” from the menu.
  • It is possible, however, that your Mac’s graphics driver could be malfunctioning if none of the above reasons apply to you.

Step by step Instructions:

There are multiple ways to take a screenshot on Mac, but most of them require using keyboard shortcuts. In case you are having problems taking screenshots on your Mac, then here is what you need to do in order to fix them:

  1. Open “System Preferences”

Open “System Preferences” by clicking on the Apple icon at the top left corner of your screen and then navigating to “System Preferences” in the drop-down menu or by pressing Command + Spacebar and typing “System Preferences” in Spotlight Search.

  1. Navigate to the “Keyboard” Tab

In order to take screenshots on your Mac, you need to know which key combination you need to use. If you don’t know which one it is, you can follow these steps:

  • The keyboard can be found in System Preferences under the section called “Hardware & Sound.” Click on it to open it.
  1. Tap on the “Shortcuts” tab.

Now look for the screenshot shortcut, which is usually F12 or Shift + Command + 4. 

Or

You can tap on “Screenshots” from within this section. This allows you to select a shortcut for taking screenshots on Mac OS X 10.13 (or higher).

  1. Tap on the “Screenshots” option from the left side of the window.

Now look for Screenshot option on left side of the window. Click on this option and then checkmark “Use keyboard shortcut”. Now type F12 or Shift + Command + 4 in Shortcut text box and then click on “OK” button again.

Other Alternative Fixes:

  • Try using different keyboard shortcuts instead of F12 (which is used by default). Some people find that they can’t use F12 because it conflicts with other programs they have running on their computers. If you’ve tried everything else but still aren’t able to take screenshots using the keyboard shortcuts we listed above, try using something like Command + Shift + 4 instead of Command + Shift + 3

If you are having problems with screenshots on Mac, it is highly possible that the keyboard shortcuts of your Mac are damaged. To fix this issue, you will have to reset the key combinations.

  • You can use Grab or Preview to take a screenshot on Mac. The problem here is that sometimes the default location where your Mac screenshots are saved may be changed by some third-party applications installed on your system. To avoid this issue, check the location where your Mac screenshots are saved.
  • If you have installed any third-party applications on your system, they might be susceptible to bugs and viruses. If so, then it is good to uninstall them immediately as they can cause many issues with your system as well as with taking screenshots on Mac.
  • Check the default location. The default location in which your Mac screenshots are saved is ~/Pictures/Screenshots folder under Documents Library in Finder. This folder contains all your screenshots taken so far with different file names like Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png etc., depending on how many times you have taken a screenshot using this shortcut key combination method.

You Can Install A Screenshot App

Yes, you can install a screenshot app on a Macbook. There are many different screenshot apps available, and most of them are free to download. Some popular screenshot apps for Macbooks include Jing, Skitch, and Snagit.

Check out our post on Do Hackers Use Mac or PC

Can Mac Users Still Be Targeted by Hackers?

Can Mac users still be targeted by hackers? Despite hacker preferences: mac vs pc, the reality is that no system is entirely immune. While historically Macs have enjoyed a lower risk of malware attacks, cybercriminals are increasingly focusing on macOS. The rise in popularity of Apple devices has caught hackers’ attention, urging users to remain vigilant and prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect their systems from potential breaches.

Is the Best Budget Laptop for Working from Home Compatible with Mac?

Looking for the best budget laptop for home office? Wondering if it’s compatible with a Mac? Finding a laptop that ticks both the affordability and compatibility boxes can be challenging. However, with careful research and consideration, you can find budget-friendly laptops that work seamlessly with a Mac operating system. It’s important to compare specifications, reviews, and seek expert advice to ensure a perfect match for your work-from-home needs. Don’t compromise on quality and productivity, even if you’re on a tight budget.

Conclusion:

I hope you enjoyed this list of tips for fixing a screenshot on Mac not working. I’m always trying to gather up the best information, and I think these tips can help a lot of people who are having issues with their screenshots.

If there is anything else you think should be added to this list, or if you have any other questions, you can go to the contact page and write us!.

If you need more help check out our blog post on How to Fix Screenshot on mac

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