If you are a proud owner of the sleek and powerful MacBook Air 2020, you may be wondering how to capture that perfect screenshot. Whether you want to save an important document, share a funny conversation, or highlight a stunning visual, taking a screenshot on your MacBook Air is a simple and essential skill to master.
But how exactly can you capture your screen on a MacBook Air 2020? Don’t worry – we’re here to guide you through the process step by step. Whether you prefer using keyboard shortcuts or the built-in screenshot tool, we’ll show you all the options available so you can choose the one that suits you best.
Let’s get started!
Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
The quickest and easiest way to take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020 is by using keyboard shortcuts. Here are the three main shortcuts you need to know:
1. Capture the Entire Screen: Press the Shift + Command + 3 keys simultaneously. You will hear a camera shutter sound, indicating that the screenshot has been captured. The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop.
2. Capture a Specific Area: Press the Shift + Command + 4 keys. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the specific area you want to capture, then release the mouse. Again, you will hear the camera shutter sound, and the screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop.
3. Capture a Specific Window: Press the Shift + Command + 4 + Spacebar keys. Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Move the camera icon over the window you want to capture, and then click the mouse. The window will be highlighted and saved as a PNG file on your desktop.
Now that you know how to use the keyboard shortcuts, let’s move on to the second method.
Step 1: Locate the “Command” and “Shift” Keys
Before taking a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020, you need to familiarize yourself with the “Command” and “Shift” keys. These keys are vital for capturing screenshots and are located on the left side of your keyboard.
The “Command” key is denoted by the ⌘ symbol and is usually found next to the Spacebar. It is used in conjunction with other keys to perform various functions on your MacBook.
The “Shift” key is labeled with an upward-pointing arrow and is located above the “Command” key. It is used to capitalize letters and type symbols above the numbers on your keyboard.
Locating the “Command” Key
To locate the “Command” key, look for the key with the ⌘ symbol on it. It is usually found next to the Spacebar on the left side of the keyboard.
Locating the “Shift” Key
The “Shift” key is located above the “Command” key and is labeled with an upward-pointing arrow. You can press and hold this key to capitalize letters or access the symbols above the numbers on your keyboard.
Now that you know where the “Command” and “Shift” keys are located, you are ready to move on to the next step and learn how to take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020.
Step 2: Press “Command” + “Shift” + “3” to Capture the Whole Screen
Once you are ready to capture a screenshot of your entire MacBook Air screen, follow these simple steps:
- Make sure the screen you want to capture is displayed and properly arranged.
- Press the “Command” key (⌘), the “Shift” key, and the “3” key at the same time. You can find the “Command” key next to the Spacebar on your keyboard.
When you press these three keys simultaneously, your MacBook Air will capture a screenshot of the entire screen. You will hear a camera shutter sound that indicates a successful capture. The screenshot will be saved as a PNG file on your desktop automatically.
Note that if you have multiple monitors connected to your MacBook Air, the screenshot will include all the screens.
Now that you know how to capture the whole screen, let’s move on to the next step where we’ll learn how to capture a specific area on your MacBook Air.
Step 3: Use “Command” + “Shift” + “4” to Capture a Selected Area
Now that you know how to capture the entire screen and a single window, let’s move on to capturing a selected area. This feature is especially useful when you only want to screenshot a specific part of your screen, such as an image, a paragraph, or a section of a webpage.
To capture a selected area, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Command key (⌘) on your keyboard.
- Press and hold the Shift key (⇧) on your keyboard.
- Press the number 4 key on your keyboard. You’ll see a crosshair cursor appear on your screen.
- Click and drag the crosshair cursor to select the area you want to capture. As you’re dragging, you’ll see the coordinates of the selected area displayed on the screen.
- Release your mouse button to take the screenshot. You’ll hear a camera shutter sound, and the screenshot will be saved on your desktop as a PNG file.
Once the screenshot is saved, you can open it, annotate it, or share it with others using various applications. Just remember that the captured area will be pixel-perfect, so make sure to select the exact part of the screen that you want to include in the screenshot.
Tips:
If you want to cancel the screenshot while you’re in the middle of selecting the area, simply press the Esc key on your keyboard. This will cancel the selection and nothing will be captured.
Key Combination Alternative:
In addition to using “Command” + “Shift” + “4” to capture a selected area, you can also use “Command” + “Shift” + “3” to capture the entire screen, or “Command” + “Shift” + “5” to bring up the screenshot toolbar with additional options.
Now that you know how to capture a selected area, let’s move on to the next step and learn how to screenshot a specific window.
Step 4: Press “Command” + “Shift” + “4” + “Spacebar” to Capture a Window
When you want to take a screenshot of a specific window on your MacBook Air 2020, you can use a shortcut that includes the “Command” key, the “Shift” key, the number “4,” and the “Spacebar.” This allows you to capture the active window without including any surrounding elements or the desktop.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Make sure the window you want to capture is open and active.
- Press and hold the “Command” key (⌘) on your keyboard.
- While holding the “Command” key, press the “Shift” key (⇧).
- While still holding both the “Command” and “Shift” keys, press the number “4” key (4).
- Your cursor should change to a crosshair icon.
- Move the crosshair icon over the window you want to capture.
- Press the “Spacebar” key (␣) once.
- The crosshair icon will transform into a camera icon.
- Click the window you want to capture with the camera icon.
- The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop by default.
Following these steps will allow you to easily take a screenshot of a specific window on your MacBook Air 2020.
Step 5: Find Your Screenshots in the Desktop or “Screenshots” Folder
Once you take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020, you may be wondering where it is saved. By default, your screenshots are saved on the desktop. However, if you prefer a more organized approach, you can easily change the save location to a designated folder called “Screenshots”.
To locate your screenshots, simply navigate to your desktop. You will see the screenshots as image files with names that typically include the date and time they were taken. If you have saved your screenshots in the “Screenshots” folder, you can find it in the Finder sidebar or by navigating to your user folder and then opening the “Pictures” folder.
Locating screenshots on the desktop:
1. Click on the “Desktop” icon in the Dock or press Shift + Command + D on your keyboard to open the desktop.
2. Look for the screenshot files on the desktop. They will have names like “Screenshot [Date] at [Time].png”.
Locating screenshots in the “Screenshots” folder:
1. Open a new Finder window by clicking on the Finder icon on the Dock or pressing Command + N on your keyboard.
2. In the sidebar, click on “Pictures” to open the “Pictures” folder.
3. Inside the “Pictures” folder, you will find the “Screenshots” folder. Double-click on it to open.
4. Look for the screenshot files inside the “Screenshots” folder. They will also have names like “Screenshot [Date] at [Time].png”.
By following these steps, you will be able to easily locate your screenshots on your MacBook Air 2020, whether they are saved on the desktop or in the “Screenshots” folder. You can then use these screenshots for various purposes, such as sharing, editing, or organizing.
Q&A:
Can I take a screenshot on my MacBook Air 2020?
Yes, you can easily take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020 using keyboard shortcuts.
What are the keyboard shortcuts to take a screenshot on MacBook Air 2020?
There are three keyboard shortcuts to take a screenshot on MacBook Air 2020. Pressing Shift + Command + 3 captures the entire screen, Shift + Command + 4 allows you to select a specific area for a screenshot, and Shift + Command + 5 opens the screenshot toolbar with more options.
How can I find the screenshot after capturing it?
Once you take a screenshot on your MacBook Air 2020, it is automatically saved to the desktop as a PNG file. You can also find it in the “Screenshots” folder within the “Pictures” folder.
Is there a way to take a screenshot of a specific window?
Yes, you can easily take a screenshot of a specific window on your MacBook Air 2020. Just press Shift + Command + 4, then press the Spacebar. The cursor will turn into a camera icon, and you can click on the window you want to capture.
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