Several users have reported that they are unable to take screenshots and screen recordings on Mac. Specifically, the captured images are not saved after they are captured on the screen. If the screenshot feature on your Mac isn’t working, here is a troubleshooting guide that can help you fix the issue.
The screenshot feature is built into macOS, so you don’t need to install any third-party software; it should just work. When you can’t take a screenshot on a Mac, it can be very frustrating. If Screenshots is not working on Mac, here are the steps you can take to quickly get Screenshots working on your Mac so you can continue communicating ideas through email and text messages with others.
How to Fix it When You Can’t take a Mac Screenshot
It’s uncommon that screenshots don’t work on a Mac, so it’s pretty easy to find out why the feature is not working as expected. There are a couple of things you can do to troubleshoot the problem. If everything else works correctly on the Mac, the keyboard is working properly and can be ruled out as the source of the problem. If screenshot feature is not working on Mac, follow these steps to fix the issue:
Fix 1: Check the keyboard shortcut settings
By default, these settings are enabled. However, they may have been disabled inadvertently or set to keyboard combinations other than the defaults. To check this, head over to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. There you can see whether keyboard shortcuts have been disabled or reassigned to other actions.
Fix 2: Confirm the location for saving screenshots in the Screenshot app
Though the screenshots are saved to the Desktop by default, if you changed that setting, your screenshots may be hiding somewhere you haven’t checked. Check the location on the floating menu bar.
Fix 3: Restart your Mac
If captured images are not saved when you capture screen on your Mac, restarting your Mac may fix this problem. Using your Mac for long periods without restarting can cause it to perform inefficiently or prevent certain apps from working properly. If the screenshot feature on your Mac isn’t working, restart the Mac and turn it on again.
- You can restart your Mac by choosing the Restart option from the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the display.
Now check to see if you can find the screen images. If images are missing still, check the next solution.
Fix 4: Restart your Mac in safe mode
Starting your Mac in Safe Mode may fix your problem. Please start your Mac in Safe Mode, then in Safe Mode check if you are able to take screenshots and screen recordings. Then restart your Mac normally to exit Safe Mode. Here is how:
- Power off your Mac: Head over to Apple menu > and choose Shut down.
- Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
- Keep holding the Shift key until the login screen appears.
- When you see the login screen, let go the Shift key.
- Login.
- Now your Mac is running in Safe Mode. Your Mac will run slower, this is normal. Now check to see if the captured images are being saved when you capture the screen
- Either case, exit Safe Mode. Simply restart your Mac and do not press any keys.
Fix 5: reset NVRAM (or PRAM) on your Mac
If you are unable to take screenshots and screen recordings on your Mac, resetting PRAM or NVRAM may fix this problem. PRAM or NVRAM are different things, but the resetting process is the same. Here is how:
- Start by pressing and holding the power button on your Mac to completely shut it down. Hard discs and fans need to stop spinning, and the screen needs to turn dark.
- Next, power on your Mac.
- Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the “Command + Option + P + R” keys.
- Don’t release the keys until you hear the start up sound again and the Apple logo appears.
- Release the keys, and the PRAM/NVRAM will have been reset. Please note, some of your settings such as display, volume, time zone, etc will be reset.