6 Efficient Methods to Fix Screenshot Not Working on Mac

Just like other devices, Mac has a built-in method for taking screenshots. With the effortless and straightforward shortcut keys, you can capture any interface within a moment. What should you do if the screenshot not working on Mac? There are instances where you can press the command button to take screenshots, but nothing happens. Moreover, you can't hear the sound of the camera's shutter, and your captured photos are nowhere to see on Mac's desktop. So, what are the possible methods and solutions when the screenshot is not responding on Mac? Learn from this article the efficient method to fix this problem.

Part 1: 5 Workable Methods to Fix Screenshot Not Working on Mac

Method 1: Restart Your Mac

Using your Mac for an extended period may cause it to malfunction, which the screenshot not working on your Mac or cannot find the captured screenshots, especially when there are lots of tasks running at the same time. You'd better restart your device to find whether it works.

Step 1.Once you have closed all the programs on your MacBook, go to the Apple Menu bar to restart your MacBook.

Step 2.Choose the Restart option drop-down list, you can also restart the device. After that, you can press the Command + Shift + 3 button again to find whether it works.

Moreover, you can also use the shortcut keys Control + Command + Eject/Power button to restart the device when the screenshot is not responding on Mac.

Method 2: Check the Screenshot Location

What should you do if you still cannot find the taken screenshot? You must be aware if the screenshot's location is in the correct folder. Here are the steps to determine the location folder of screenshot photos on Mac.

Step 1.Open the Screenshot app of Mac by pressing the shortcut button Shift + Command + 5 simultaneously to launch the onscreen.

Step 2.Tap the Options button located at the screenshot toolbar. Proceed to the Save To option. After that, look for your current screenshot saved folder.

Step 3.Find out why the screenshot is not working on Mac. Furthermore, you can select a new folder to be the new destination of your screenshots.

Method 3: Confirm the Dropbox Settings

Dropbox has added an import feature that automatically uploads screenshots to Dropbox and creates a sharing link. When you cannot find the screenshot, it does not mean the screenshot not working on Mac. You can change the settings to get everything as your requirements.

Step 1.Open Dropbox on your Mac and choose the Settings option on the top right corner to fix the screenshot not working on Mac.

Step 2.Choose the Preferences option and then select the Import option from the drop-down list to uncheck the Share screenshots using Dropbox option.

Step 3.After that, you can check and change the destination folder for the screenshot. Just take another screenshot to find whether it works.

Method 4: Reset the Hotkeys for Screenshots

When you need to capture the screenshots for gameplay, which might have a conflict for the hotkeys, you have to reset them if the screenshot not working on Mac. You can customize the screenshot keyboard shortcuts from your Mac's keyboard preferences.

Step 1.Choose the Apple menu on your MacBook and click the System Preferences option. It will launch a window to set up the system preferences, including hotkeys.

Step 2.Go to the Keyboard option and proceed to the Shortcuts tab. Select the Keyboard option from the left menu to check your hotkeys for taking screenshots on Mac.

Step 3.Check your shortcut keys have been disabled or alter the default settings by clicking the Restore Defaults button to fix the screenshot not working on Mac.

Method 5: Reset the NVRAM

Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) is a memory used by Mac devices to access and store settings, such as sound volume, time difference, display, and shortcut keys. By restarting NVRAM, you can resolve misplaced hotkeys and a non-working screenshot on Mac.

Step 1.Go to the Apple menu and choose the Shut Down option to turn off your MacBook before resetting the NVRAM.

Step 2.Turn on your Mac and as soon as you power up your Mac, hold down the Command + Option + P + R keys for 10 to 20 seconds.

Step 3.Don't let go of the keys until you hear the sound of Mac starting up. For other latest versions of Mac, don't let go of the keys until the Apple logo disappears instead of sound popping out.

Part 2: Best Workaround When Screenshot Not Working on Mac

Is there an easy method to take snapshots when screenshots not working on Mac? Whether you need to capture a certain area or edit the screenshots, AnyRec Screen Recorder is more than a snipping tool, but also provides excellent screen capturing features. This app provides drawing tools to add real-time drawing tools, such as annotations, texts, and shapes with custom colors and sizes. In addition, you can save your screenshots in different file formats such as PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF.

Step 1.Download and install AnyRec Screen Recorder on your device, you can launch the program on your computer when your Mac's screenshot feature is not working, or you just need to manage the snapshots easily.

Step 2.On the menu bar of the application, click the Screen Capture button. Drag the cursor to select the desired part of the screen, or even take Facetime screenshot. Release the left-click mouse to get a captured image immediately.

Step 3.After that, you can add texts, shapes, callouts, and arrows to the screenshot. Moreover, you can even draw on the photo directly. You can also choose the desired color or font that you want to use in your screenshot.

Step 4.Click the Save button to save your screenshots taken on Mac. In the Save as window, you can choose your destination folder and desired formats available, such as JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF. The default output format is PNG.

Part 3: FAQs about How to Take Screenshots on Mac

• Where is the default destination folder of screenshots on Mac?

  The default location of the screenshots is the desktop. If you do not know whether the screenshot not working, you can simply type kMDItemIsScreenCapture:1 into the window's search field. With macOS 10.8 and higher, all screenshot images are saved with the kMDItemIsScreenCapture flag so you can search for them easily.

• 2Why Mac saves a blank screenshot with hotkeys?

  Usually, the blank Mac screenshots are related to the corrupted.plist file, incorrect keyboard settings, malware infection, or other third-party incompatibility issues. Just follow the above troubleshoot or check more details about the related reasons, you can take measures to fix screenshots that turn up blank on Mac accordingly.

• What is the default snipping tool for Mac?

  Of course, the easiest and built-in method to take screenshots on Mac is to use shortcut keys. In addition, you can use other apps such as Grab and Preview to take snapshots. Grab is more likely to be the default snipping tool on Mac for this app. If you need to add annotation or edit the photos, you can choose the professional one instead.

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