{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-change-where-screenshots-are-saved","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-change-where-screenshots-are-saved","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"creative-media","title":"Creative and media apps"},"question":"How do I change where screenshots and screen recordings are saved on a Mac?","alt_questions":["screenshot save location mac","stop screenshots on desktop","save screenshots to folder mac","command shift 5 options save to","screenshots external drive","screen recording save location"],"short_answer":"Press Shift-Command-5, click Options, and pick a folder under Save to (or Clipboard so quick shots aren't saved). It covers screenshots and screen recordings.","answer_markdown":"Press **Shift-Command-5** to open the Screenshot toolbar, click **Options**, and under **Save to** choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or **Other Location…** for any folder — including one on an external drive. The choice applies to screenshots and screen recordings alike.\n\nA dedicated folder makes clutter easy to review and delete in one go. Choosing **Clipboard** means quick screenshots aren't saved as files at all, which keeps them from piling up. More on how much space they use: [screenshots and screen recordings](/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-screen-recordings-and-screenshots-using).","answer_html":"

Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options, and under Save to choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Other Location… for any folder — including one on an external drive. The choice applies to screenshots and screen recordings alike.

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A dedicated folder makes clutter easy to review and delete in one go. Choosing Clipboard means quick screenshots aren't saved as files at all, which keeps them from piling up. More on how much space they use: screenshots and screen recordings.

","answer_text":"Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options, and under Save to choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Other Location… for any folder — including one on an external drive. The choice applies to screenshots and screen recordings alike.\n\nA dedicated folder makes clutter easy to review and delete in one go. Choosing Clipboard means quick screenshots aren't saved as files at all, which keeps them from piling up. More on how much space they use: screenshots and screen recordings.","tags":["screenshots","screen recording","settings"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-are-screen-recordings-and-screenshots-using","question":"Where do screenshots and screen recordings go, and can I change it?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-are-screen-recordings-and-screenshots-using"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-find-screenshots-in-photos","question":"How do I find and delete screenshots stored in my Photos library?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-screenshots-in-photos"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I change where screenshots and screen recordings are saved on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Press Shift-Command-5, click Options, and pick a folder under Save to (or Clipboard so quick shots aren't saved). It covers screenshots and screen recordings.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I change where screenshots and screen recordings are saved on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-change-where-screenshots-are-saved"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-change-where-screenshots-are-saved","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I change where screenshots and screen recordings are saved on a Mac?","alternateName":["screenshot save location mac","stop screenshots on desktop","save screenshots to folder mac","command shift 5 options save to","screenshots external drive","screen recording save location"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options, and under Save to choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Other Location… for any folder — including one on an external drive. The choice applies to screenshots and screen recordings alike.\n\nA dedicated folder makes clutter easy to review and delete in one go. Choosing Clipboard means quick screenshots aren't saved as files at all, which keeps them from piling up. More on how much space they use: screenshots and screen recordings.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-change-where-screenshots-are-saved"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Creative and media apps

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How do I change where screenshots and screen recordings are saved on a Mac?

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Short answer: Press Shift-Command-5, click Options, and pick a folder under Save to (or Clipboard so quick shots aren't saved). It covers screenshots and screen recordings.

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Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot toolbar, click Options, and under Save to choose Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or Other Location… for any folder — including one on an external drive. The choice applies to screenshots and screen recordings alike.

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A dedicated folder makes clutter easy to review and delete in one go. Choosing Clipboard means quick screenshots aren't saved as files at all, which keeps them from piling up. More on how much space they use: screenshots and screen recordings.

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