To enable screenshots on a Mac, re-enable disabled hotkeys via Apple Menu → System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots, then check the boxes for the shortcuts you want.
If your Mac’s screenshot shortcuts have stopped working — often after using a virtual proctoring app or a remote desktop tool — the fix takes about 20 seconds and doesn’t require a restart. The standard keyboard combos (⌘+Shift+3, ⌘+Shift+4, ⌘+Shift+5) are built into macOS and only need to be turned back on if something disabled them. Below you’ll find the exact steps to restore those hotkeys, the full list of screenshot shortcuts, and how to handle common problems.
Why Screenshots Stop Working on Mac?
Most cases of broken screenshot shortcuts come from third‑party software — especially online proctoring services (like ProctorU) or enterprise monitoring tools — that disable system hotkeys during their session. When the app closes, it should re‑enable them, but sometimes the settings stay off. The shortcuts are stored in macOS’s Keyboard Shortcuts panel, so restoring them is a simple one‑time check.
If the system shortcuts still work but an app you’ve installed can’t take screenshots, the issue is usually missing Screen Recording permissions (covered below).
Enabling Screenshots on Mac: The Settings Path That Works
Follow this exact sequence to re‑enable any disabled screenshot shortcut. The steps are the same on macOS Ventura and later (System Settings) and older versions (System Preferences).
- Click the Apple Menu (top‑left corner) and choose System Settings (or System Preferences on macOS 12 and earlier).
- Select Keyboard.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts at the bottom of the window.
- In the left sidebar, choose Screenshots.
- Check the boxes next to each shortcut you want to enable:
— Capture entire screen (⌘+Shift+3)
— Capture selected portion (⌘+Shift+4)
— Capture window (⌘+Shift+4 then Space)
— Capture screen and record (⌘+Shift+5) - Close System Settings — the shortcuts work immediately; no reboot needed.
If the checkboxes are already on, the shortcuts should work. If they still don’t, try restarting the Mac or checking for conflicting shortcuts (e.g., third‑party apps that map the same combos).
Standard Mac Screenshot Shortcuts (All Methods)
Once the hotkeys are enabled, here’s every native way to take a screenshot or screen recording on a Mac. The first three are the ones most people use daily.
| Action | Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Full screen | ⌘ + Shift + 3 | Captures everything on screen; saves to Desktop as PNG |
| Selected area | ⌘ + Shift + 4 | Crosshair appears; drag to select a portion |
| Window (specific) | ⌘ + Shift + 4 + Space | Click a window to capture it (with shadow) |
| Window (no shadow) | ⌘ + Shift + 4 + Space + Option | Hold Option while clicking to drop the shadow |
| Touch Bar (MacBook Pro) | ⌘ + Shift + 6 | Only on Touch Bar models (discontinued after 2019) |
| Copy to clipboard (full) | ⌘ + Control + Shift + 3 | Saves to clipboard instead of a file |
| Copy to clipboard (partial) | ⌘ + Control + Shift + 4 | Selected area goes to clipboard |
| Open screenshot toolbar | ⌘ + Shift + 5 | Launches the Screenshot app with record/built‑in editing |
The Screenshot app (⌘+Shift+5) also offers a timer, mouse‑pointer toggle, and custom save locations — it’s the most flexible method for regular captures.
Advanced Screenshot Toolbar (⌘+Shift+5)
First introduced in macOS Mojave (10.14), this toolbar puts every capture option in one place. Press ⌘+Shift+5, then use the on‑screen icons to choose Capture Entire Screen, Capture Selected Portion, Capture Window, or Record Entire Screen / Record Selected Portion.
Click Options to set a 5‑ or 10‑second timer, show the mouse pointer, or change where files are saved (Desktop, Documents, Clipboard, or a custom folder). Leaving Show Floating Thumbnail checked gives you a pop‑up editor to mark up or crop the image before it saves.
Common Screenshot Mistakes and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pressing shortcut does nothing | Hotkeys disabled by third‑party app | Re‑enable via System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots |
| Thumbnail appears but file doesn’t save | Auto‑save setting turned off | In Screenshot toolbar (⌘+Shift+5), Options → ensure “Save to” is set to a location, not Clipboard |
| Window capture shows area, not window | Forgot to press Space after ⌘+Shift+4 | Press Spacebar to switch to window mode, then click the window |
| Shadow around captured window unwanted | Shadow is the default | Hold Option while clicking the window to omit the shadow |
| App can’t take screenshots silently | Missing Screen Recording permission | Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording → enable the app |
| Shortcuts work but no file on desktop | Saved to clipboard or another location | Check the clipboard (Paste) or look in the folder set in Options |
If none of these fixes help, the Screenshot app itself may be hung. Open Activity Monitor (Applications → Utilities), search for “Screenshot,” select it, and click the X button (Force Quit). Then retry the shortcut.
Final Checklist to Get Screenshots Working
When you need to take a screenshot on a Mac and the shortcuts aren’t responding, run through this order:
- Press ⌘+Shift+5 to see if the toolbar opens — if it does, the app is live; check the shortcut assignments.
- Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Screenshots and verify all desired checkboxes are ticked.
- If a third‑party app (like ProctorU or a remote‑access tool) was recently used, re‑tick the boxes manually — they may have been cleared.
- Grant Screen Recording permission to any app that needs to capture the screen.
- Force quit the Screenshot process in Activity Monitor if nothing else works.
Following these steps guarantees your Mac’s screenshot capabilities are fully enabled, from the classic shortcuts to the modern Screenshot toolbar.
References & Sources
- Apple Support. “Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac.” Official documentation for all Mac screenshot shortcuts, toolbar, and settings.
- ProctorU Support. “How do I re-enable my Mac screenshot hotkeys?” ProctorU’s own guide matches the re‑enabling steps listed above.