Where Do macOS Screenshots Save?
macOS drops screenshots on the Desktop by default, movable anywhere through the Screenshot app options.
Last updated
Mac screenshots land on the Desktop unless told otherwise. That default fills the most visible folder on the system, which is why so many Desktops become screenshot graveyards.
The Save to setting inside the Screenshot app moves future captures anywhere, including Documents or a dedicated folder. The preference itself lives in the screencapture defaults domain. Change the folder once and every shortcut, timer, and mode follows it.
Where macOS stores this, by platform
~/Desktop (default screenshot location)
Default capture folder for full screen, selection, and window shots. Change it in the Screenshot app (Command Shift 5) under Options > Save to.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change where screenshots save?
Open Screenshot with Command Shift 5, click Options, and pick a folder under Save to. New captures follow immediately; old ones stay where they were.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.