Where Are Screenshots Stored on Mac?
Default Mac screenshot location on the Desktop, how to move it, and the naming pattern to search for.
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Mac screenshots land on the Desktop by default as PNG files named Screenshot with the date and time. Full screen, window and area captures all follow the same rule, so one folder holds every grab.
The Screenshot app controls the destination without terminal commands. Open it with Command Shift 5, pick Options, and choose any folder under Save to. The change sticks for all future captures, including clipboard free workflows that expect files on disk.
Where macOS stores this, by platform
~/Desktop
Default for every capture type, named Screenshot plus timestamp. Change it in the Screenshot app under Options, or with defaults write com.apple.screencapture location followed by killall SystemUIServer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change where Mac screenshots save?
Press Command Shift 5, open Options, and pick a folder under Save to. The setting applies to every capture shortcut immediately, no restart needed.
My Mac screenshots disappeared. Where did they go?
Check the Save to setting first, since it drifts after updates or remote sessions. Search Finder for kind:image with Screenshot in the name to catch strays in odd folders.
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