Grab is a built-in screen capture and recording utility on macOS that lets you capture everything from a single window to a selected area, or record your screen with or without audio. This guide explains how to open Grab, use its capture and record modes, annotate and save captures, and leverage keyboard shortcuts for faster workflows on any Mac.
How to open Grab on macOS
Because Grab is a bundled utility app, you won’t find it in Launchpad or the Applications folder by default. Use one of these methods to open it:
- Open Spotlight by pressing Command+Space, type Grab, then press Return.
- Use Finder: Go to Applications > Utilities, then double-click Grab.
- Open Terminal and run:
/System/Library/CoreServices/Grab.app/Contents/MacOS/Grab.
When launched, Grab opens with a menu bar and a small window; it remains in your menu bar until you quit. If you don’t see a Dock icon, that’s normal for Utilities apps on macOS.
Grab interface overview
The Grab window is minimal. The menu bar offers Mode, Capture, and File options, while the small window shows basic status such as the selection region or recording timer. Because Grab doesn’t edit images, its interface stays focused on capturing and saving. Main commands include:
- Capture modes: Selection, Window, Screen, Timed Screen.
- Record modes: Entire Screen, Selected Portion.
- Options: Show pointer, Monitor sleep prevention, and a floating timer for timed captures.
Tip: Keep Trackpad or mouse controls consistent; switching input devices mid-capture can change cursor behavior in the selection area.
How to capture a selection on Mac
Keyboard method
Use a keyboard-driven workflow for precision:
- Press Command+Shift+Space to switch Grab to Selection mode.
- Drag to define the capture area. Hold Space to reposition the selection without redrawing.
- Release the mouse or trackpad button to capture.
Menu method
Alternatively, use the Grab menu for guided selection:
- From the menu bar, choose Capture > Selection (or press Command+Shift+A).
- Drag to define the region; a preview updates in real time.
- Click the mouse or trackpad to finalize and save the capture.
How to capture a window or screen
Capture a window
To grab a single app or dialog:
- Choose Capture > Window (or press Command+Shift+W).
- Move the cursor to the target window; it changes to a camera icon.
- Click the window to capture it exactly as displayed, including shadows.
Capture the entire screen
To capture all displays:
- Choose Capture > Screen (or press Command+Shift+S).
- Click anywhere on the screen to capture the full display at once.
Timed screen capture
For menus or tooltips that disappear on click:
- Choose Capture > Timed Screen (or press Command+Shift+T).
- Grab waits 10 seconds; move your pointer to the area to capture, then click.
Timed captures are ideal for capturing context menus, hover states, or system dialogs before they vanish.
How to record your screen
Record entire screen
To begin a recording of all displays:
- Choose File > Start Recording or press Command+Control+Shift+R.
- Click anywhere to start; a small Pause button appears in the menu bar.
- Click the Pause button or choose File > Stop Recording to end.
Record selected portion
To record a specific region:
- Choose File > Start Recording Selection or press Command+Control+Shift+A.
- Drag to define the recording area.
- Click to start; pause or stop from the menu bar as needed.
By default, recordings include pointer movements and clicks. If your Mac has multiple microphones, you can select one in System Settings > Sound > Input before recording.
Annotating, saving, and editing captures
After you capture an image, Grab overlays simple markup tools. Use these to add shapes and text:
- Shapes: rectangles, ovals, speech bubbles, and lines with adjustable stroke weight.
- Text and blur: add labels or pixelate sensitive information.
- Selection: copy, crop, or export in PNG by default; JPEG and TIFF are also available.
To open the editor, double-click a saved file or choose File > Open in Grab to load an existing capture for annotation. There’s no built-in history; save versions if you plan to iterate.
Capture and export options comparison
| Mode | Output | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Selection | PNG (default), JPEG, TIFF | UI snippets, precise regions |
| Window | PNG (default) | App dialogs, active windows |
| Screen | PNG (default) | Full-screen layouts, onboarding |
| Timed Screen | PNG (default) | Context menus, hover states |
| Record Entire Screen | MOV (H.264) | Tutorials, walkthroughs |
| Record Selected Portion | MOV (H.264) | Focused demos, bug steps |
Shortcuts and workflow tips
Use these keyboard shortcuts to avoid menu navigation:
- Command+Shift+Space: Selection
- Command+Shift+A: Window
- Command+Shift+S: Full screen
- Command+Shift+T: Timed screen
- Command+Control+Shift+R: Start full-screen recording
- Command+Control+Shift+A: Start recording selection
- Command+Shift+4 (macOS default): Quick screen capture (outside Grab)
- Command+Shift+5 (macOS default): Open Screenshort panel with recording options
Note: macOS also provides Shift+Command+3 and Shift+Command+4 system shortcuts. Use Grab when you prefer the Grab app annotation workflow or need the Timed Screen option; otherwise, the Shift+Command+ tools are faster for everyday captures.
Troubleshooting and common issues
If a capture appears blank or truncated, try these steps:
- Prevent premature sleep: Choose Capture > Prevent Sleep During Capture so the display stays on during timed captures.
- Check monitor setup: On multi-display setups, ensure you click the correct screen; Grab captures the display where the pointer resides.
- Update macOS: Some screen capture behaviors change across system updates; keep macOS up to date.
- Permissions: Screen recording permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security shouldn’t block Grab if you’re capturing the screen, but microphone access is needed for narration in recordings.
- Reset Menu Bar: If Grab disappears from the menu bar, quit and reopen it; it should reappear automatically.
When to use Grab vs macOS shortcuts
Grab is ideal when you want an all-in-one capture and markup flow within one app, especially for timed captures and precise pointer control. For quick screenshots and faster sharing, Shift+Command+3/5 (or the built-in Markup toolbar) may be more convenient. Grab’s strength is the combination of capture plus in-app annotation without leaving the app, which can streamline saving and exporting for documentation or bug reports.