Copy Mac Screenshot in Clipboard instead of a png file

On a Mac, you can easily take a screenshot using keyboard shortcuts such as Command + Shift + 3 or 4. However, by default, the screenshot will be saved as a PNG image on your desktop or in a location that you have previously customized.

This can be useful, but if you'd like to copy the screenshot directly to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, there's a quick and easy way to do so.

Capturing a screenshot on your Mac and copying it to the clipboard is easy! By adding the Control ^ key to the keyboard shortcut you normally use to take a screenshot, you can bypass the step of saving the screenshot as a file, and instead, have it copied directly to your clipboard.

1) Take a screenshot of the entire screen and copy it to Clipboard
^ Control + ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 3

2) Take a screenshot of the selected screen and copy it to Clipboard
^ Control + ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 4

3) Take a screenshot of a window and copy it to Clipboard
^ Control + ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 4 and Spacebar

This simple trick can save you time and effort, making it easier to share your screenshots with others or paste them into other documents.