How to Take Partial Screenshot on Windows & Mac — Easy Guide for Beginners
Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by John Paul
Have you ever wanted to capture only a specific portion of your screen, rather than the entire thing? Imagine these scenarios:
- You’re preparing a tutorial and only want to grab a portion of a webpage.
- You’re sharing a design draft for work/study purposes and don’t want your entire desktop to show.
- You spotted an error on your screen and needed to take a screenshot of part of the screen to send to tech support.
- You want to send a part of an article or post to a friend.
Taking partial screenshots is one of those little tricks that saves time, keeps things neat, and makes your content look more polished. Below, we’ll explore how to take a partial screenshot on Windows and Mac, and why using an alternative screenshot tool, like Widsmob Capture, can be a better course of action. Read on!
Method 1: Capture Partial Screenshot with Snipping Tool
This built-in tool is available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It’s the go-to screenshot app for most Windows users today, as it can take various types of screenshots, including partial screenshots. However, it doesn’t come with advanced editing tools after capturing the screenshot, and you have to manually paste or save the file.
1. When your target screen is ready, hit Windows + Shift + S at the same time, and the Snipping Toolbar should appear on top. On the toolbar, select the Rectangular Snip option. This will allow you to click and drag the target region on the screen.
2. After that, the clipboard automatically saves the partial screenshot, which you can paste into apps such as MS Paint, Word, etc. Alternatively, you can manually save the screenshot to a folder, but it typically ends up in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Method 2: Take a Partial Screenshot using Snip & Sketch
If your PC is running on Windows 10, you can press Windows + Shift + S to open the snipping overlay directly, then annotate and save using the Snip & Sketch tool. Alternatively, you may open Snip & Sketch from the Start Menu or use the Prt Sc key to directly open the snipping overlay.
Method 3: Capture Screenshot via Xbox Game Bar
Another way to capture your screen on Windows 10/11 is through Xbox Game Bar, but it can only take full screenshots directly. You have to edit and crop the target portion afterward, which can be a hassle if you need partial screenshots frequently.
1. To open the Xbox Game Bar, press Windows + G simultaneously. Then. click the Camera icon on the top toolbar or press Windows + Alt + PrtScn to take a full screenshot.
2. Finally, open the image in an editor like Photos or MS Paint paint app and crop it manually to get the portion you want.
You can find the screenshots by following this file path: C:\Users\(YourName)\Videos\Captures. They’re automatically saved there.
Part 2: How to Take a Partial Screenshot on Mac
Mac users also have excellent snipping tools for taking partial screenshots, too. Whether you’re using a shortcut or the toolbar, it’s quick and simple.
Method 1: Take a Partial Screenshot via Keyboard Shortcut
You can easily capture a portion of the screen using a shortcut on your Mac. A simple Command + Shift + 4 is the way to do it. While it’s quick, there’s no editing control afterward, which may prompt you to use another app to polish the screenshot.
1. After setting your target region on the screen, press Command + Shift + 4 keys at the same time. The cursor will change automatically into a crosshair.
2. Then, click and drag to select the portion you want and release your hold to capture it. By default, you can find the screenshots on your desktop.
Method 2: Capture Partial Screenshot using Screenshot Toolbar
For macOS Mojave and newer, Command + Shift + 5 opens the Screenshot Toolbar. While powerful, it lacks customization beyond basic cropping. To use it, just press Command + Shift + 5 and choose the Capture Selected Portion. Then, you can drag the cursor to adjust your coverage. When ready, just hit Capture, and it will be automatically saved to your desktop by default.
Part 3: A Better Alternative – Widsmob Capture for Windows & Mac
While the built-in methods work, they each come with small drawbacks — extra cropping steps, manual saving, or limited features. If you want a faster, cleaner, and more flexible way to take partial screenshots, Widsmob Capture is an incredible alternative. Its following perks are as follows:
- Available on both Windows and Mac
- Instant editing tools (text, shapes, blur, highlight, etc.) right after capturing
- Auto-save options with customizable output formats
- Scrolling screenshots for long pages
- Precise area selection for clean partial capture
- Can also record screen video and audio with ease
These are incredible features to have for a tool that can do partial screenshots. Widsmob really elevates the game and gives you a more efficient capturing experience that’s tailored to your needs. If you want to try it, just click the button below to download and install it and follow the subsequent steps.
1. After installation, set your target screen and launch WidsMob Capture. There, hit the Screen Capture option (Camera icon above the REC button).
2. Then, use your cursor to select the target portion of the screen, and release to capture it. Once captured, use the built-in editor to annotate, blur, or highlight areas.
3. Finally, hit Save, and the file goes to the folder of your choice. That’s it! No need to use other apps because everything you need after taking the screenshot is available there.
Final Words
Learning how to take a screenshot of part of the screen, whether on Windows or Mac, is a pretty nifty skill that makes a big difference in productivity. While tools like Snipping Tool or macOS shortcuts work fine for quick captures, they lack the flexibility and polish that professionals often need. That’s why the all-in-one Widsmob Capture is a highly recommended alternative for a better and smoother experience.
FAQs
The easiest way to take a partial screenshot on Windows is by using the Snipping Tool shortcut: press Windows + Shift + S, select the area, and it’s instantly copied to your clipboard. You can then paste it into Paint, Word, or email. For more flexibility, third-party tools like WidsMob Capture.
To take a partial screenshot on Mac, press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor turns into a crosshair, and you can drag to select the portion you want. The screenshot will automatically save to your desktop. You can also press Command + Shift + 5 to use the screenshot toolbar for more control.