How to Change the Default Filename of Screenshots in macOS - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

How to Change the Default Filename of Screenshots in macOS

by

In macOS, when you use the screenshot keyboard shortcuts or the capture tool to grab something on your Mac's screen, the images are saved with a default filename, such as "Screen Shot [date] at [time].png."

screenshot
If you work with screenshots a lot, this file naming scheme may not be to your taste. But thanks to a simple Terminal command, you can change this default name to something more useful. The following steps show you how it's done.

  1. Launch the Terminal app (found in Applications/Utilities).
  2. Input the following command, and type your desired screenshot filename inside the double quote marks, then hit Enter: defaults write com.apple.screencapture name "my screenshots"

That's all there is to it. Try taking a screenshot to see your new image filename in action. Subsequent shots saved in the same location will automatically take a bracketed number – (2) or (3) for example – to differentiate them from each other.

If you want to revert back to the default screenshot filename, use the following Terminal command: defaults write com.apple.screencapture "include-date" 1; killall SystemUIServer

Did you know that you can also change the default file format of screenshots as well as the location where they are saved? Follow the links to learn how it's done.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 pro black feature

iPhone 18 Pro's Camera Upgrade Will Cost Apple 50% More

Friday May 29, 2026 3:44 am PDT by
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max's all-new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Variable aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first flagged the feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by multiple reports and...
HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

Sunday May 31, 2026 8:47 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said. "I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV set-top box and HomePod mini has been done for months and...
iphone 18 pro color dummies

First Look at iPhone 18 Pro Color Options Revealed by Dummy Models

Friday May 29, 2026 4:50 am PDT by
Leaker Sonny Dickson today shared images of iPhone 18 Pro dummy models in the device's four rumored colors, offering the first real-world look at what to expect from the lineup visually. Corroborating previous rumors, the dummies show the iPhone 18 Pro Max in Light Blue, Black, Silver, and Dark Cherry. Dickson said "Cherry will probably be the next hit, orange did very well." Cosmic Orange...
Related Apple News: World News | Politics | Mac | Health | Iphone