How to Take a Timed Screenshot from Terminal on macOS

To take a timed screenshot from Terminal on macOS, use the built-in screencapture command with its -T delay option. For example, screencapture -T 20 "$HOME/Desktop/MyScreenshot.png" waits 20 seconds, then saves a PNG named MyScreenshot.png on your Desktop. Press Return, use the delay to arrange the screen, and check the file at the path you supplied.

Why use Terminal for a timed screenshot?

The Screenshot app already has a timer, a save-location menu, and options for showing the pointer. It is often the easiest choice for a one-off capture: press Shift-Command-5, open Options, and choose a timer. Terminal is useful when you want to set a precise delay in seconds, name the output file in advance, save it to a specific folder, or reuse the same command in a workflow.

The command uses macOS’s built-in screenshot utility, so you do not need to install another app. The -T option specifies how many seconds to wait before capturing. The command below uses 20 seconds as an example; replace that value with the time you need.

Set up the command

1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities or search for it with Spotlight.
2. Choose a folder and filename. The example uses the Desktop, which already exists on a standard Mac account. $HOME expands to your user folder, so the command does not depend on your account’s short name.
3. Enter the command, changing the delay or output name if needed:

   screencapture -T 20 "$HOME/Desktop/MyScreenshot.png"

4. Press Return. Switch to the app or screen you want to capture while the timer runs. If you do not want Terminal included in a full-screen capture, minimize its window with Command-M or move to the target app.

The command runs in Terminal while macOS waits. It does not show a graphical countdown, so leave enough time to reach the target screen and open any menu or tooltip you want to capture. A short delay is convenient for a prepared screen; allow more time if you need to switch apps and interact with the interface.

Understand and customize the command

Choose a different delay, folder, or name

For a 30-second wait, change -T 20 to -T 30. To save in a Screenshots folder inside Pictures, use "$HOME/Pictures/Screenshots/Menu.png" as the final argument. Create that folder first if it does not exist; a command-line tool cannot save a file into a missing directory. Keep the quotation marks around paths with spaces, and use a filename that describes the capture so you can find it later.

Change the image format or include the pointer

PNG is the default format. To save a JPEG instead, set the format with -t jpg and use a matching filename extension:

screencapture -t jpg -T 10 "$HOME/Desktop/QuickCapture.jpg"

The macOS manual lists PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF, and other format options; available details can vary by system version. Add -C to include the pointer in a noninteractive capture, or -x to suppress the capture sound. For example: screencapture -C -T 20 "$HOME/Desktop/WithPointer.png". These flags do not change the delay or destination.

Find the screenshot and fix common problems

When the delay finishes, open the destination folder in Finder and look for the filename you entered. If the image is missing, check that the destination folder exists, the path is spelled correctly, and the filename extension matches the selected format. An absolute path beginning with $HOME helps avoid confusion about Terminal’s current working folder.

If capture is blank or macOS denies it, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording for Terminal’s access. Apple documents this control for apps that record the screen. Some protected apps or media windows may still block screenshots, so a permission change cannot override an app’s restriction.

For a selected window or region, use the Screenshot app when its visual controls are easier than command-line options. Press Shift-Command-5, open Options, set the timer and save location, then choose the capture mode. Apple’s current Mac guide explains these controls and the available capture choices.

Check the options on your Mac

Because the command-line manual can differ between macOS releases, run man screencapture in Terminal to see the options installed on your Mac. The -T delay and -t format flags are documented in the macOS manual. For a no-command alternative, Apple’s Screenshot guide describes the timer and save-location controls; Apple also explains screen and system audio recording permissions. See the macOS 13.6.5 screencapture manual page as a reference, then defer to the manual on your own Mac for version-specific details.