Written by
Sherry Song
Nowadays, people tend to share information using images. We'll use images everywhere, such as preparing a presentation in school or saving pictures from social media. If you're a Mac user and don't know how to save an image on Mac, then you've come to the right place.
We'll explain the 4 most valuable ways to save images on a MacBook or Mac desktop in this article, each of which has its own advantages. You can select which one to use according to your needs.
An Overview of Methods to Save Images on Mac
| Methods | Difficult level | Prons | Cons |
| Use right-clicking | Low | Easy and fast actions | Need repeating actions to choose the file path |
| Use drag-and-drop | Medium | Easy, save time | Need two non-interfering windows on Mac |
| Use screenshot taking | Medium | Easy | Difficult to press three keys together, save in Desktop by default, need to choose the file path |
| Use iBoysoft Magicmenu | Low | Other useful functions, can save and paste/cut images, can convert image formats… | Not support phones |
Let's delve into the detailed steps to save an image on a Mac.
Save an image on a Mac by right-clicking
The simplest way to save an image on a MacBook is to use your MacBook's right-click drop-down menu. This way, you can quickly save an image on Mac from the Internet, Gmail, or Google Drive. Here's how to do it:
- Locate the image you want to save first on the web and right-click on the picture. If you're using an Apple mouse, you can also hold down the Control key and click the picture using your mouse pointer.
- Select Save Image As from the right-click context menu.
- Type in the file name you want to use for the image and choose where to save it.
- Click the Save button.
Save an image on Mac by drag-and-drop
If you can't right-click on your Mac and fail to save an image on your MacBook, try this way instead:
- Left-click the image and hold on to this operation.
- Move your mouse pointer, you'll find another copy of this image appearing.
- Drag the copy to its destination, which can be the desktop folder, open folder, MacBook's desktop, or even a Word or PowerPoint document.
Now the image should be saved on your Mac. Compared to the first method to copy and save an image on a Mac, dragging is faster. However, it offers less control than right-clicking because you can't rename the picture or change its format.
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Save an image on a Mac by taking a screenshot
Sometimes, some pictures are not allowed to be directly saved or downloaded from the Internet. In this situation, you can save an image on a Mac by taking a screenshot on your Mac. Here's how to do it:
- To capture a screenshot of a specific image, press the Shift + Command + 4 keys simultaneously.
- Drag the crosshair to select the area on the screen to capture.
- The captured image will appear in the corner of your screen.
If you want to check where the captured screenshot goes on Mac, you may find it on your desktop.
Save an image on Mac by a delicate right-click tool
If the Command Shift 4 not working on Mac/ you don't want to use the keyboard shortcuts/ you find it troublesome using right-clicking or dragging-and-dropping to save an image on Mac, you are suggested to utilize a smart right-click tool, which can quickly save an image with the right-click.
iBoysoft MagicMenu can not also save an image on a MacBook but also can create new files, uninstall unwanted programs, convert image formats…Let's save an image on Mac with it:
- Free download, install, and open it.
- Right-click anywhere empty in Finder/Desktop.
- Choose Screen Capture, then select your wanted option.
It can directly save an image on Mac to Preview/Desktop/Pasteboard, or other file paths. So easy and convenient, right? Give it a try, its practicability will surprise you~
Copy and save an image on your Mac from an external device
It's very common to use an external hard drive or USB flash drive to back up your important photos or files. If you want to know how to copy and save an image on your Mac from an external device, just keep reading.
- Connect your external hard drive to your Mac or MacBook.
- Open a new Finder window and select your external disk in the Mac Finder sidebar.
- Select the image you want to save on your Mac, and drag and drop the file onto your desktop or anywhere on your Mac's internal hard disk.
If drag and drop not working on your Mac, you can use a powerful utility - iBoysoft MagicMenu to copy and save an image on your Mac. Just simply download it now.
Then, choose the image you want to save and right-click on it, then, choose Copy to or Move to in order to save the image on your Mac.
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Final thoughts
No matter whether you want to save an image on a Mac from Google Drive, FaceBook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or Gmail, you can use the above-mentioned ways to help you. If you still have any questions, you can share your comments below.
