How to Fix Command Shift 4 not Working
One of a computer’s most useful and ubiquitous features is the ability to capture screenshots. The process of capturing a screenshot varies from computer to computer. It’s also a Mac OS X app. Taking a screenshot on a Mac is as straightforward as on any other operating system. Select the region you want to capture by pressing Command Shift 4 on your keyboard. When you click these keys, the cursor will become a selection tool, allowing you to take a screenshot quickly and easily.
However, several users have complained that this shortcut is broken. And if your Command Shift 4 key is also not working, you’ve come to the right spot to find the fixes. In this article, you’ll get the finest ways to fix the Command Shift 4 Not Working issue. Let’s get started!
Also read: How to Fix Screen Recording Not Working Windows 10？>
What is Causing Command Shift 4 Shortcut not Working?
Before we get to the fixes, you need to know why the Command Shift 4 key is not working on your Mac. Some of the frequent causes of this error are:
Press and Hold Command+Shift+4
- Buggy Keyboard Shortcut: Keyboard shortcuts are convenient and may often be used for more than one thing. This causes problems with the predefined shortcut keys for taking screenshots.
- Language Incompatibility: This may also happen if you’re not utilizing English as your primary language. In macOS, certain keys activate special characters and accents for languages like Spanish.
- Outdated macOS Version: There might be a new shortcut or a problem in the most current version of macOS. See whether the Command + Shift + 4 keyboard shortcut has any known faults on your macOS version. If you have any issues with your Apple product, you may check the support page or do a web search for information.
- Third-party Application Messing with Shortcut Key: Sometimes, the shortcut keys are blocked because an external program has accessed your system’s default shortcuts.
Fix Command Shift 4 not Working on macOS [3 Methods to]
Wondering how to fix the Command shift 4 key not working error on macOS? You’ll get the answers here! Command Shift 4 key is often a shortcut for taking screenshots unless you’ve customized it, and finding errors with this shortcut can be annoying. However, the following solutions will solve the Command shift 4 key not working error:
Make Sure Your Shortcut Settings Are Correct
The first method to fix Command Shift 4 not working on your Mac is ensuring the screenshot shortcut settings are correct. The “Command+Shift+4” keyboard shortcut takes a screenshot of a selected screen region. Make sure the quick-recording controls haven’t been tampered with. These shortcuts to take screenshots using the keyboard are active by default. Use these steps to verify shortcut settings:
Step 1: Click the Apple icon at the top left and select System Preferences from the dropdown.
Step 2: Now, click on the Keyboard and select Shortcuts from the options.
Step 3: From the left menu, click Screenshots and check all the shortcuts to ensure your shortcut settings are correctly set up.
Click on Screenshots
Check the Storage Space
Another thing you can try to eliminate the Command Shift 4 key not working issue is checking out the storage space of the Mac. Because even if you don’t often use the screenshots capability, taking screenshots may quickly become a memory hog. When storage on your device is low, you’ll start experiencing all sorts of speed difficulties and software glitches. If your Mac is slow because it’s cluttered with unnecessary programs, files, and folders, try cleaning it out. However, a full backup should be performed before deleting anything from your Mac.
To check the storage space on Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click the Apple icon and choose System Settings from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Select General from the left panel and go to Storage on the side screen.
Step 3: The storage page can take some time to load. Once loaded, you can view the remaining storage of your Mac.
Check System Storage
Restore Defaults Keyboard Shortcuts
The final method for fixing the Command Shift 4 not working issue is restoring the default keyboard shortcuts. Most people in the same situation have resolved it by resetting the screenshot keyboard shortcuts to their factory settings. Sometimes users cannot take a snapshot because of a third-party app conflict or a bug with the shortcut keys. In such scenarios, restoring the shortcut settings to default is best.
Step 1: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu that appears when you click the Apple logo in the menu bar, and then select Keyboard from the list that appears.
Step 2: In the Keyboard settings, choose the Shortcuts tab, and then choose Screenshots from the panel on the left.
Step 3: Now, click the Restore Defaults button from the bottom. You may give the Command Shift 4 keys another go once you’ve reset it to factory defaults.
Click on Restore Defaults
Tip. Screenshot on Mac without Command Shift 4 Keys
As a Mac user, taking screenshots is crucial for various purposes. While the built-in screenshot tool on Mac is convenient, it may encounter issues, such as the Command+Shift+4 keys not working. If the mentioned methods fail to resolve the screenshot issue, try an alternative like Gemoo Snap. It offers versatile screenshot features, allowing you to capture full-screen shots, specific windows, selected areas, or even scrolling web pages. You can also enhance your screenshots with annotations, arrows, and text.
Step 1. Free download and install Gemoo Snap for free > Log in by following the on-screen instructions.
Sign in Account
Step 2. Choose one screenshot mode you like. You can customize the screenshot hotkey in advance without using the command+shift+4 keys.
Gemoo Snap Interface
Step 3. Choose a specific area to take a screenshot on your Mac.
FAQ on Command Shift 4 not Working
Is there a way to enable Command Shift 4 on Mac?
Yes, you can enable Command Shift 4 on your Mac. To achieve this, press Shift, Command, and 4 at the same time and direct the crosshair to the target area. You may drag the selection around by holding down the Space bar. Press the Escape key to abort the screenshot before it’s taken.
Why My Mac Is Not Screenshotting through Shortcuts?
Although there can be many reasons, a prominent one is that the Command Shift 4 key on Mac is not working. The reasons can be the customization of shortcut keys, insufficient storage space, and the keyboard’s default language is not English.
Final Words
The ability to take a screenshot is now essential for almost any purpose, whether it is educational or recreational. And users get understandably annoyed when the Mac’s Command Shift 4 stops working since it is one of the OS’s most prominent features. But we hope you know how to fix the Command Shift 4 Not Working issue after reading this article. Moreover, if you’ve experiences or methods related to the fixing of Command Shift 4, we encourage you to comment below.
