Level 1

25 points

Screenshots not appearing on desktop in macOS Sierra

When I take screenshots, they do not appear on the desktop of my MacBook Pro, and this only recently started after I downloaded macOS Sierra (and I'm not writing the nightmare I went through with Apple Tech support to fix other major problems with Sierra that ended in my hard drive having to be wiped....).

When I take a screenshot, nothing appears on the desktop. But I've found that there are actually screenshots, but the only way I know they are there is by having All My Files selected in Finder - they appear there. If I click on one of them, it suddenly appears on the desktop.

What's going on, and how do I fix this?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Oct 20, 2016 6:37 PM

Top-ranking reply

djorlando24

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Jan 8, 2017 10:32 PM

I've had this same issue. Your screenshots are probably there, but Finder's not refreshing the desktop for some reason. Happened immediately after upgrading to Sierra 10.12.2. If you open the Terminal app and type 'ls Desktop' and press Return, you'll probably see them all listed there. However, even if you open the Desktop in the Finder sidebar, they won't show up. As far as I can tell, it's not a permissions issue, and there's nothing wrong with the hard disk - it's a Finder bug.

I found that one solution is to change some Finder preferences so that it forces it to redraw the desktop. Go to the Finder, then the menu item "Finder" -> "Preferences" (or command-,). Go to "Advanced" tab, and toggle "Show all filename extensions" on and off. When I do that, all my screenshots magically reappear and the problem goes away -- at least for a while.

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26 replies

BekJo

Level 1

12 points

Aug 3, 2017 10:23 AM in response to Valatore

This was really helpful! I've been using ctrl when taking screenshots and couldn't figure out why I heard the screenshot being taken but couldn't find it on my desktop or anywhere in the finder. Mystery solved!

kwceja

Level 1

4 points

Aug 21, 2017 8:09 PM in response to Valatore

YOU BEAUTIFUL HUMAN!!!!!!! I have been frustrated that my screenshots weren't working and then I read your comment about the ctrl button being a problem. You are my hero Valatore! Keep being beautiful.

Sep 28, 2017 11:22 AM in response to RB116

I'm using macOS Sierra 10.12.6. A suggestion has been made that the problem with screen shots not appearing on the desktop (Command+Shift+3) began with macOS Sierra 10.12.2.

Until Apple fixes the bug, a very useful alternative is Grab in the Mac applications Utility Folder.

More information here: How to Use the Grab Utility in OS X for Advanced Screenshots

ssschmidt

Level 5

5,450 points

Oct 20, 2016 6:40 PM in response to RB116

Terminal command I found.

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Full/Path/To/Folder

John Galt

Level 10

155,270 points

Oct 20, 2016 6:57 PM in response to RB116

Do you have Dropbox installed?

RB116 Author

Level 1

25 points

Oct 21, 2016 3:56 AM in response to John Galt

No, no Dropbox

Nov 12, 2016 12:27 AM in response to RB116

What I've done to have quick access to my screenshot is to open the terminal at the Desktop folder and move them (using mv on terminal) to another folder, where they can be visualized

Dec 16, 2016 7:35 AM in response to damian-k

command + Shift + 3 for full screen shoot, Command + Shift + 3 for selected place screen shoot. thank you

damian-k

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 8:36 AM in response to sadikuzzaman

this is not helpful, as it is known to me and irrelevant.
thanks anyway!

damian-k

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 8:37 AM in response to dialabrain

this is not a matter of waiting, unfortunately.

it only appears after clicking on it in another window through, say, a smart search or clicking on "All My Files" etc.

Hunglo

Level 1

26 points

Jul 20, 2017 5:21 PM in response to RB116

Bizarre.. but toggling that item on and off in finder preferences worked for me as well! Thank you!

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Screenshots not appearing on desktop in macOS Sierra