How to Annotate a Screenshot on Mac
A screenshot says more with an arrow and a label on it. Here's how to mark up a screenshot on a Mac.
How do you mark up a screenshot on a Mac?
macOS gives you two options: the Markup tools in Preview and Quick Look (arrows, shapes, text, a signature), or a dedicated editor like Shotstrix that adds more tools and opens the moment you capture.
Using Preview / Quick Look Markup
After a screenshot, open it in Preview (or press Space for Quick Look) and click the Markup icon to draw shapes, arrows, and text. It's fine for quick marks, but the toolset is basic — no numbered steps, no real blur, no backgrounds.
What Shotstrix adds
- ✓ Arrows, lines, rectangles, and highlights
- ✓ Text labels and callouts
- ✓ Numbered step badges for tutorials
- ✓ A real blur tool for sensitive info
- ✓ Crop, rotate, and resize
- ✓ Emoji stickers
- ✓ Share-ready gradient backdrops
It opens the moment you capture
With Shotstrix, the editor pops up the instant you take a shot, so you annotate and share without hunting for the file. And it's free.
Get Shotstrix — free
Shotstrix is a free screenshot and screen-recording tool for macOS — scrolling capture, OCR, annotation, blur, GIF recording, and share-ready backdrops, with no account and no watermark.
Free · Universal (Apple Silicon + Intel) · macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Frequently asked questions
Can I annotate a screenshot without extra apps? +
Yes — Preview's Markup handles basic arrows, shapes, and text. For numbered steps, real blur, and backgrounds, use Shotstrix.
How do I add numbered steps to a screenshot? +
Shotstrix has a numbered-step tool made for tutorials — each click drops the next number. macOS Markup doesn't have this.
Is Shotstrix's editor free? +
Yes — the full editor is free.