Unable to download images or screen shots to desktop

Recently for no apparent reason I am unable to download screen shots to desktop using CON-SHIFT 3 or 4. I am also unable to drag images to the desktop. O.S. 10.13.6

Posted on Jun 16, 2025 07:29 AM

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4 replies

Jun 16, 2025 07:39 AM in response to Bonjo1969

If I'm not mistaken, the keystrokes for creating screenshots in 10.13 are (⌘⇧3) command-shift-3 (or 4). Not control-shift...


Have you restarted your Mac lately?

Rebooting is the best first step in troubleshooting.


If a simple reboot of your Mac doesn’t fix things, see if the problem still happens in safe mode.  Use a wired USB keyboard for this. If you have the Magic Keyboard, plug that into the Mac with its charging cable.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support 


Safe mode will often correct weird software behavior by forcing the OS to clear caches, do disk repair and other self-maintenance and housekeeping and temporarily disables third-party mods.


Do you have the same problem while in Safe mode?


You can exit safe mode by restarting your Mac normally, then reevaluate the problem.

Jun 16, 2025 11:40 AM in response to Bonjo1969

Command-Shift-3 (or 4) should save a screenshot to the desktop, but the fact that other images can't be dragged there hints that something else is amiss.


Have you turned on Stacks in the Finder?


Stacks is a feature that automagically collates items on your desktop into logical groups. One of them is Screenshots, where it creates a stack (kind of like a folder) for screenshots to help keep your desktop uncluttered.


Check Finder -> View -> Use Stacks to see if that helps.

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Unable to download images or screen shots to desktop

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