1. Pick a screenshots folder
Create a folder called Screenshots in your Pictures or Documents folder. Keeping them separate from photos makes both easier to find.
2. Tell macOS to save there
This stops new screenshots landing on the Desktop:
- 1Press ⇧⌘5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
- 2Click Options.
- 3Under Save to, choose Other Location… and pick your Screenshots folder.
3. Clear the ones already on your Desktop
Sort the Desktop by name and every file starting with “Screenshot” sits together. Select them and drag them into the new folder, or let TidyFile's Tidy existing files preview move them for you.
4. File them by month, automatically
One folder of 2,000 screenshots isn't much better than a cluttered Desktop. A TidyFile rule files each screenshot into a year and month folder the moment it's taken, so “the screenshot from March” is one click away.
The TidyFile rule
Screenshots by month
- When a file
- name starts with Screenshot
- Then
- move to Screenshots/{year}/{month}
Set it up once and TidyFile applies it in the background, to new files the moment they arrive. Preview what it'll do to the files already there, and undo anything from the activity log.
Questions
Where does a Mac save screenshots?+
On the Desktop by default, named like “Screenshot 2026-10-29 at 10.14.32.png”. You can choose another folder from the Options menu in the Screenshot toolbar (⇧⌘5).
Can I sort screenshots by month automatically?+
Yes. A TidyFile rule that matches names starting with “Screenshot” and moves them to Screenshots/{year}/{month} files each one into a dated folder as soon as it's taken.
Will this work with CleanShot or other screenshot apps?+
Yes, as long as you know how they name files. Match on the name they use (for example “CleanShot”) or on the folder they save to.