Screenshot app won't remember my settings

When I make a screenshot, I want the image immediately saved to my desktop, without that annoying little five-second preview down in the right corner of the screen.


Luckily, there's a setting for just that: just remove the check mark for Show Floating Thumbnail.


But for some time now, the Screenshot app won't remember my chosen setting, the check mark keeps returning after every screenshot I make.


Is there a settings file somewhere that might be corrupt and can be deleted via Terminal?


MBP M3 Max 16", Sonoma 14.4

Posted on Mar 25, 2025 6:27 AM

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Mar 25, 2025 7:41 AM in response to 750 H2C

FYI - Current version of Sonoma is no longer " MBP M3 Max 16", Sonoma 14.4" released Mar 25, 2024


You make consider updating to current version macOS Sonoma 14.7.4 released 10 Feb 2025


Apple security releases


Or if you are so inclined upGrading to the latest offering from Apple


macOS Sequoia compatible Computers 


In either instances


To truly protect your non replaceable Data


Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current


3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.


Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 


Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 


https://bombich.com

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Mar 25, 2025 7:35 AM in response to 750 H2C

Just TESTED using " propeller-shift-4 " running Sequoia 15.3.2


For full disclosure.


Using the Exact same setting presented by @jefferythefrog 👍


Although the options in their illustration are Not Presented to the user ( you )


The outcome is directly effected by those same setting


That being a brief Floating Thumbnail bottom Right of the Screen


Which, once completed appears, in my setup, in Top Right of Screen


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Mar 25, 2025 9:06 AM in response to 750 H2C

750 H2C wrote:

However, and this is important: I'm not launching the app, I go directly to the mode I want by pressing the correct key combination.

yes, I understand that. and I'm trying to explain to you that even though you are launching the app to select the "remember" function, once it is set within the app, it is supposed to work for "direct" screenshots as well when using "shift-command-4" to initiate the screenshot.

The problem is not that I get a screenshot of my entire screen when I want just a window.

after using "shift-command-4", you will then use the keyboard's spacebar to toggle between any open windows to choose which window you are trying to capture

Therefore, the "last selection" setting is not applicable for me.

yes, it is.

Thanks for the tip about safe mode. I was just hoping for a simple prefs delete.

safe mode IS the simple way to try and correct those functions. it will not ALWAYS work, but you can try that in minutes anyways.

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Mar 25, 2025 8:14 AM in response to PRP_53

PRP_53 wrote:

FYI - Current version of Sonoma is no longer " MBP M3 Max 16", Sonoma 14.4" released Mar 25, 2024

You make consider updating to current version macOS Sonoma 14.7.4 released 10 Feb 2025

Apple security releases

Or if you are so inclined upGrading to the latest offering from Apple

macOS Sequoia compatible Computers 

In either instances

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com

Thanks, I just might upgrade to 14.7.4.


But I fail to see what CCC has to do with this.

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Mar 25, 2025 8:21 AM in response to 750 H2C

750 H2C wrote:


PRP_53 wrote:

FYI - Current version of Sonoma is no longer " MBP M3 Max 16", Sonoma 14.4" released Mar 25, 2024

You make consider updating to current version macOS Sonoma 14.7.4 released 10 Feb 2025

Apple security releases

Or if you are so inclined upGrading to the latest offering from Apple

macOS Sequoia compatible Computers 

In either instances

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com
Thanks, I just might upgrade to 14.7.4.

But I fail to see what CCC has to do with this.

Look closely of you would but in case it was overlooked, which can happen


augment what TM Backup


Time Machine Backup and CCC or SuperDuper are part of a fairly robust Rescue Plan


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Mar 25, 2025 8:31 AM in response to 750 H2C

750 H2C wrote:

Thanks, but as I said, I don't see the relevance of this. As far as I can understand, the "last selection" is only relevant if you launch the app and want it to start in the correct mode. Using propeller-shift-4 and space, I go directly to the mode I want to use.

sorry, no. if you set it to remember last selection., that setting is supposed to also work for "direct" (as you call it) screenshots as well.


since it is not working as expected for you, I would recommend you try and Start up your Mac in safe mode. then run the Mac in safe mode for about 5 minutes. and then restart normally and test. sometimes a safe boot followed by a normal boot will clear up issues.

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Mar 25, 2025 8:33 AM in response to PRP_53

PRP_53 wrote:


750 H2C wrote:


PRP_53 wrote:

FYI - Current version of Sonoma is no longer " MBP M3 Max 16", Sonoma 14.4" released Mar 25, 2024

You make consider updating to current version macOS Sonoma 14.7.4 released 10 Feb 2025

Apple security releases

Or if you are so inclined upGrading to the latest offering from Apple

macOS Sequoia compatible Computers 

In either instances

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com
Thanks, I just might upgrade to 14.7.4.

But I fail to see what CCC has to do with this.
Look closely of you would but in case it was overlooked, which can happen

augment what TM Backup

Time Machine Backup and CCC or SuperDuper are part of a fairly robust Rescue Plan

Sorry, still fail to see what backup has to do with this. I'm logging out now.

Reply

Mar 25, 2025 8:54 AM in response to jeffreythefrog

sorry, no. if you set it to remember last selection., that setting is supposed to also work for "direct" (as you call it) screenshots as well.

since it is not working as expected for you, I would recommend you try and Start up your Mac in safe mode. then run the Mac in safe mode for about 5 minutes. and then restart normally and test. sometimes a safe boot followed by a normal boot will clear up issues.

How can the setting work with "direct" screenshots, when "direct" means going directly to the desired mode? As far as I can understand, and I'm really trying here, the "remember" function is to ensure that the app launches with the correct mode preloaded. However, and this is important: I'm not launching the app, I go directly to the mode I want by pressing the correct key combination. The problem is not that I get a screenshot of my entire screen when I want just a window. Therefore, the "last selection" setting is not applicable for me. That's not what I posted about.


Thanks for the tip about safe mode. I was just hoping for a simple prefs delete.

Reply

Mar 26, 2025 2:54 AM in response to 750 H2C

To be constructive you may try either this


Try a Restart in Safe Mode.


This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts.


The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading.


It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 


Does the issue present in this mode ?


Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.🤞


Or from a respected contributor


Credit to >> Luis Sequeira1


refer >> Sequoia 15.3.2 does not preserve screensh… - Apple Community


This could be due to a corrupted plist file.


Try this:


1) In Terminal, paste the following line:



defaults delete com.apple.screencapture


2) restart (all settings should revert to their defaults)

3) set everything the way you want

4) restart and your choices should persist


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Mar 25, 2025 8:18 AM in response to jeffreythefrog

ok. so if you use "shift-command-5" to bring up the screenshot / recordings options, and then choose one of the screenshot selections, you can then choose "Remember Last Selection" and it will be applied to your screenshots.

Thanks, but as I said, I don't see the relevance of this. As far as I can understand, the "last selection" is only relevant if you launch the app and want it to start in the correct mode. Using propeller-shift-4 and space, I go directly to the mode I want to use.


Also, this has, I assume, nothing to do with the floating thumbnail. Which is corroborated by the fact that this has always worked well in the past; when Apple first implemented the floating preview, I pretty quickly found out how to disable it, and I have never seen it since. Until now: it pops up every time I press propeller-shift-4 and space, and the check mark that I remove every time pops back.

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Mar 25, 2025 8:17 AM in response to PRP_53

Just TESTED using " propeller-shift-4 " running Sequoia 15.3.2 …

Bravo, and that's what could be expected. Unless you have unchecked the floating thumbnail thing, as I have; then the expected outcome is that the image is directly saved to the desktop (or wherever).


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Screenshot app won't remember my settings

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