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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo merge two screenshots into one image on Mac, use Preview for a one-off composition with precise canvas and placement control, or Shortcuts for a repeatable horizontal, vertical, or grid workflow. Preview is the better choice when you need to position images manually; Shortcuts is faster when you combine screenshots regularly.
This guide answers “How do I merge two screenshots into one image on Mac?”, “How do I put two screenshots side by side?”, and “How do I combine screenshots vertically into one long image?” It also explains sizing, formats, common errors, and a browser-free API option when the screenshots come from web pages.
Choose the right Mac method
| Need | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One carefully arranged image | Preview | Resize the canvas, crop, and place each screenshot exactly where you want it. |
| The same operation repeatedly | Shortcuts | Combine selected images horizontally, vertically, or in a grid with a saved action. |
| A large batch | Shortcuts | It can receive multiple files and apply the same arrangement without manual pasting. |
| A screenshot of a web page without overlays | ScreenshotNeo | Its API can remove consent banners, popups, and chat widgets before capture. |
Neither built-in method requires a paid app or a physical accessory. Before starting, put the two files in an easy-to-find folder and decide whether the final image should be horizontal or vertical.
How to put two screenshots side by side in Preview
Preview is the most flexible built-in option for a single composition. The practical workflow is to create enough empty canvas for both images, then paste or drag the second screenshot into position.
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1. Open the first screenshot
- Place both screenshot files in a convenient folder, such as Desktop.
- Double-click the first file to open it in Preview. If Preview is not the default app, Control-click the file, choose Open With, and select Preview.
- To work with more than one image in one Preview window, choose View > Thumbnails. Apple documents that Preview can open groups of image files in one window and that files can be added to an open document by dragging them into the thumbnail sidebar. Apple’s documentation states: “You can set whether Preview opens multiple image files in separate windows or in the same window.”
2. Prepare the images
Crop unnecessary browser chrome, margins, or notification areas before combining the files. In Preview, show the markup tools, choose the rectangular selection tool, select the meaningful area, and use the crop command. Cropping first makes the join easier to read and prevents empty margins from becoming part of the final image.
Check the pixel dimensions of both files in Finder’s Get Info panel or in Preview’s image information. Matching widths are especially useful for a vertical result; matching heights make a horizontal result look cleaner. If the dimensions differ, decide whether to keep the original scale, resize one image, or accept a margin.
3. Make a canvas for a horizontal result
- Copy the first screenshot or open it as the base image.
- Use Preview’s image-size or canvas controls to make the working area wide enough for both screenshots. For two images with equal height, the target width is approximately the sum of their widths, while the target height is the larger height.
- Leave the height unchanged if both images are already the same height. If they are different, use a background area that prevents the shorter image from appearing to float unexpectedly.
- Copy the second screenshot, then paste it into the empty area, or drag it from Finder into the open document or thumbnail/sidebar area.
- Drag the pasted image until its edge meets the first screenshot. Use the sidebar order and the visible canvas to keep the intended left-to-right arrangement.
Zoom in before the final placement when a seam must be exact. A one-pixel gap can become obvious after the image is uploaded or printed.
4. Make a canvas for a vertical result
- Start with the screenshot that should appear at the top.
- Make the canvas tall enough for both files. With equal widths, the target height is approximately the sum of their heights, while the target width is the larger width.
- Paste or drag the second screenshot below the first one.
- Align the left edges, or center both images intentionally if their widths differ.
This creates one long image, useful for showing two consecutive states of an interface. It does not automatically stitch scrolling content; it simply places two complete images in one canvas.
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5. Export the merged image
- Choose File > Export.
- Select PNG for crisp interface text, diagrams, and transparency-sensitive work, or JPEG when a smaller file is more important and slight compression is acceptable.
- Choose a filename and destination, then select Save.
Preview supports HEIC, JPEG, JPEG 2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF. The export format does not change the original screenshot files; it creates a new merged file.
How to combine screenshots vertically or horizontally with Shortcuts
Shortcuts is preferable when you repeat the same operation. The exact action labels can vary slightly by macOS release, but the core action is Combine Images.
1. Create a shortcut that receives images
- Open the Shortcuts app and select the plus button to create a new shortcut.
- Add an action that selects or receives multiple image files. Configure it to accept more than one image if the action presents an input limit.
- If you want to run it from Finder, open the shortcut’s details and enable the Finder or Quick Action availability offered by your macOS version.
2. Add Combine Images
- Add the Combine Images action.
- Set the direction to Horizontally for side-by-side screenshots.
- Set it to Vertically for one long image.
- For several images, use the grid option when your macOS version exposes it. A grid is useful for contact sheets, but it is not the same as a continuous vertical document.
3. Preview and save the output
- Add Quick Look after Combine Images if you want to inspect the result before saving.
- Add a save or export action and choose a predictable folder, such as a “Merged Screenshots” folder.
- Run the shortcut from Shortcuts, Finder, or the keyboard/Quick Action trigger you configured.
For a consistent result, normalize the input files first. Shortcuts combines the images it receives; it does not know whether unequal widths are intentional. If one screenshot is much narrower, the output can contain empty space or an uneven edge.
Canvas, scale, and format decisions
Keep the seam readable
- Crop both images to the meaningful content before combining them.
- Use the same scale and orientation whenever possible.
- Align browser chrome, device frames, or page edges deliberately instead of relying on visual approximation.
- If the screenshots show a before-and-after state, leave a small consistent gap or add a neutral divider only when that improves interpretation.
Choose PNG or JPEG
PNG is usually the safer choice for screenshots because small text, icons, and straight lines remain crisp. JPEG can produce a smaller file and is reasonable when the image is photographic or file size matters more than pixel-perfect text. Apple’s Preview guide confirms that both formats are supported; it does not prescribe one universal format.
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Consider a PDF instead
If the reader needs selectable text, searchable content, or several pages, a PDF may be more useful than a very tall bitmap. Preview handles PDFs, but the procedures above intentionally produce one image because that is the requested output.
Troubleshooting merged screenshots on Mac
The second image will not paste or appears in the wrong place
Confirm that you copied the image itself, not a Finder file reference, and that the base document is open in Preview. Show View > Thumbnails, then drag the file into the open document. If it lands above the first image, use the thumbnail order and drag the item to the intended position.
The result has a blank strip
The canvas is larger than the combined image dimensions, or the source images have different sizes. Reduce the canvas, crop the source files, or align the shorter image intentionally. For a vertical composition, compare widths; for a horizontal composition, compare heights.
Text looks blurry
Do not enlarge a screenshot after combining it. Keep the original pixel dimensions, avoid repeated JPEG exports, and use PNG when interface text is important. If one source was captured at a different display scale, resize the larger image down once rather than repeatedly scaling both files.
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Shortcuts combines only one file
Review the input action and make sure it is configured to select or receive multiple images. When launching from Finder, select both files before invoking the Quick Action. Test the shortcut from the Shortcuts app first; this separates an input-selection problem from a combine-action problem.
The output is too large to share
Export a JPEG when moderate compression is acceptable, resize the finished image once, or use a PDF if the recipient does not need a bitmap. Keep an original PNG when you may need to edit or crop the composition later.
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If the screenshots are of web pages, ScreenshotNeo can capture the pages before you merge them, without setting up a browser automation script. It accepts the cookie or consent banner like a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be turned off.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I merge screenshots without installing an app?
Yes. Preview and Shortcuts are included with macOS, so a one-off merge or a repeatable combination needs no paid app.
What is the easiest way to make one long screenshot?
Use Preview when you need to position two files manually; use Shortcuts with Combine Images set to Vertically when you will repeat the operation.
Quick Recap
Will combining two screenshots automatically remove browser banners?
No. Preview and Shortcuts arrange the pixels they receive. Capture a clean source first, or use a service such as ScreenshotNeo that removes supported consent banners, popups, and chat widgets before capture.
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