1. [Clacky](https://clacky.app/) 2. › 3. [A–Z](https://clacky.app/features/#a-z) 4. › 5. [Answers](https://clacky.app/answers/) 6. › 7. Add arrows and numbered steps to a screenshot Answer # How do I add arrows and numbered steps to a screenshot on a Mac? For arrows, open the screenshot in Preview (or click the floating thumbnail), click **Show Markup Toolbar**, open **Shapes** and pick the arrow, then drag it where you want it to point. Preview has no numbered-step tool, so you type each number with the **Text** tool. A screenshot editor with a step tool, like Clacky’s, drops 1, 2, 3 in order with one click each. [Try free for 3 days](https://clacky.app/try/)[Pricing](https://clacky.app/#pricing) ![Clacky’s screenshot editor toolbar with arrow, box, circle, text and step tools, a numbered step 1 on the shot and the Shelf beside it](https://clacky.app/features27/shelf-light.webp)![Clacky’s screenshot editor toolbar with arrow, box, circle, text and step tools, a numbered step 1 on the shot and the Shelf beside it](https://clacky.app/features27/shelf-dark.webp) ## Arrows and text in Preview 1. Take the screenshot and click the floating thumbnail, or open the file in **Preview**. 2. Click **Show Markup Toolbar**. 3. Click **Shapes** and choose the arrow. Drag it from where you start to what it points at. 4. Use **Shape Style** for a thicker line and **Border Color** for its colour. Red or a bright orange reads well on most apps. 5. Click **Text**, type a label, and set its size and colour with **Text Style**. 6. Save. On an image, saved marks can’t be changed later, so keep the original if you might edit again. ## Numbered steps without a step tool - Draw a small circle with **Shapes**, give it a fill colour, then put a **Text** box with the number on top. - Copy the first circle and number (Command-C, Command-V) and change the number for each step. - Keep the numbers in reading order, left to right and top to bottom. - Write the steps under the picture too, so people using screen readers get them. ## With Clacky’s screenshot editor (macOS 14 or later) Take a shot with **⌥⇧⌘4** (area) or **⌥⇧⌘5** (window), and every tool has a one-key shortcut: - **Arrow (A)**: point at something. Hold Shift to snap to 45°. - **Numbered Step (N)**: click to drop 1, 2, 3… in order. - **Text (T)**: click and type a label. - **Rectangle (R)** and **Circle (O)**: draw around something. Hold Shift for a square or a perfect circle. - **Highlighter (H)** for text, **Spotlight (F)** to dim everything but one area, and **Ripple (K)** to show where a click happened. ## Tips for clear instructions - One arrow per idea. Three arrows on one button confuse more than they help. - Crop first, so the steps are big enough to read on a phone. - Pick one colour for all marks, and a second only for warnings. - Hide anything private before you share it, see [how to blur part of a screenshot](https://clacky.app/answers/blur-part-of-screenshot-mac/). ## Where these facts come from Checked on 5 November 2026. - [Apple: Annotate an image in Preview on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/prvw1501/mac) (Show Markup Toolbar, Shapes, Text, Shape Style, Border Color, Text Style) - [Apple: How to take a screenshot on your Mac](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102646) (click the thumbnail to edit) ## Questions ### Can I edit the arrows after saving in Preview? Not on an image. Apple says saved annotations on an image can’t be changed. Convert it to a PDF first if you need to edit later. ### Can I copy a marked-up screenshot without saving a file? Yes. See [how to take a screenshot without saving a file](https://clacky.app/answers/screenshot-clipboard-only-mac/). ### Do the Clacky step numbers renumber when I delete one? Each click drops the next number in order. Select a step and press Delete to remove it, and undo with Command-Z. Facts checked on 5 November 2026. ## Related - [Blur part of a screenshot on a MacPreview has no blur tool, so cover it with a filled shape in Markup. Or use an editor with blur, like Clacky’s, which can find emails and keys for you.](https://clacky.app/answers/blur-part-of-screenshot-mac/) - [Take a screenshot without saving a fileAdd Control to the shortcut: Control-Shift-Command-4 copies the shot to the clipboard and saves nothing. Then paste it with Command-V.](https://clacky.app/answers/screenshot-clipboard-only-mac/) - [Screenshot editorGrab an area, a window or the whole screen. Mark it up with arrows, steps, text and blur, then copy or save.](https://clacky.app/features/screenshot-editor/) - [Combine several screenshots into one imageUse the Shortcuts app’s Combine Images action (side by side, stacked or a grid), Keynote, or Clacky’s Collage, which adds even gaps and a background.](https://clacky.app/answers/combine-screenshots-mac/) - [Is the built-in Mac screenshot tool enough?For everyday shots, yes. It has no blur or redact bar, numbered steps, backgrounds or scrolling capture. Here is what it does and when you need more.](https://clacky.app/answers/mac-screenshot-tool-enough/) [A–Z](https://clacky.app/features/#a-z)[Pricing](https://clacky.app/#pricing)[Every feature](https://clacky.app/features/) ## Make something on your Mac today. 3 days free, every feature. Then $4.99 once. [Try free for 3 days](https://clacky.app/try/)