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Disable date and time in screenshot filenames

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
  • Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This script disables including date and time in screenshot filenames on macOS.

On macOS, you can take screenshots using:

  • Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 3 to capture whole screen 1
  • Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 4 to capture a portion of the screen 1
  • Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 4 + space bar to capture a window or menu 1
  • Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + 5 to open Screenshot app (on macOS Mojave 10.14 or newer) 1

On macOS Mojave 10.14 or newer, you can use the Screenshot app to set a timer or choose save locations 1. However, this app does not allow filename configurations, which this script configures automatically.

By default, screenshots save to your desktop with the name Screenshot [date] at [time].png. For example, testing on macOS Sequoia 15.3 (with English language and 24-hour time settings) confirms screenshots are named exactly: Screenshot 2025-02-01 at 14.54.39.png. However, there can be other variations:

  • Other system configurations may show AM/PM in time 2.
  • The word Screenshot may vary:
    • It can appear as Screen Shot 1 3
    • It can appear in system language (e.g., Captura de pantalla in Spanish) 4

The timestamp feature lets you sort screenshots by when they were taken. However, screenshot filenames with timestamps raise several privacy concerns:

  • System Language & Region: Your system language and regional characters in filenames can reveal your location and language preferences 4. This reveals your likely location and preferred language. This information makes you vulnerable to targeted phishing attempts, social engineering, or user profiling. Attackers could use this cultural context to craft more convincing phishing attempts or customize malware delivery methods based on your region.
  • Time Format: The format of timestamps (12 or 24-hour) reveals your timezone and regional settings 2. This exposes your timezone and regional settings, providing another data point that could be used for user profiling or targeted attacks.
  • Usage Patterns: Timestamps create a detailed log of when you use your computer, revealing your daily routines and active hours. This shows when you use your computer, revealing your daily schedule and work hours. In forensic analysis or investigations, these timestamps provide evidence of when specific content was viewed or actions were taken. For example, a series of screenshots with timestamps shows when you accessed websites, viewed documents, or used applications. This chronological trail is especially sensitive for screenshots containing personal, financial, or work-related information, as it creates a record of your activities that could compromise privacy or serve as digital evidence.
  • Persistent Timestamps: Even when sharing screenshots through services that remove metadata, the timestamp in the filename remains, revealing when the screenshot was taken. When sharing screenshots through cloud storage (like Dropbox, Google Drive), social media platforms (like Twitter, Facebook), or messaging apps (like WhatsApp, Telegram) that may strip EXIF metadata for privacy, the timestamp in the filename still reveals when the screenshot was taken since filename remains unchanged during upload. This makes all the above privacy risks persist when sharing files across any platform.

After running this script, screenshots will only include a simple name without date and time. When you take multiple screenshots, they are numbered sequentially (1, 2, 3...) 3 5.

Examples (tested on macOS Sequoia 15.3):

  • Screenshot.png
  • Screenshot 1.png
  • Screenshot 2.png
  • ...

File naming behavior:

  • The system automatically adds numbers to filenames to prevent duplicates 3 5. For example, as you take multiple screenshots in sequence, they are automatically numbered as Screenshot 1.png, Screenshot 2.png, Screenshot 3.png, and so on to ensure each file has a unique name.
  • When a numbered file is deleted (e.g., Screenshot 1.png), the next screenshot uses the first available number rather than continuing the sequence (tested since macOS Sequoia 15.3).

This change protects your privacy better, but you should know these limitations:

  • This script has no effect on the file creation date, which still reveals the date and time the screenshot was taken. It only affects the filenames.
  • These settings only work with macOS's built-in screenshot tool, not third-party screenshot apps.
  • You will need to rename files manually to keep them organized without timestamps.
Caution

After running this script, you will lose the ability to easily sort screenshots by capture time. Consider creating folders or adding descriptive names to organize screenshots since you can no longer sort them by capture time.

Technical Details​

This script sets the system setting com.apple.screencapture!include-date to false (0) 2 3 4 5 6. By default, this setting is not configured 5 6.

The script restarts SystemUIServer (a system process) to apply changes 2 3 4 6. This process:

  • Manages user interface elements in the menu bar and GUI 7 8
  • Runs continuously as a background process 7 8
  • Controls the Apple Menu Bar 8, Notifications 7, Control Center 7, Spotlight Search 7, Status Icons 7, and Accessibility 7
  • Is owned by the logged-in user (not root) 8
  • Automatically restarts if crashed or force quit 8

The script restarts SystemUIServer to ensure compatibility across all macOS versions, though testing shows this step isn't required on macOS Sequoia 15.3. Restarting SystemUIServer is a safe, routine operation that will not disrupt your work. It will not close any applications, lose any unsaved work, or affect your open windows. It simply refreshes the menu bar interface to apply the new screenshot settings.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script​

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Help

How to apply or restore "Disable date and time in screenshot filenames" using script​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable date and time in screenshot filenames" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable date and time in screenshot filenames
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
defaults write 'com.apple.screencapture' 'include-date' -bool false
killall SystemUIServer
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable date and time in screenshot filenames" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Terminal app
  • Difficulty: undefined
  • ≈ 3 instructions
  1. 1

    Open terminal

    Open Terminal app.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

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Visit category: Configure OS

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About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process