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cs1996

Tell HN: Screenshots on macOS don't have to be date named files with spaces

4 points 4 comments 13 hours ago

Do you not like lots of files on your Desktop like Screenshot 2026-09-14 at 6.42.17 AM.png ?

mkdir ~/Screenshots

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location "$HOME/Screenshots"

killall SystemUIServer

https://gist.github.com/andrewarrow/1584ca32badeb19868dcc3bec657eaa9

https://gist.github.com/andrewarrow/3d61d1c8ecdd3a7e7401bbec481718ca

launchctl bootstrap gui/$(id -u) ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.aa.rename-screenshot.plist

And now I get:

~/Screenshots $ ls

basifacial_decidua.png

dehull_knopweed.png

erlking_walloping.png

runjake8 hours ago

You can create a Shortcuts automation on macOS 27 that fires when a new image is saved to the Screenshots folder that uses Apple Intelligence to view the image and rename the file accordingly (eg: "finder-window.png").

1. Create a new shortcut with Images as the input.

2. Then "Use On-Device model" action with a prompt like:

---

  You are an expert digital archivist.

  Analyze this screenshot and generate a filename for long-term storage and retrieval.

  The filename should:
  - clearly identify what the screenshot is about
  - include product, application, website, or system names when visible
  - include the key task, configuration, event, or issue shown
  - be useful to someone searching for this image years later
  - avoid filler words
  - do not include the time in the filename

  Formatting:
  - lowercase
  - hyphen-separated
  - 30-80 characters
  - no extension

  Return only the filename and nothing else.

  Here is the screenshot: {Item}

---

3. Then, add a "Renamed {item} to {response}" action.

4. Then, save this shortcut and add it as an automation with the "When items are changed in folder" action.

cs1996op8 hours ago

wow very cool. That's definitely better than mine. Props.

runjake5 hours ago

Improve on it, and share it back!

cs1996op13 hours ago

I had to look up some of the random words:

basifacial: relating to the lower half of the face

decidua: a specialized lining

dehull: to remove the husk from a seed

knopweed: a flowering weed.

erlking: a malevolent supernatural spirit

walloping: a severe beating/defeat

so this works as a vocab words of the day thing too

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