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

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

4 points | by cs1996 5 hours ago

2 comments

runjake 39 minutes 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.

[-]

cs1996 6 minutes ago
wow very cool. That's definitely better than mine. Props.

cs1996 5 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