How to Take a Resolution Screenshot in mpv?

Taking a screenshot of a video in mpv at its original, unscaled resolution—ignoring any window resizing or player-applied scaling filters—is a straightforward process that relies on built-in keyboard shortcuts and configuration settings. By default, mpv is designed to capture the video at its native source dimensions, but understanding how to utilize the correct capture modes, configure output file formats, and specify target directories ensures you get the highest quality image every time. This guide covers the precise commands and configurations needed to achieve perfect source-resolution captures.

The Default High-Resolution Shortcut

The quickest way to grab a screenshot at the video’s original resolution is by using mpv’s native key bindings.

• **Press s** on your keyboard.

This command takes a screenshot of the current frame at the video’s original source resolution, completely bypassing any scaling applied by your monitor or the player window. It also includes the subtitles if they are currently being rendered on the screen.

Capturing Without Subtitles

If you want a completely clean image of the video frame without any subtitle text or On-Screen Display (OSD) elements, you need to use a variation of the shortcut:

• Press S (Shift + s) on your keyboard.

This command flags the player to strip away all overlays, giving you the raw, unscaled video frame exactly as it exists in the source file.

Advanced Configuration for Maximum Quality

To ensure your screenshots are saved in a lossless format and organized into a specific folder, you can modify your mpv.conf file. Add the following lines to customize your screenshot behavior:

# Specify the folder where screenshots will be saved
screenshot-directory="~/Pictures/mpv_screenshots"

# Set the output format to PNG for lossless quality (Default is JPG)
screenshot-format=png

# Customize the template for file names (includes video title and timestamp)
screenshot-template="%F - [%P] - %n"

Summary of Screenshot Modes

Depending on your exact needs, mpv offers three distinct internal commands that can be mapped in your input.conf file: