# Delayed capture

Set a countdown timer before a capture fires — perfect for capturing menus, tooltips, and transient UI states.

## How to use

1. Start one of the delayed capture modes — from its shortcut (below), the
   **Delayed** items in the menu bar / tray menu, or the **Delayed** button on
   the editor's [Capture Bar](/docs/hypershot/editing/capture-bar)
2. For region and window modes, select the region or window
3. Position your screen as needed (open menus, hover elements, etc.)
4. The capture fires automatically after the countdown completes

The countdown length is set in Settings, not in the overlay — see
[Configuring the Delay](#configuring-the-delay).

### Delay modes

Each delayed mode has its own default shortcut:

| Mode | macOS | Windows | Behavior |
|------|-------|---------|----------|
| Delayed Region | `⌘⇧7` | `Ctrl+Shift+7` | Countdown starts after you select a region, then captures that region |
| Delayed Screen | `⌘⇧8` | `Ctrl+Shift+8` | Countdown starts, then captures the full screen |
| Delayed Window | `⌘⇧9` | `Ctrl+Shift+9` | Countdown starts after you select a window |

Press **Escape** to cancel a countdown.

## The countdown overlay

When a delay is active, a visible countdown overlay appears on screen showing the remaining seconds. This helps you time your actions precisely.

## Configuring the delay

Set the delay in **Settings → Captures**:

- **Capture delay**: How many seconds to wait — 1 to 30 seconds, 5 by default
- **Capture cursor**: Whether the cursor appears in timed (delayed) and full-screen captures (off by default)

These settings apply to all delayed captures.

## Use cases

- **Dropdown menus** — Open the menu, then let the delayed capture fire
- **Hover states** — Trigger tooltips or hover effects before capture
- **Context menus** — Right-click and position before the screenshot
- **Animations** — Time the capture to a specific animation frame

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*See also: [Area Capture](/docs/hypershot/capturing/area-capture ) | [Scrolling Capture](/docs/hypershot/capturing/scrolling-capture )*

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From https://hypernuclear.com/docs/hypershot/capturing/delayed-capture/