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

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

5 pointscs19965 comments

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

View on HN

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.

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

Improve on it, and share it back!

man it took codex HOURS to get this right but finally it works:

https://gist.github.com/andrewarrow/964e11b760806848006f4c87...

https://gist.github.com/andrewarrow/fd5de072214871d55813ec38...

https://gist.github.com/andrewarrow/15a8b67122969d610dceba8a...

that last one is base64 encoded binary file of the "AI Rename Screenshot.shortcut"

I had to look up some of the random words:

basifacial: relating to the lower half of the face