If you are a web developer, graphic designer, or just someone trying to match the exact shade of blue used in a company logo for a presentation, guessing the color by eye is nearly impossible. You need the precise Hexadecimal (Hex) or RGB code. Most people assume they need to take a screenshot, open Adobe Photoshop, and use the eyedropper tool to grab the color code.
This is completely unnecessary on an Apple computer. Buried inside the Utilities folder of every Mac is a tiny, incredibly powerful app called the “Digital Color Meter.” This built-in tool turns your mouse cursor into a precision color picker, allowing you to instantly identify and copy the exact color code of any pixel currently displayed on your screen, anywhere in the operating system.
This guide explains how to find and use the Digital Color Meter on your Mac.
Step 1: Launch the Digital Color Meter
Because it is a utility app, it is hidden away from the main Applications folder view.
- Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search.
- Type Digital Color Meter and press Return.
- Alternatively, open the Finder, navigate to Applications > Utilities, and double-click the app icon (it looks like a small magnifying glass over a color wheel).
Step 2: Configure the Color Format (Hex vs. RGB)
When the app opens, you will see a small, floating window displaying a highly magnified view of whatever your mouse cursor is currently pointing at. By default, it usually displays the color in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) format, shown as percentages (e.g., R: 85%, G: 20%, B: 10%).
If you are building a website, you likely need a standard Hex code (e.g., #FFFFFF). You must change the display format.
- With the Digital Color Meter app active, look at the main menu bar at the top of your Mac screen.
- Click on View.
- Hover your mouse over Display Values.
- Select as Hexadecimal.
The numbers in the small window will instantly change to the standard 6-character Hex code format.
Step 3: Sample and Copy the Color
Now that the tool is configured, extracting the color is incredibly simple.
- Move your mouse cursor over the exact color on your screen that you want to sample. (e.g., hover over a button on a website, or a specific pixel in a photograph).
- Look at the Digital Color Meter window to verify you have the correct pixel selected. The magnified view helps you pinpoint the exact spot.
- To lock the tool onto that color so you can safely move your mouse away without losing the reading, press Command (⌘) + L on your keyboard. (Press it again to unlock).
- To instantly copy the color code to your Mac’s clipboard as text, press Command (⌘) + Shift + C.
You can now open your code editor, CSS file, or PowerPoint presentation and simply paste (Command + V) the exact color code wherever you need it.