The fastest way to capture your screen depends on your device
A screenshot is a frozen image of what you see on your screen right now. On Windows, press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn) to copy the whole screen to your clipboard, then open Paint or Word and paste it. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 to save a full-screen image directly to your desktop. On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on other keyboards) to capture the whole screen, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select just part of it.
Each method saves or copies your screenshot differently, and each device has a tool built in to let you choose what part of the screen you want to capture. You do not need to read anything—these tools come with your operating system.
Key Takeaways
- Windows: Press Print Screen to copy the full screen, then paste into Paint or another program; use Windows + Shift + S to select and save a portion instead.
- Mac: Press Shift + Command + 3 for a full screenshot saved to the desktop, or Shift + Command + 4 to select a portion with your cursor.
- Chromebook: Press Ctrl + Show Windows for a full screenshot, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to capture part of the screen.
- Screenshots are stored in different places depending on your device—Windows copies to clipboard, Mac saves to desktop by default, and Chromebook saves to your Downloads folder.
Taking a full screenshot on Windows
The simplest method on Windows is the Print Screen key. Press it once and your entire screen is copied to the clipboard—you will not see any confirmation, but the image is there. Open any program that accepts images: Notepad, Paint, Word, or even an email. Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.
If you want the screenshot saved as a file right away instead of pasted into another program, use Windows + Shift + S. A small toolbar appears at the top of your screen with four options: a rectangle tool (to select a box), a freeform tool (to draw around what you want), a window tool (to capture one open window), and a fullscreen tool. Click the fullscreen icon, and Windows saves the image to your clipboard and opens a notification in the bottom right corner. Click that notification to open the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app, where you can crop it, draw on it, or save it as a file.
The Print Screen key captures everything, including your taskbar and any open windows. If you want only one window, use Alt + Print Screen instead—this copies just the active window to your clipboard.
Taking a full screenshot on Mac
On Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 and your entire screen is saved as an image file on your desktop. You will hear a camera shutter sound and see a thumbnail appear briefly in the bottom right corner of your screen. The file is named something like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png" and sits on your desktop until you move it.
If you want to capture only part of your screen, press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want, then release. The screenshot is saved to your desktop the same way. If you change your mind while dragging, press Escape before you release the mouse button and the screenshot is cancelled.
To capture a single window instead of a portion of the screen, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Move it over the window you want and click—that window is captured and saved to your desktop.
Taking a screenshot on Chromebook
On Chromebook, the Show Windows key (usually in the top row of your keyboard where F5 would be on a regular keyboard) works like Print Screen on Windows. Press Ctrl + Show Windows and your full screen is copied to the clipboard. You can then paste it into Google Docs, Gmail, or any other program that accepts images by pressing Ctrl + V.
To select and save just part of your screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. A crosshair cursor appears. Click and drag to draw a box around what you want to capture. When you release, the screenshot is saved to your Downloads folder as a PNG file. You will see a notification in the bottom right corner with the filename—click it to open the image.
Chromebook also lets you take a screenshot of a single window. Press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows and click the window you want to capture. That window is saved to your Downloads folder.
Where your screenshots are stored
Windows stores screenshots in different places depending on which method you use. If you press Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen, the image goes to your clipboard only—it is not saved as a file until you paste it somewhere and save that file. If you use Windows + Shift + S, the screenshot goes to your clipboard and also appears in the Snip & Sketch app, where you can save it to your Pictures folder or another location you choose.
Mac saves full screenshots and partial screenshots directly to your desktop by default. The files are PNG images with the date and time in the filename. You can move them to a folder, delete them, or open them with any image viewer. If you want Mac to save screenshots to a different location, open the Screenshot app (press Shift + Command + 5), click Options, and choose a new folder.
Chromebook saves screenshots to your Downloads folder when you use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows or Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows. If you use Ctrl + Show Windows to copy to the clipboard, the image is not saved as a file unless you paste it into a document and save that document. You can move screenshots from Downloads to Google Drive or another folder in your Chromebook's file system.
Editing and sharing your screenshot
After you take a screenshot, you often want to crop it, highlight part of it, or add text before you share it. Windows includes the Snip & Sketch app, which opens automatically when you use Windows + Shift + S. You can draw on the screenshot, erase parts, or crop it before saving. Mac includes the Screenshot app (open it with Shift + Command + 5), which lets you crop, draw, and add text. Chromebook does not have a built-in editor, but you can open the image in Google Photos or another app to edit it.
All three systems let you paste a screenshot directly into email, messaging apps, or documents. On Windows, paste into Gmail or Outlook. On Mac, paste into Mail or Messages. On Chromebook, paste into Gmail or Google Chat. The image appears inline in your message and is ready to send.
When to call a professional
Screenshots are a built-in feature of your operating system and do not require technical help. If your Print Screen key or keyboard shortcut is not working, restart your computer first—this solves most keyboard issues. If the problem persists, you may have a stuck key or a keyboard setting that has been changed.
Check your keyboard settings in your system preferences to make sure screenshot shortcuts are not disabled. On Windows, open Settings and search for "keyboard." On Mac, open System Preferences and click Keyboard, then Shortcuts. On Chromebook, open Settings and search for "keyboard." If you cannot find the setting or the issue continues, contact your device manufacturer's support line or visit a local repair shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just one window?
Yes. On Windows, press Alt + Print Screen to copy the active window. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar and click the window. On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows and click the window you want.
What if I want to capture a scrolling webpage that is longer than my screen?
A single screenshot captures only what is visible on your screen. To capture a long webpage, you can take multiple screenshots and stitch them together, or use your browser's built-in tool. In Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, right-click the page and look for "Take a screenshot" or "Capture page." This lets you save the entire page as one image.
Can I take a screenshot without using the keyboard?
On Windows, open the Snip & Sketch app from your Start menu and click "New" to open the screenshot tool. On Mac, open the Screenshot app from your Applications folder. On Chromebook, open the Files app, right-click, and look for a screenshot option if available, though the keyboard shortcut is faster.
Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?
Screenshots capture your screen at its current resolution. If your screenshot looks blurry, your display resolution may be set lower than your monitor's native resolution. Check your display settings and increase the resolution. Screenshots are always saved as PNG files, which do not lose quality, so the issue is usually the resolution of your screen, not the screenshot tool.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire desktop, including multiple monitors?
On Windows, Print Screen captures all connected monitors. On Mac, Shift + Command + 3 captures all monitors. On Chromebook, Ctrl + Show Windows captures all displays. If you want to capture only one monitor on a multi-monitor setup, use the selection tool (Windows + Shift + S on Windows, Shift + Command + 4 on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows on Chromebook) and draw a box around the monitor you want.