The quickest way to print what you see

To print your computer screen, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) on your keyboard, then open a document or image editor and paste the screenshot. On Windows, you can also press Windows key + Shift + S to capture just part of the screen, or Windows key + V to open your clipboard and paste what you captured. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 to capture the whole screen, or Command + Shift + 4 to select a portion. Once you have the image, open it in any program that can display images, then use File > Print or press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac).

The method you choose depends on whether you want the entire screen or just part of it, and whether you want to edit or annotate before printing. Most people find the keyboard shortcut method faster than using menus.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to capture your entire screen, then paste it into any document or image editor before printing.
  • Windows offers Windows key + Shift + S to capture only a portion of the screen without opening another program.
  • Mac users can press Command + Shift + 3 for the full screen or Command + Shift + 4 to select a specific area.
  • After capturing, open the image in any program that displays photos, then use File > Print or Ctrl + P to send it to your printer.

Capturing your entire screen on Windows

The simplest method on Windows is the Print Screen key. Locate it on your keyboard—it is usually in the upper right area, often labeled PrtScn or Print Screen. Press it once. Nothing visible happens, but your screen is now copied to the clipboard as an image.

Open any program that can hold an image: Notepad, Word, Paint, or even an email draft. Press Ctrl + V to paste. The screenshot appears. From there, you can print it directly using Ctrl + P, or save it first if you want to edit it later.

If you want to capture only part of the screen without pasting into another program first, use Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen dims slightly and your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want. When you release, that portion is copied to the clipboard and a small notification appears in the lower right corner. Click the notification to open it in the Snipping Tool, where you can annotate or crop before printing.

Capturing your screen on Mac

On Mac, the keyboard shortcuts are built into the operating system and work without needing to paste into another program first. Press Command + Shift + 3 to capture your entire screen. A screenshot file appears on your desktop with a timestamp in the filename. You can open it and print it when ready, or leave it for later.

To capture only part of your screen, press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want. When you release, the file saves to your desktop. A thumbnail also appears in the lower right corner of your screen—click it to open the image in Preview, where you can print, edit, or save it elsewhere.

If you want to capture a specific window rather than a rectangular area, press Command + Shift + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture, and it saves as a file on your desktop.

Printing the screenshot from your computer

Once you have captured your screen, you need to open it in a program that can display and print images. On Windows, Paint is built in and works well—right-click the screenshot file, select Open with > Paint, then press Ctrl + P. On Mac, screenshots open in Preview by default, and you can print directly from there using Command + P.

You can also open screenshots in Word, Google Docs, Photoshop, or any other image editor. The steps are the same: open the file, then use File > Print or the keyboard shortcut. A print dialog appears where you can choose your printer, paper size, and orientation before sending to print.

Editing your screenshot before printing

If you want to highlight, crop, or annotate your screenshot before printing, open it in an image editor. Windows Paint is straightforward and free—you can draw boxes, add text, or erase parts. Mac Preview has similar tools: click the Markup toolbar button to add shapes, text, or signatures. Both programs let you save the edited version before printing.

For more detailed editing, use Photoshop, GIMP (free on both platforms), or Snagit (paid, but designed specifically for screenshots). These programs let you blur sensitive information, add arrows or callouts, and adjust colors or contrast. Edit first, then print.

Troubleshooting if nothing happens when you press Print Screen

If you press Print Screen and nothing appears to happen, the screenshot was still captured—it is just in your clipboard invisibly. Open a document or image editor and paste with Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac). The image appears.

If pasting does not work, your Print Screen key may be disabled or mapped to a different function. On some laptops, you need to hold Fn (Function key) while pressing Print Screen. Check your keyboard manual or try Fn + PrtScn. On Windows, you can also use the Snipping Tool directly: search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu and open it, then click New to capture a portion of your screen.

If your printer does not appear in the print dialog, make sure it is turned on and connected to your computer. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and check that your printer is listed. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and add your printer if it is not there.

When to print a screenshot instead of the original document

Printing a screenshot is useful when you want to capture something that cannot be printed normally—a website that blocks printing, a video paused at a specific moment, an error message, or a chart from an online tool. It is also handy when you want to print only part of a page, or when you want to include multiple windows or applications in one printout.

However, screenshots are lower resolution than the original document, so text may look slightly blurry on paper. If you are printing a document or webpage that has a print-friendly version, use that instead. Most websites have a Print button or a print stylesheet that removes ads and formats the page for paper. Screenshots are best for one-off captures of things that cannot be printed any other way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print just part of my screen without using keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. On Windows, open the Snipping Tool (search for it in the Start menu), click New, and drag to select the area you want. On Mac, use Command + Shift + 4 and drag to select. Both methods let you capture a portion without needing to paste into another program first.

Why is my screenshot blurry when I print it?

Screenshots are captured at your screen's resolution, which is usually 96 to 150 dots per inch. Printers work best with 300 dots per inch or higher. If you need a sharp printout, print the original document or webpage instead of a screenshot. If you must print a screenshot, use the largest paper size available to make the image bigger.

How do I print a screenshot of a window that is partially off-screen?

Press Print Screen to capture your entire screen, paste it into an image editor, then crop to the area you want before printing. Alternatively, move the window so it is fully visible on your screen, then capture it again.

Can I print a screenshot directly without opening another program?

Not directly from the keyboard shortcut alone. You must paste the screenshot into a program that can display it, then print from there. The fastest route is to press Print Screen, open Paint or Preview, paste, and press Ctrl + P or Command + P.

What if my laptop keyboard does not have a Print Screen key?

On many laptops, Print Screen is combined with another key and requires the Fn (Function) key. Try Fn + PrtScn or check your keyboard manual. On Windows, you can also use Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot tool directly. On Mac, use Command + Shift + 3 or Command + Shift + 4.