The fastest way to screenshot on LG computers

LG computers run Windows or Chrome OS depending on the model, so the screenshot method depends on which operating system your machine uses. If your LG computer runs Windows, press Print Screen (often labeled PrtScn) to capture your entire screen, or press Windows key + Shift + S to select and capture just part of the screen. If your LG computer runs Chrome OS, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on a standard keyboard) to capture the full screen, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to capture a selected area.

The difference matters because where your screenshot goes depends on the operating system. On Windows, Print Screen copies the image to your clipboard, and you paste it into an image editor or document. On Chrome OS, the screenshot saves directly to your Downloads folder as a PNG file.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows LG computers use Print Screen for full-screen capture or Windows key + Shift + S to select a portion of the screen.
  • Chrome OS LG computers use Ctrl + Show Windows for full-screen capture or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select an area.
  • Windows screenshots go to your clipboard and must be pasted into an editor; Chrome OS screenshots save directly to Downloads as PNG files.
  • The Show Windows key on Chrome OS keyboards is located where the F5 function key would normally be on a Windows keyboard.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows LG computers

Press the Print Screen key once. This key is usually in the upper right area of your keyboard, sometimes labeled PrtScn or PrtSc. The screenshot is now in your clipboard, but you will not see any confirmation on your screen.

To save or view the screenshot, open an image editor like Paint (search "Paint" in the Windows Start menu) or a document like Word. Press Ctrl + V to paste the image. In Paint, go to File and select Save As to choose where to store the file and what format to use (PNG and JPG are the most common). If you use Word or another document, the image will paste directly into the page.

If you want a faster way to save screenshots without opening another program, use the Snipping Tool instead. Search "Snipping Tool" in the Windows Start menu, open it, click New, and drag to select the area you want to capture. The tool opens a small window where you can save the screenshot when ready.

Capturing part of the screen on Windows LG computers

Press Windows key + Shift + S together. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part of the screen you want to capture.

When you release the mouse, a small notification appears in the lower right corner of your screen. Click it to open the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app, where you can crop it further, draw on it, or save it. You can also press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into Paint, Word, or any other program that accepts images.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Chrome OS LG computers

Press Ctrl + Show Windows together. The Show Windows key is the button in the top row of your keyboard that looks like a window or rectangle; it replaces the F5 key on Chrome OS keyboards. Your screen will flash briefly to confirm the screenshot was taken.

The screenshot saves automatically to your Downloads folder as a PNG file. To find it, click the Files app in your taskbar (it looks like a folder), then click Downloads on the left side. The newest screenshot will be at the top of the list. You can rename it, move it to another folder, or open it with any image viewer.

Capturing a selected area on Chrome OS LG computers

Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows together. Your screen will dim and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture.

When you release the mouse, the screenshot saves to your Downloads folder. The file name includes the date and time so you can tell multiple screenshots apart. If you want to edit the screenshot before saving, some Chrome OS models show a small preview window where you can crop or annotate the image, but this varies by LG model and Chrome OS version.

Where screenshots go and how to find them

On Windows, screenshots taken with Print Screen go to your clipboard only — they do not save to a folder unless you paste them into a program and save manually. Screenshots taken with Windows key + Shift + S also go to the clipboard, but the Snip & Sketch notification lets you save directly. The Snipping Tool saves screenshots to your Pictures folder by default.

On Chrome OS, all screenshots save automatically to your Downloads folder with a file name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 10.30.45.png". You can move them to another folder, delete them, or share them from the Files app. If you take many screenshots, create a new folder in Downloads to keep them organized.

Troubleshooting screenshots that do not work

If Print Screen does not work on your Windows LG computer, check whether you have a Function key (Fn) lock enabled. Some keyboards require you to hold Fn + Print Screen instead. Look for an Fn Lock key, usually near the bottom left of the keyboard, and press it to toggle the lock off.

If Windows key + Shift + S does not open the selection tool, your keyboard may not have a Windows key, or it may be mapped differently. Try using the Snipping Tool instead, which you can search for in the Start menu. On Chrome OS, if Ctrl + Show Windows does not work, make sure you are pressing the correct key — the Show Windows key is in the top row and looks like a rectangle or window, not a number or letter key.

If your screenshot appears blurry or low quality, you are likely capturing at a lower resolution than your screen displays. This is normal and happens when you paste into some programs. Use Paint or the Snip & Sketch app to save at full quality instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just one window instead of the whole screen?

On Windows, press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window. On Chrome OS, use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows and drag around just the window you want. Both methods work the same way as full-screen capture — Windows copies to clipboard, Chrome OS saves to Downloads.

What file format do screenshots save in?

Chrome OS screenshots save as PNG files automatically. On Windows, the format depends on how you save: Paint defaults to BMP, but you can choose PNG, JPG, or GIF when you save. The Snip & Sketch app saves as PNG by default.

How do I take a screenshot of something that scrolls, like a long web page?

Standard screenshot tools capture only what is visible on screen. To capture a full scrolling page, use your web browser's built-in tool: in Chrome, right-click the page and select "Capture full page" or press Ctrl + Shift + P. Firefox and Edge have similar features in their developer tools.

Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?

On Windows, the Snip & Sketch app opens automatically when you use Windows key + Shift + S, and you can crop, draw, or highlight before saving. On Chrome OS, some models show a preview window, but it depends on your LG model and Chrome OS version. You can always open a saved screenshot in any image editor afterward.

Where is the Print Screen key on my LG keyboard?

The Print Screen key is usually in the upper right area of the keyboard, above the arrow keys and to the right of the function keys. It may be labeled PrtScn, PrtSc, or just Print Scrn. On some compact keyboards, you may need to hold Fn + a key labeled with a camera or screen icon instead.