Taking a screenshot captures whatever is on your screen and saves it as an image file
A screenshot is a digital photo of your screen. You can take one using a built-in tool on Windows or Mac, then save it, edit it, or share it. The method depends on what you want to capture — your whole screen, one window, or a specific area — and which operating system you use.
Most screenshots save automatically to a folder on your computer, though you can also copy them directly to paste into emails or documents. Learning the keyboard shortcuts takes about two minutes and works the same way every time.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, press Print Screen to capture your whole screen, or Windows Key + Shift + S to select just one area.
- On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen or Command + Shift + 4 to select a specific area.
- Screenshots on Windows go to your Pictures folder by default; on Mac they appear on your desktop.
- You can paste a screenshot directly into an email, document, or messaging app without saving it first.
- Built-in screenshot tools are free and require no software installation.
Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows
Press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn) on your keyboard. This copies an image of your entire screen to your clipboard — you won't see any confirmation, but the screenshot is now ready to use.
To save it as a file, open the Start menu and search for "Snipping Tool" or "Screenshot Tool". Paste the screenshot there (Ctrl + V), then click File and Save As. Choose where you want to save it and give it a name. The file will save as a PNG image.
Alternatively, paste the screenshot directly into any document or email by pressing Ctrl + V. This works in Word, Gmail, Outlook, or any messaging app.
Capturing just part of your screen on Windows
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 area you want to capture, then release the mouse.
The screenshot copies to your clipboard when ready. A small notification appears in the bottom right corner — click it to open the Snipping Tool and save the image, or just paste it directly into a document with Ctrl + V.
This method is faster than Print Screen if you only need part of the screen, because you don't have to open a separate tool to save it.
Taking screenshots on Mac
For your entire screen, press Command + Shift + 3. You'll hear a camera shutter sound and the screenshot saves automatically to your desktop as a PNG file with a timestamp in the name.
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, then release. The screenshot saves to your desktop the same way.
If you want to capture just one window, 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 automatically.
Where your screenshots go and how to find them
On Windows, screenshots taken with Print Screen don't save automatically — you must paste them into a tool or document. If you use the Snipping Tool or Screenshot Tool and click Save, they go to your Pictures folder by default, inside a Screenshots subfolder.
On Mac, screenshots appear on your desktop with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". You can move them to a folder later, or change where they save by opening Terminal and typing a command (search "change Mac screenshot location" if you want to do this).
To find old screenshots on Windows, open File Explorer, click Pictures on the left, then look for the Screenshots folder. On Mac, check your desktop or use Spotlight (Command + Spacebar) to search for "screenshot".
Editing your screenshot before saving
On Windows, the Snipping Tool lets you draw, highlight, or erase parts of your screenshot before saving. After you capture the image, a toolbar appears at the top — click the pen or highlighter icon to mark it up, then save.
On Mac, click the notification that appears after you take a screenshot. This opens a preview window where you can crop, rotate, or draw on the image. Click Done, then Save to keep your changes.
If you want more powerful editing (resizing, adding text, changing colors), you can open your screenshot in Paint on Windows or Preview on Mac, both of which are free and built into your computer.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the image went — remember that Print Screen only copies to your clipboard, it doesn't save a file. You must paste it somewhere or open the Snipping Tool to save it.
Another mistake is taking a screenshot of your entire screen when you only need part of it, then having to crop it later. Use Windows Key + Shift + S or Command + Shift + 4 from the start to save time.
On Mac, forgetting that screenshots go to your desktop can clutter it quickly. If you take many screenshots, move them to a folder or change the default save location so your desktop stays clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of a video while it's playing?
Yes, the screenshot will capture whatever is on your screen at that moment, including video. Some streaming services blur or block screenshots for copyright reasons, but most videos play normally. The image will be a still frame from the video at the exact moment you pressed the button.
What if I want to screenshot something that's not visible on my screen right now?
You'll need to scroll to that part of the page or window first, then take the screenshot. If you need to capture something longer than one screen (like an entire webpage), use a browser extension like Full Page Screen Capture, or take multiple screenshots and stitch them together in an image editor.
Can I undo a screenshot or delete it right away?
Yes. On Windows, if you just took a screenshot with Print Screen, you can straightforward not paste it anywhere and it disappears when you copy something else. On Mac, click the notification that appears and choose Delete. If you already saved it as a file, open File Explorer or Finder and delete it like any other file.
Why does my screenshot look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens if your screen resolution is very low or if you're zoomed in on the page. Try zooming out (Ctrl + minus on Windows, Command + minus on Mac) before taking the screenshot. The image will be clearer because more content fits on screen.
Can I take a screenshot on a Chromebook?
Yes. Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually in the top row of your keyboard, looks like a rectangle with lines). To capture just part of the screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows, then drag to select. Screenshots save to your Downloads folder.