What a screenshot is and why you need one

A screenshot is a digital image of whatever is currently on your screen. When you take a screenshot, your computer captures that exact moment and saves it as a picture file you can view, edit, or share later. Screenshots are useful when you want to save information you see online, report a problem to tech support, share something funny with a friend, or keep a record of a transaction or confirmation.

Every computer—Windows, Mac, or Linux—has a built-in screenshot tool. You do not need to read anything or pay for software. The method you use depends on what you want to capture: your entire screen, just one window, or a specific rectangular area you select yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, press the Print Screen key to capture your entire screen, or use Windows Key + Shift + S to select and capture just the area you need.
  • On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the full screen, or Command + Shift + 4 to select a specific area with your cursor.
  • Screenshots are automatically saved to your Pictures folder on Windows or your Desktop on Mac, unless you change the default location.
  • After taking a screenshot, you can paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app without saving it first.
  • If you need to edit a screenshot—crop it, draw on it, or add text—use the built-in tools like Paint on Windows or Preview on Mac.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows

The simplest way to capture everything on your screen is to press the Print Screen key, usually labeled "PrtScn" or "Print Scr" in the upper right area of your keyboard. When you press it, Windows copies the image to your clipboard but does not show you any confirmation—the screen will not flash or change.

After pressing Print Screen, open an image editor or document where you want to paste the screenshot. Right-click and select "Paste," or press Ctrl + V. The full-screen image will appear. If you want to save it as a file instead of pasting it, open the Snipping Tool (search for "Snipping Tool" in your Windows search bar) and paste the image there, then use File > Save As to choose a location and filename.

Capturing a specific area on Windows

If you only need part of your screen, use the Snip & Sketch tool. Press Windows Key + Shift + S all at once. 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 button.

A small notification will appear in the lower right corner of your screen. Click it to open the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch editor, where you can crop it further, draw on it with a pen or highlighter, or add typed text. From there, use File > Save As to save it as a file, or copy it to paste elsewhere. If you do not click the notification within a few seconds, the screenshot is still saved to your clipboard and you can paste it anywhere.

Taking screenshots on Mac

On a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 to capture your entire screen. You will hear a camera shutter sound (if your volume is on) and the screenshot is automatically saved to your Desktop as a file named "Screenshot [date] at [time].png." You can then move it to another folder or rename it.

To capture only part of your screen, press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want, then release. The screenshot saves to your Desktop the same way. If you change your mind while dragging, press Escape before releasing the mouse button and the screenshot will not be saved.

If you want to capture a specific window (like one browser tab or one app), press Command + Shift + 4, then press the spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture and it will be saved to your Desktop.

Where screenshots are saved and how to find them

On Windows, screenshots taken with Print Screen go to your clipboard only—they are not automatically saved as files. To save them, you must paste them into an app and then save manually. Screenshots taken with Windows Key + Shift + S are saved to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called "Screenshots."

On Mac, all screenshots are automatically saved to your Desktop by default. You will see them appear as new files with names like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png." If you want to change where they save, open Terminal and type the command to change the default location, but for most users the Desktop is fine.

To find your screenshots quickly, open File Explorer on Windows and navigate to Pictures > Screenshots, or on Mac, look at your Desktop. You can also search for "screenshot" in your file search to locate all of them in one place.

Editing and sharing your screenshots

After you take a screenshot, you may want to crop out unnecessary parts, highlight something important, or add text. On Windows, right-click the screenshot file and select "Open with" > "Paint" to edit it. In Paint, you can use the crop tool, draw shapes or lines, add text, and then save the edited version.

On Mac, right-click the screenshot file and select "Open With" > "Preview." Preview lets you crop, rotate, draw with a pen or highlighter, add text boxes, and sign the image if needed. Save your changes when you are done.

To share a screenshot without saving it first, take the screenshot, then paste it directly into an email, text message, or chat app using Ctrl + V on Windows or Command + V on Mac. This works in Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Discord, and most other messaging platforms.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake on Windows is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the file went. Remember: Print Screen only copies to your clipboard. You must paste it somewhere to see it or save it. If you want an automatic file, use Windows Key + Shift + S instead.

On Mac, a common mistake is pressing Command + Shift + 4 and then clicking the wrong window. If this happens, press Escape before releasing the mouse button and try again—the screenshot will not save. Another mistake is forgetting to check your Desktop for the file, then thinking the screenshot did not work.

On both systems, make sure your screen shows what you actually want to capture before you press the key combination. If a dialog box or notification is covering part of your screen, close it first. If you need to capture something that requires scrolling (like a long webpage), take multiple screenshots or use a browser extension designed for full-page captures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just my mouse cursor?

The standard screenshot tools do not include the cursor by default. On Windows, use the Snipping Tool and manually draw a rectangle around what you want. On Mac, use Command + Shift + 4 and drag to select. If you need the cursor visible in the image, you can use third-party tools like Greenshot on Windows or Skitch on Mac, but the built-in tools work for most situations.

What file format are screenshots saved in?

On Windows, screenshots are saved as PNG files by default, which is a standard image format that works everywhere. On Mac, they are also PNG files. Both formats preserve image quality and are small enough to email easily. You can convert them to JPG or other formats using Paint or Preview if needed.

Can I take a screenshot of my entire webpage if it is longer than my screen?

The built-in screenshot tools only capture what is visible on your screen at that moment. To capture a long webpage, you can take multiple screenshots and stitch them together, or use a browser extension like Full Page Screen Capture (available for Chrome and Firefox) that scrolls and captures the entire page automatically.

What should I do if my Print Screen key is not working?

On some keyboards, Print Screen shares a key with another function and requires you to hold Fn + Print Screen. Try that combination first. If it still does not work, use Windows Key + Shift + S instead, which is more reliable. On a laptop, check your keyboard manual to see if Print Screen requires a modifier key.

Can I take a screenshot on a Chromebook?

Yes. On a Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually in the top row where F5 would be on a regular keyboard). A menu appears where you can select "Full screen" or "Partial screen." Partial screen lets you drag to select an area, just like Windows Key + Shift + S on Windows.