Taking a screenshot captures everything on your screen as an image file

A screenshot is a digital photo of what you see on your monitor right now. You press a key or use a menu, and your computer saves an image of the screen. The image lands in a folder on your computer or in your clipboard (temporary storage), ready to paste into an email, document, or messaging app. Most computers have at least two built-in ways to do this—one fast, one with more control.

The method you use depends on what you want to capture: the entire screen, one window, or a specific rectangular area. Windows computers and Mac computers use different keyboard shortcuts, so this guide covers both.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, press the Print Screen key to copy the entire screen, or use Windows Key + Shift + S to select and capture just part of it.
  • On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen or Command + Shift + 4 to select a specific area.
  • Screenshots save as image files (usually PNG format) in a default folder, or you can paste them directly into documents and emails.
  • The Snipping Tool on Windows and Screenshot app on Mac let you annotate (draw on) your screenshot before saving it.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows

The simplest method on a Windows computer is the Print Screen key. Locate the key labeled "Print Screen," "PrtScn," or "PrtSc" on your keyboard—it is usually in the upper right area, above the arrow keys. Press it once. Nothing visible happens, but the image is now copied to your clipboard.

To save it as a file, open Paint (search for "Paint" in the Windows search bar), then press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot. Click File, then Save As, choose a folder and filename, and click Save. The image will be a PNG or BMP file. Alternatively, you can paste the screenshot directly into an email, Word document, or messaging app by pressing Ctrl + V.

If you want to capture only the active window instead of the entire screen, press Alt + Print Screen. This copies just the window you are currently using, which is useful when you have multiple windows open.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Mac

On a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3. The screen will flash briefly, and a thumbnail will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. The screenshot has been saved to your Desktop as a PNG file with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM." You can click the thumbnail to open it when ready or find it later on your Desktop.

If you want to capture only one window, 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 the same way.

Capturing a specific area on Windows

Windows 10 and later include the Snipping Tool, which lets you select exactly what part of the screen to capture. Press Windows Key + Shift + S (hold all three 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.

When you release the mouse, the screenshot is copied to your clipboard and a small menu appears. You can click the menu to open the Snips & Sketch app, where you can draw on the screenshot with a pen or highlighter, crop it, or save it as a file. If you do not use the menu, straightforward paste the screenshot into a document or email with Ctrl + V.

For more control, you can also open the Snipping Tool directly by searching for "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search bar. Click New, then select the shape (free-form, rectangular, window, or full screen) and drag to capture.

Capturing a specific area on Mac

Press Command + Shift + 4. 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 is saved to your Desktop as a PNG file.

If you want to capture a window instead, press Command + Shift + 4, then press the spacebar. The cursor will change to a camera. Click the window, and it will be saved to your Desktop. You can also press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app, which shows a toolbar at the bottom of the screen with options to capture the entire screen, a window, or a selected area. This app also lets you record a video of your screen if needed.

Finding and organizing your screenshots

On Windows, screenshots taken with Print Screen are not automatically saved as files—they stay in your clipboard until you paste them. If you use the Snipping Tool (Windows Key + Shift + S), the images are copied to your clipboard but not saved unless you click Save in the menu that appears. To save them automatically, open Settings, go to System > Clipboard, and turn on "Clipboard history." Then press Windows Key + V to see all your recent screenshots and save them.

On Mac, screenshots are automatically saved to your Desktop by default. If you want them to go to a different folder, open the Screenshot app (Command + Shift + 5), click Options, and choose a different location. You can also change the file format from PNG to PDF, JPEG, or TIFF in the same menu.

Both Windows and Mac let you rename screenshots after they are saved. Right-click the file, select Rename, type a new name, and press Enter. Organizing screenshots into folders by project or date makes them easier to find later.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the file went. Remember: Print Screen copies to your clipboard, not to a file. You must paste it somewhere (Paint, Word, email) or use the Snipping Tool to save it directly. If you forget to paste before closing the program, the screenshot is lost.

Another mistake is capturing the wrong area because you moved the mouse too quickly. Take your time when dragging the selection box. If you mess up, press Escape to cancel and try again. On Mac, if you press Command + Shift + 4 and change your mind, press Escape before releasing the mouse to cancel the capture.

A third mistake is not checking what is on your screen before capturing. Make sure sensitive information (passwords, personal details, financial data) is not visible. If you are taking a screenshot to send to someone, close any windows or tabs you do not want them to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just my mouse cursor?

Most screenshot tools exclude the cursor by default. If you need the cursor visible, you can use third-party software like ShareX (Windows) or Skitch (Mac), or you can manually draw a cursor in Paint or another image editor after taking the screenshot.

What format are screenshots saved in?

Windows usually saves screenshots as PNG or BMP files. Mac saves them as PNG by default, but you can change this to JPEG, PDF, or TIFF in the Screenshot app options. PNG is the most common because it preserves quality without making the file too large.

Can I take a screenshot of a video while it is playing?

Yes, the same methods work for videos. However, some streaming services (Netflix, Disney+) block screenshots for copyright reasons. If the screenshot appears black or blank, the service is preventing it. In that case, you cannot capture the video using built-in tools.

How do I take a screenshot on a Chromebook?

Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on a regular keyboard). A menu appears with options to capture the full screen or a selected area. The screenshot is saved to your Downloads folder as a PNG file.

Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?

Yes. On Windows, the Snipping Tool and Snips & Sketch app let you draw, highlight, and crop before saving. On Mac, the Screenshot app has similar tools. You can also open any screenshot in Paint, Preview, or Photoshop to edit it further.