The fastest way to capture your screen depends on your device

A screenshot is a picture of whatever is showing on your monitor right now. On Windows, press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn) to copy the entire screen to your clipboard, then open Paint or Word and paste it. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 to save a full-screen image directly to your desktop. On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on other keyboards) to capture the whole screen, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select just part of it.

Each method saves or copies your image in a different way, and each device has a tool built in that does more than just the basic capture. Learning which buttons to press takes 30 seconds; learning what happens to your image after you press them takes a bit longer and is worth understanding before you need it.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Print Screen copies to clipboard; Windows Shift + Print Screen opens a selection tool that lets you choose what part of the screen to capture.
  • Mac Shift + Command + 3 saves a full screenshot as a file on your desktop; Mac Shift + Command + 4 lets you select a specific area.
  • Chromebook Ctrl + Show Windows captures the full screen and saves it to your Downloads folder; Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows lets you select a region.
  • After you take a screenshot, you can edit it, move it to a folder, or share it—but the location and format depend on which method you used.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows

The simplest method on Windows is the Print Screen key, located in the upper right of your keyboard, often next to the Scroll Lock key. Press it once. Nothing visible happens—the image is now copied to your clipboard, which is temporary storage. Open any program that accepts images: Notepad, Paint, Word, or even an email draft. Right-click and select Paste, or press Ctrl + V. Your screenshot appears.

If you want to save the image as a file instead of pasting it into a document, use Shift + Print Screen instead. This opens the Snipping Tool (or Screenshot Tool on newer Windows versions). A toolbar appears at the top of your screen with options to capture the full screen, a window, or a custom rectangle. Click New or the camera icon, then select your capture mode. The image opens in the tool's editor, where you can draw, erase, or crop before saving it as a PNG or JPG file to your computer.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Mac

On Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your entire screen. You will hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail appears briefly in the bottom right corner of your screen. The image is automatically saved as a PNG file on your desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM." You can click the thumbnail to edit it when ready, or find the file on your desktop later.

If you want to capture only part of your screen, press Shift + Command + 4 instead. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture, then release. The image saves to your desktop the same way. You can also press Shift + Command + 5 to open a more detailed menu that lets you choose between full screen, window, or selection mode, and shows you options to record video or change where the file saves.

Taking a screenshot on Chromebook

Chromebooks store screenshots in your Downloads folder by default. Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually in the top row, where the F5 key would be on other keyboards). The entire screen is captured and saved as a PNG file. A notification appears in the bottom right corner; click it to open the file, or find it later in your Downloads folder.

To capture only part of your screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want, then release. The image saves to Downloads the same way. If you want to change where screenshots save or adjust other settings, open your Settings app, go to Advanced, then Accessibility, and look for the screenshot options.

Editing and saving your screenshot

After you take a screenshot, you usually have a few seconds to edit it before it disappears. On Windows, the Snipping Tool shows your image in an editor where you can use a pen tool to draw, a highlighter, or an eraser. On Mac, click the thumbnail in the bottom right to open the markup tools. On Chromebook, click the notification to open the image in your default viewer, though editing options are limited.

If you miss the editing window, you can still edit later. On Windows, open Paint and paste your screenshot, or open the PNG file directly. On Mac, right-click the file on your desktop and select Open With, then choose Preview or another image editor. On Chromebook, right-click the file in Downloads and open it with your preferred app. All three systems let you crop, resize, or annotate before saving under a new name.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the image went. Remember: Print Screen copies to clipboard, which is temporary. If you close a program without pasting, the image is lost. Always paste when ready into a document or use Shift + Print Screen instead to save directly to a file.

Another mistake is capturing the wrong area. If you need a specific window or section, use the selection tools (Shift + Print Screen on Windows, Shift + Command + 4 on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows on Chromebook) rather than capturing the whole screen and cropping later. It is faster and gives you a cleaner image. Finally, check where your file is saving. Windows and Chromebook default to different folders, and Mac saves to the desktop, so you may need to move your screenshot to a folder where you can find it later.

Using screenshots for different purposes

Screenshots work for many tasks: documenting an error message to send to tech support, saving a receipt or confirmation number, capturing a funny moment from a video, or recording what a website looked like on a specific date. The method you choose depends on what you need. If you are sending the image to someone else, make sure it does not show passwords, personal information, or anything you do not want them to see. Use the selection tools to capture only the relevant part of your screen.

If you take many screenshots, create a folder to organize them. On Windows, right-click in your Documents folder and select New Folder. On Mac, open Finder and press Shift + Command + N. On Chromebook, open the Files app and tap the plus icon. Move your screenshots into the folder and rename them with dates or descriptions so you can find them later.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. On Windows, use Shift + Print Screen and select the window mode. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar to switch to window mode, and click the window you want. On Chromebook, use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows and drag a rectangle around the window.

What format is my screenshot saved in?

Windows and Chromebook save as PNG by default, which is good for images with text and sharp edges. Mac also saves as PNG. All three can be converted to JPG or other formats using free image editors if you need a different file type.

Where do I find my screenshots after I take them?

On Windows, they go to your clipboard (if you used Print Screen) or to your Pictures folder (if you used Snipping Tool). On Mac, they appear on your desktop. On Chromebook, they go to your Downloads folder. You can change the default location in your settings.

Can I take a screenshot of something that is not currently visible on my screen?

No, screenshots capture only what is showing on your monitor right now. If you need to capture a long webpage, you may need to scroll and take multiple screenshots, or use a browser extension designed for full-page captures.

Is there a way to take a screenshot without using the keyboard?

On Windows, you can open the Snipping Tool from your Start menu and click New. On Mac, you can open Screenshot from your Applications folder or Spotlight search. On Chromebook, you can open Settings and use the accessibility options. Keyboard shortcuts are faster once you memorize them.