The fastest way to capture your screen

Taking a picture of your screen — called a screenshot — is built into Windows and Mac. On Windows, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) to copy the entire screen, then open Paint or Word and paste it. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 to save a full-screen image directly to your desktop. Both methods work when ready with no software to install.

If you want to capture only part of your screen instead of everything, Windows has a dedicated tool called Snipping Tool that lets you draw a box around the area you need. Mac has a similar feature called Screenshot that opens when you press Shift + Command + 4. These partial-capture methods are faster than taking a full screenshot and cropping it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Print Screen copies your entire screen to the clipboard; paste it into Paint or any document to save it as a file.
  • Mac Shift + Command + 3 captures your full screen and saves it as an image file directly on your desktop.
  • Windows Snipping Tool and Mac Screenshot (Shift + Command + 4) let you select only the part of the screen you want to capture.
  • Screenshots are saved as image files you can email, share, or edit in any photo program.

Taking a full screenshot on Windows

Press the Print Screen key once. This key is usually in the upper right area of your keyboard, sometimes labeled PrtScn or Print Scrn. Nothing visible happens — the screenshot is copied to your clipboard, which is your computer's temporary holding area for copied items.

Open a program where you can paste the image. Paint (built into Windows) is the simplest choice. Search for "Paint" in your Start menu, open it, then press Ctrl + V to paste your screenshot. The image appears in the Paint window. Click File, then Save As, choose a location on your computer, give it a name, and click Save. Your screenshot is now a file you can find, share, or edit.

If you want to save the screenshot without opening Paint, use Windows + Print Screen instead. This automatically saves the full screenshot as a PNG file in your Pictures folder under Screenshots. You do not need to paste or save manually — the file is ready to use when ready.

Taking a full screenshot on Mac

Press Shift + Command + 3 all at once. Your screen flashes briefly and you hear a camera shutter sound (if your volume is on). A thumbnail appears in the lower right corner of your screen for a few seconds. The screenshot has been saved as a PNG file on your desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM."

If you want to save the screenshot to your clipboard instead of your desktop — so you can paste it into an email or document — hold down Control while pressing Shift + Command + 3. The thumbnail still appears, but no file is saved to your desktop. Paste it anywhere with Command + V.

Capturing only part of your screen on Windows

Search for "Snipping Tool" in your Start menu and open it. A small window appears with a button labeled New. Click New and your screen dims slightly. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button when you have selected the region.

The captured area opens in the Snipping Tool window. From here, you can draw on it with the pen tool, erase parts with the eraser, or highlight text. Click File, then Save As to save it as an image file, or click Copy to copy it to your clipboard and paste it elsewhere. If you make a mistake while drawing the selection box, press Escape and try again.

Capturing only part of your screen on Mac

Press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want. The selected area is highlighted in white. Release the mouse button to capture it. A thumbnail appears in the lower right corner and the file is saved to your desktop.

If you change your mind before releasing the mouse button, press Escape and the selection is cancelled. If you want to capture a single window instead of drawing a box, press Shift + Command + 4**, then press the Spacebar. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture and it is saved to your desktop.

Where your screenshots are saved

On Windows, screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen go to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. You can find them by opening File Explorer, clicking Pictures on the left side, then double-clicking the Screenshots folder. Screenshots pasted into Paint or other programs are saved wherever you choose when you click Save As.

On Mac, full-screen and partial screenshots are saved directly to your desktop with a timestamp in the filename. You can move them to a folder later, or change where they save by opening System Preferences, clicking General, and changing the location under "Screenshots." Screenshots copied to your clipboard (using Control + Shift + Command + 3 or 4) are not saved as files unless you paste them into a program and save that program's file.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake on Windows is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the image went. Remember: Print Screen only copies to your clipboard. You must paste it into Paint, Word, or another program, then save it as a file. If you want the file to appear automatically on your computer, use Windows + Print Screen instead.

On Mac, forgetting to hold down Shift and Command together is straightforward. If you press them separately or in the wrong order, nothing happens. Practice the key combination a few times before you need it. Another mistake is taking a screenshot of your entire screen when you only need a small part — this creates a large file and makes it harder for someone to see the detail you are trying to show. Use the partial-capture method (Snipping Tool on Windows, Shift + Command + 4 on Mac) whenever possible.

A third mistake is not checking what is on your screen before you capture it. Passwords, personal information, or browser tabs you do not want to share can be visible in a screenshot. Take a moment to close sensitive windows or cover sensitive text before you press the screenshot key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just my second monitor?

On Windows, Print Screen captures all monitors at once. Use Snipping Tool instead and select only the area on your second monitor. On Mac, Shift + Command + 3 captures all screens, but Shift + Command + 4 lets you select a specific area, so you can choose only your second monitor.

What if my Print Screen key does not work?

On some laptops, Print Screen is combined with another key and requires holding Fn. Try Fn + Print Screen. If that does not work, use Snipping Tool on Windows or Shift + Command + 4 on Mac instead — both methods work on any computer.

How do I take a screenshot 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). The screenshot is saved to your Downloads folder. To capture only part of the screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows and drag to select the area.

Can I edit my screenshot after I take it?

Yes. On Windows, open Paint, paste your screenshot, and use the drawing tools to add arrows, boxes, or text. On Mac, click the thumbnail that appears after you take the screenshot and the Screenshot app opens with editing tools. You can also open any screenshot file in Preview (Mac) or Paint (Windows) to edit it later.

Why is my screenshot blurry?

Screenshots capture pixels exactly as they appear on your screen, so if your screen resolution is low or text is small, the screenshot will be blurry. Zoom in on the area before you take the screenshot, or take a partial screenshot of just the part you need so it appears larger in the final image.