The fastest way to capture your screen

A screenshot is a picture of whatever is on your screen right now. On Windows, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) to copy the whole screen, or Windows key + Shift + S to select just part of it. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen or Command + Shift + 4 to pick a section. On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the key with four squares) for the whole screen or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select part of it.

After you take the screenshot, it goes to your clipboard — a temporary holding space — so you can paste it into an email, document, or image editor. Some devices also save it as a file on your computer at the same time. The method you choose depends on whether you want the entire screen or just a portion of it.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows uses Print Screen for the whole screen and Windows key + Shift + S to select a portion; Mac uses Command + Shift + 3 and Command + Shift + 4 for the same tasks.
  • Screenshots go to your clipboard first, so you paste them into documents or emails right away.
  • Some devices automatically save screenshots as files in a dedicated folder, while others require you to paste and save manually.
  • Built-in screenshot tools on all three systems let you annotate (add notes or drawings) before saving.

Taking a full-screen screenshot on Windows

Press the Print Screen key (labeled PrtScn on most keyboards) once. You will not see any visual feedback — no sound, no flash — but the entire screen is now copied to your clipboard. Open the program where you want to paste it: Notepad, Word, Gmail, or any image editor. Right-click and select Paste, or use Ctrl + V.

If you want Windows to save the screenshot as a file automatically, use Windows key + Print Screen instead. This copies the screen to your clipboard and saves it as a PNG file in your Pictures folder under Screenshots. You can find it by opening File Explorer, clicking Pictures on the left, then double-clicking the Screenshots folder.

Capturing part of your screen on Windows

Press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the part you want to capture. When you release the mouse, that section is copied to your clipboard. A small notification will appear in the bottom right corner — click it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool, where you can draw on it, crop it, or save it.

The Snipping Tool also lets you take screenshots on a delay (useful if you need to capture a menu that disappears when you click). Open the Snipping Tool by typing its name in the Windows search box, click the arrow next to New, and select Snip in 3 seconds or Snip in 10 seconds. The countdown starts when ready, giving you time to set up what you want to capture.

Taking screenshots on Mac

For the whole screen, press Command + Shift + 3. A camera shutter sound plays (unless you have muted your Mac), and the screenshot is saved as a file on your desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". You can also find it in your Downloads folder or by searching for it in Spotlight (Command + Space, then type "screenshot").

To capture only part of your screen, press Command + Shift + 4. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. 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 and nothing will be saved.

Mac also has a built-in app called Screenshot that gives you more control. Press Command + Shift + 5 to open it. You will see buttons to capture the whole screen, a selected portion, or a video recording. Click Options to choose where to save the file (desktop, documents, clipboard, or an app like Mail) and whether to include the mouse pointer.

Capturing screenshots on Chromebook

Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key has four small squares and is usually in the top row of your keyboard, where F5 would be on a regular computer). The entire screen is captured and saved as a PNG file in your Downloads folder. A notification appears in the bottom right — click it to open the screenshot right away.

To select just part of your screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Your screen dims and a crosshair appears. Click and drag to draw a box around what you want. When you release, that section is saved to Downloads. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, which is useful if you want to paste it directly into an email or document.

Editing and saving your screenshot

After you take a screenshot, you often want to mark it up — add arrows, circles, text, or blur sensitive information. On Windows, the Snipping Tool (open it by typing its name in the search box) lets you draw on screenshots with a pen, highlighter, or eraser. On Mac, open the screenshot file and press Command + Shift + A to open the markup tools. On Chromebook, right-click the screenshot file in your Downloads folder and select Open with, then choose an image editor like Google Photos or Pixlr.

To save a screenshot you have pasted into a document, use File > Save As in that program. Choose a location (Desktop, Documents, or a folder you create), give it a clear name, and select the file type. For most purposes, PNG works well because it keeps the image sharp. JPEG is smaller but slightly less clear. If you took the screenshot on Windows or Chromebook and it is already saved as a file, you can move it to a folder you use regularly by dragging it in File Explorer.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then wondering where the screenshot went — remember, it goes to your clipboard first, so you must paste it somewhere. If you forget to paste it before copying something else (like text or an image), the screenshot is lost. Open your screenshot program right away and paste before doing anything else.

Another mistake is taking a screenshot of your entire screen when you only need part of it. This makes the file larger and includes distracting background elements. Use the selection tools (Windows key + Shift + S on Windows, Command + Shift + 4 on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows on Chromebook) to capture only what matters. If you have already taken a full screenshot, you can crop it in any image editor by selecting the area you want and deleting the rest.

On Mac, forgetting that screenshots save to your desktop can clutter it quickly. Use Command + Shift + 5 and click Options to save to a specific folder instead. On Chromebook, screenshots go to Downloads, which can fill up over time — move old ones to a folder or delete them regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

On Windows, use Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 4, then press Space — your cursor becomes a camera and you click the window you want. On Chromebook, use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows and drag a box around just the window.

What if I need to take a screenshot of something that moves, like a menu?

On Windows, open the Snipping Tool and use the delay feature (click the arrow next to New and select 3 or 10 seconds). On Mac, use Command + Shift + 5 and click the timer icon to set a delay. On Chromebook, you have to work faster — set up the menu, then when ready press the screenshot shortcut before it closes.

Where do screenshots go if I don't save them?

If you copy a screenshot to your clipboard but never paste it, it disappears as soon as you copy something else. Windows and Chromebook save screenshots as files automatically in specific folders (Screenshots in Pictures on Windows, Downloads on Chromebook), but Mac only saves them if you use Command + Shift + 3 or 4 — Command + Shift + 5 gives you the choice.

Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if it is larger than my monitor?

No — screenshots capture only what is visible on your screen right now. If you are scrolling through a long webpage or document, you have to scroll, take multiple screenshots, and stitch them together, or use a browser extension designed for long screenshots. Most browsers have these in their extension stores.

How do I take a screenshot on a tablet or phone connected to my computer?

Tablets and phones have their own screenshot methods (usually holding buttons on the device itself), but they do not use your computer's keyboard shortcuts. If you want to capture your phone or tablet screen on your computer, you need special software like Android Debug Bridge for Android devices or QuickTime for iPhones connected to a Mac.