The fastest way: Ctrl + Show Windows

On a Samsung Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows at the same time. The Show Windows key is in the top row of your keyboard — it looks like a rectangle with lines through it, usually where the F5 key would be on a regular computer. Your entire screen will be captured and saved to your Downloads folder as a PNG file.

The screenshot happens silently with no confirmation message. If you want to check that it worked, open your Files app and look in Downloads. The file will be named something like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 10.32.45 AM.png" with the date and time you took it. This naming system makes it straightforward to find screenshots later, especially if you take many in a single day.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the rectangle key in the top row) to capture your entire screen when ready and save it to Downloads.
  • Screenshots save automatically as PNG files with the date and time in the filename, so you can identify them later.
  • If you need only part of the screen, use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select and capture a specific area with a crosshair.
  • A notification appears in the bottom right corner after you take a screenshot, letting you share or edit it when ready without opening Files.
  • Screenshots cannot be saved to a different folder by default, but you can move them after they are created.

Capturing just part of your screen

If you only need to capture a portion of the screen instead of the whole thing, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Your cursor will change to a crosshair, and you can click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture.

Release the mouse button when you have the area selected. The partial screenshot saves to Downloads the same way a full screenshot does. This is useful when you want to capture a single window, a conversation, or a specific part of a webpage without the clutter around it. You can be as precise as you need — the crosshair tool lets you select down to the pixel.

Finding and opening your screenshots

All screenshots go to your Downloads folder by default. Open the Files app (the folder icon in your taskbar), then click Downloads in the left sidebar. You will see all your screenshots listed with the most recent ones at the top.

Click any screenshot to open it in the image viewer. From there you can share it, print it, or move it to another folder. If you want to edit a screenshot before sharing — to crop it, add text, or highlight something — right-click it and choose to open it with a drawing or editing app if you have one installed. Google Chromebooks come with basic drawing tools built in, so you may not need to install anything extra.

Using the notification to share right away

When you take a screenshot, a small notification appears in the bottom right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Click that notification and a menu opens with options to share the screenshot or edit it.

This is the fastest way to send a screenshot to someone when ready. You can share it via Gmail, Google Drive, or any other app you have installed. If you miss the notification, the screenshot is still in your Downloads folder — you have not lost it. The notification only disappears from view; the file itself stays saved.

Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work

If Ctrl + Show Windows does nothing, make sure you are not in full-screen mode in a web app or game. Some full-screen applications block the keyboard shortcut. Press Escape to exit full-screen mode, then try the screenshot again.

If you still have no luck, restart your Chromebook. Keyboard shortcuts occasionally stop responding until you reboot. After restart, the Ctrl + Show Windows shortcut should work normally. If screenshots still fail after a restart, your Chromebook may need a system update — check Settings > About ChromeOS to see if an update is waiting. Updates sometimes fix keyboard and input issues.

Understanding PNG format and file size

Screenshots on Samsung Chromebooks save as PNG files, which is a standard image format that works with any image viewer or editor. PNG files are smaller than some other formats like BMP and preserve image quality without any loss of detail.

The file size of a screenshot depends on your screen resolution and what is displayed. A full-screen screenshot typically ranges from 100 kilobytes to a few megabytes. This small size makes screenshots straightforward to email, upload, or store without taking up much space on your Chromebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just one window?

Use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select a specific area, then draw a rectangle around just the window you need. This is more precise than trying to capture the whole screen and crop it later. The crosshair cursor lets you be exact about where your selection starts and stops.

Where do screenshots go if I do not see them in Downloads?

Open the Files app and make sure you are looking in the Downloads folder, not another location. If the folder is empty, check that you actually pressed Ctrl + Show Windows — there is no confirmation sound or message, so it is straightforward to miss. Try taking a screenshot again and watch the bottom right corner for the notification.

Can I change where screenshots are saved?

No — Chromebooks always save screenshots to the Downloads folder. You can move them to another folder after they are taken, but the default location cannot be changed in settings. This is a built-in behavior of Chrome OS.

Can I take a screenshot of a video or streaming content?

Most streaming services and protected video content will not appear in screenshots — the screenshot will show a black box where the video is playing. This is a protection built into those services to prevent unauthorized copying. You can still screenshot the rest of the page or window around the video.

What should I do if the Show Windows key is broken or missing?

If your Show Windows key is damaged, you can use the on-screen keyboard to take screenshots. Open Settings, go to Accessibility, and turn on the on-screen keyboard. Then click the Show Windows key on the screen while holding Ctrl. This works the same way as pressing the physical key.