The quickest way to capture your screen on a Samsung laptop

On a Samsung laptop running Windows, press Print Screen (often labeled PrtScn) to capture your entire screen, or press Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot tool and select just the area you want. The Print Screen method copies the image to your clipboard so you can paste it into an email, document, or image editor. The Windows key + Shift + S method lets you draw a box around what you want to capture before it saves.

If your Samsung laptop is running Chrome OS instead of Windows, use Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on a standard keyboard) to capture the full screen, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to capture a selected area.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen alone to copy your entire screen to the clipboard, then paste it into any document or image editor.
  • Press Windows key + Shift + S to open a tool that lets you draw a box around just the part of the screen you want to capture.
  • Screenshots taken with Print Screen go to your clipboard and disappear if you copy something else, so paste them right away or they will be lost.
  • The Windows Snipping Tool (search for "Snipping Tool" in your Start menu) offers more options like drawing freehand shapes or adding notes before saving.
  • On Chrome OS, use Ctrl + Show Windows instead, since Chrome OS does not have a Print Screen key.

Using Print Screen for a full-screen capture

The Print Screen key is the simplest method if you want to capture everything on your screen at once. Locate the Print Screen key on your keyboard—it is usually in the upper right area, sometimes labeled PrtScn or PrtSc. Press it once. Nothing visible will happen, but the image is now copied to your clipboard.

Open the program where you want to paste the screenshot. This could be Microsoft Word, Paint, Gmail, a messaging app, or any other program that accepts images. Right-click and select Paste, or press Ctrl + V. The screenshot will appear. If you are using Paint or a similar image editor, you can then crop, annotate, or save the image as a file.

One important limitation: Print Screen copies to your clipboard, which is temporary storage. If you copy text, cut a file, or copy anything else before you paste the screenshot, the screenshot will be replaced and you will lose it. Paste when ready after taking the screenshot to avoid this.

Using Windows key + Shift + S to select a specific area

If you only want to capture part of your screen, press Windows key + Shift + S together. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Use your mouse or trackpad to click and drag a box around the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button when you have selected the region.

A small notification will appear in the lower right corner of your screen saying the screenshot was copied. Click that notification to open it in the screenshot editor, where you can crop, draw on it, or add text before saving. You can also paste it directly into a document the same way you would with Print Screen—just press Ctrl + V in any program that accepts images.

This method is faster than Print Screen if you are capturing a small window or a specific part of the screen, because you do not have to open an editor and crop it yourself. The selection tool also works on multiple monitors, so you can capture from whichever screen you need.

Saving a screenshot as a file instead of copying it

If you want the screenshot saved as an actual file on your computer rather than just copied to your clipboard, use the Windows Snipping Tool. Search for "Snipping Tool" in your Start menu and open it. Click New to start a capture, then drag a box around the area you want. The image will open in the Snipping Tool window.

From there, click File and then Save As to save the screenshot with a name and location of your choice. You can save it as a PNG, JPG, or GIF file. The Snipping Tool also lets you draw freehand on the screenshot, highlight areas, or erase parts before saving, which is useful if you want to annotate or redact information.

Alternatively, after using Windows key + Shift + S to capture an area, click the notification that appears and then click the save icon (it looks like a floppy disk) in the screenshot editor. This will open a dialog where you can choose where to save the file and what to name it.

Taking a screenshot on a Samsung Chromebook

If your Samsung laptop is a Chromebook running Chrome OS, the screenshot process is different because Chromebooks do not have a Print Screen key. Instead, press Ctrl + Show Windows to capture your entire screen. The Show Windows key is usually located where the F5 key would be on a standard keyboard—it shows a row of rectangles.

To capture only part of the screen on a Chromebook, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Your cursor will change to a crosshair and you can drag a box around the area you want. The screenshot will be saved to your Downloads folder automatically as a PNG file.

You can also open the Files app on your Chromebook, right-click in an empty area, and select Take a screenshot from the menu. This opens the same selection tool and saves the file to your Downloads folder.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then assuming the screenshot was saved as a file. It was not—it only went to your clipboard. If you do not paste it within a few seconds, or if you copy something else first, it will be gone. Always paste right away, or use the Snipping Tool method if you want a saved file.

Another mistake is trying to use Print Screen on a Chromebook. Chromebooks do not have a Print Screen key, so that will not work. Use Ctrl + Show Windows instead. If you are not sure whether your Samsung laptop is running Windows or Chrome OS, look at the bottom left corner of your screen—if you see the Windows logo, it is Windows; if you see "Chrome OS" or a Chrome logo, it is a Chromebook.

A third mistake is capturing a screenshot and then closing the program you wanted to paste it into before pasting. Once you close the program, the clipboard may be cleared. Take the screenshot, then when ready open or switch to the program where you want to paste it.

Using built-in screenshot tools in specific programs

Many programs have their own screenshot or capture tools built in. If you are using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, you can right-click on any part of the page and select Take a screenshot or Capture screenshot. This will let you select an area or capture the full page, and the browser will save it automatically.

Microsoft OneNote has a Screen Clipping tool under the Insert menu that lets you capture part of your screen and paste it directly into your notes. Slack, Discord, and other messaging apps often have screenshot buttons built into their interfaces as well. If you use a program regularly for work or school, check its menu to see if it has a built-in capture tool—it may be faster than using the system-wide methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots go when I press Print Screen?

They go to your clipboard, which is temporary storage in your computer's memory. You must paste the screenshot into a program (like Word, Paint, or an email) within a few seconds, or it will be lost if you copy something else. To save it as a file, use the Snipping Tool or paste it into an image editor and save from there.

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

Yes. Press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the window that is currently active (the one you are using). This copies to your clipboard just like regular Print Screen. Alternatively, use Windows key + Shift + S and drag a box around just the window you want.

What if my Print Screen key does not work?

Some Samsung laptops have Print Screen combined with another function on the same key. Try pressing Fn + Print Screen together. If that does not work, use Windows key + Shift + S instead, which works on all Windows laptops. You can also open the Snipping Tool from your Start menu and use that instead.

How do I take a screenshot on a Samsung phone instead of a laptop?

On most Samsung phones, press the Power button + Volume Down button at the same time and hold for a moment. The screenshot will be saved to your Photos app. On some older Samsung models, you may need to press Power + Home instead. Check your phone's settings or manual if those do not work.

Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?

Yes. If you use Windows key + Shift + S, a notification appears in the lower right corner—click it to open the screenshot editor, where you can crop, draw, or add text. If you use Print Screen, paste the image into Paint or another image editor to edit it. The Snipping Tool also has built-in editing options before you save.