Once in a while, you may need to save a picture or piece of information to reference later, share with someone or add to an informative article like this one. One of the easiest ways to do this is taking a screenshot.
Knowing how to screenshot on Mac, Windows, Linux and other operating environments — and on mobile operating systems, like iOS and Android — lets you take advantage of this convenient feature on any device.
How to Take a Screenshot
From desktop computers to laptops to phones, here’s how to take a screenshot on pretty much any device and operating system.
Mac
Here’s how to screenshot on MacOS.
To Capture the Entire Screen
Step 1: Press and hold three keys together: Shift+Command+3.
Step 2: You will see a thumbnail on the corner of your screen. Click on that to edit the screenshot.
Step 3: If you don’t want to edit it, wait for the screenshot to save automatically to your desktop.
To Capture a Portion of the Screen
Step 1: Press and hold three keys together: Shift+Command+4.
Step 2: Now drag the crosshair to select the area you want to capture. If you want to move the selection, hold the spacebar and drag it.
Step 3: Press the Esc key to cancel taking the screenshot.
A combination of the Shift, Command and number keys. Source
To Capture a Window or Menu
Step 1: Press and hold three keys together: Shift+Command+4. Then press the spacebar.
Step 2: Once your cursor turns into a camera icon, hover it over the window or menu you want to capture in the screenshot.
Step 3: The selected window or menu will be highlighted in blue.
Step 4: Click on it to successfully take the screenshot.
Mojave, Big Sur, Catalina and Monterey users can also take advantage of the built-in screenshot menu. Here’s how:
Step 1: Press and hold three keys together: Shift+Command+5.
Step 2: The screenshot menu will appear on the bottom, displaying several options.
Step 3: Choose an option depending on the type of screenshot you want.
In addition to these methods, third-party tools like Snagit, Scribe, Cleanshot X, Snappy and Skitch can take screenshots on Mac.
Windows / PC
There are a few ways to take a screenshot on Windows.
Print Screen
Step 1: Tap on the PrtScn (print screen) key. You can find this on the right corner of the keyboard.
Step 2: Your screenshot will be copied to the clipboard.
Step 3: You can open an image editing tool like Microsoft Paint or Word.
Step 4: Paste the screenshot and save it.
One challenge with taking a screenshot this way is that you’ll capture the entire page on the monitor, including the app icons, date, time and any other tabs and notifications on the screen. If you are using a multi-monitor arrangement, everything on all screens is captured in the screenshot, which you may not want.
To avoid this, the Windows 10s 2019 update and its subsequent versions offer users a Snip & Sketch toolbar. Here’s how that works:
Snip & Sketch
Step 1: Press three keys: Windows+Shift+S. You can also find the tool in your search bar.
Step 2: A tiny menu will appear on your screen. Choose from any option.
Step 3: Once you take the screenshot, it will get saved to the clipboard. The screenshot will appear in the form of a notification in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 4: Click the notification and open the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app.
Snip & Sketch tool in the Microsoft Store App.
Snipping Tool
The tool is delisted from the apps in the “Start” menu, but you can find it easily via the search bar. Here’s how you can use it:
Step 1: Click on the “New” button.
Step 2: The default snip is rectangular, but you can choose to take full-screen or free-form screenshots.
Step 3: After selecting what you want to capture, manually save it before you exit the tool.
Linux
Linux lets you take screenshots in multiple ways. Here are some options if you are using Linux Ubuntu:
- To take a full screenshot, simply press PrtSc on your keyboard.
- To capture a part of your screen, press Shift+PrtSc. A crosshair will appear, which allows you to select any part of the screen you want.
- To capture any window, open the window and then press Alt+PrtSc.
You don’t have to manually save the screenshots — they’re automatically saved in the “Pictures” folder.
Dell Computers & Laptops
Here’s how to screenshot on Dell laptops and computers:
Taking a screenshot on a Dell using the PrtSc key. Source
Step 1: Press the PrtScn button.
Step 2: Open the Paint application or whichever tool you want to use for editing the picture.
Step 3: Paste the screenshot using Ctrl+V.
Step 4: Save the file.
ChromeBook
Google devices have a screenshot tool that allows you to capture pictures and video on your screen. Here are two ways to do it:
Using the Keyboard
- If your ChromeBook has a screenshot key, press it.
- If your ChromeBook doesn’t have a screenshot key, press Ctrl+Show windows. If you only want to capture a portion of your screen, add the Shift key to this command. A crosshair icon will appear that allows you to select the part you want to screenshot.
Using the Quick Settings Menu
Step 1: Using your mouse, click on the clock in the lower-right corner.
Step 2: Now click on the Screen Capture icon. The icon looks like a circle inside of a square.
Step 3: A small menu will pop up with several options. Select any you want to capture the screenshot.
Keys to press to screenshot on a ChromeBook. Source
Android
Learning how to take a screenshot on your Android phone may be slightly tricky as the commands may differ from one phone brand or model to another. However, one method generally applies to most Android devices. Press the Volume Down and Power buttons together, and it will take a screenshot of whatever is on the screen.
Volume Down and Power buttons on Android. Source
You can also use Google Assistant’s voice command feature, which will automatically do the job for you. If you’re still unable to take a screenshot on your Android device, navigate to the pull-down settings menu from the top and touch the Screenshot icon.
Take Scrolling Screenshots
Phones running Android 12 or above offer this feature to capture an entire message thread or webpage. However, depending on the device’s brand or model, you may find them under different names. Here’s how to take scrolling screenshots:
Step 1: Take a screenshot like you usually would.
Step 2: Open the preview and touch the box with two arrows. In most Android models, this box is called “Capture more.”
Taking scrolling screenshots on Android 11 and later models. Source
Step 3: On the next screen, drag and cover the snapshot’s borders depending on how much area you want to keep.
Step 4: You can also edit it more using the floating pen icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. You can highlight on, draw on or add text to the image.
Step 5: Tap on Save.
These instructions should suffice with Android stock versions like the Google Pixel 6. If you’re using a OnePlus, Samsung or any other brand, you’ll see a slight variation in the steps.
On OnePlus phones, you can take scrolling screenshots using the “Expanded Screenshot” option. If you’re using Samsung OneUI, you’ll see two downward-pointing arrows next to the screenshot’s icon.
For people using Android 10 and older models, there are tons of third-party apps to download and grab scrolling screen captures.
Bonus: Record a Phone Screen
Step 1: Swipe down the top of your device’s screen twice. You’ll find a Screen Recorder option. If you can’t swipe down, swipe right to find the icon.
Step 2: Open the screen that you wish to record and click on “Start.” This will start the recording with a countdown timer running on the screen.
Step 3: Once you’re done recording, tap on “Stop” and swipe down at the top of the screen. The recording will automatically save on your device.
iPhone
If there’s a home button on your iPhone device, press it and the wake/sleep button at the same time to take the screenshot. You can then view it in the screenshot album or camera roll.
Taking a screenshot on iPhone 14. Source
If you have an iPhone X, 11, 12, 12 Pro, 13 Pro, mini, 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, or iPad Air and iPad Pro, you won’t be able to take a screenshot this way since these devices don’t have a home button. If you want to take a screenshot on one of these devices, press the volume up and side button on the right of the device’s screen together.
If you use an iPadOS with an Apple pencil, you can use the drawing tool to take a screenshot. From the device’s bottom corner, swipe up using the pencil, and voilà! You’ll have the screenshot.
Take Scrolling Screenshots
People using iOS 14 and newer models get access to an in-built scrolling screen capture feature that you’d otherwise need a third-party tool to capture. Here’s how it works:
Taking scrolling screenshots on iOS 14 and the latest iPhones. Source
Step 1: Open the page where you want to take a scrolling screen capture.
Step 2: Press the power and volume up buttons simultaneously like you would to take a screenshot.
Step 3: Touch the floating thumbnail on the bottom left corner of your screen.
Step 4: Next, move to the “Full Page” tab to complete the process.
Your iPhone may take a few seconds to scan based on the page length you’ve captured.
Once that’s done, you should be able to view and scroll through the page within the screenshot feature. It also lets you doodle on the image, add text to it or crop it.
iPad
Some iPads have a home button and others don’t. Here’s how to take a screenshot with either model:
With the Home Button
Step 1: Press the home and the top buttons simultaneously.
Step 2: Quickly release them.
Step 3: You’ll see a thumbnail on the lower left part of your device’s screen. Click on it to view your screenshot.
Without the Home Button
Step 1: Press the volume up and top buttons together. Release them and you’ll see a thumbnail on the lower-left part of the screen.
Step 2: Tap on it to view the screenshot.
Pressing Home and top buttons together to capture a screenshot. Source
In both cases, you can also find the screenshot in the Albums section of your iPad.
Apple Watch
Taking screenshots on your wearable devices is helpful, but you’ll need to enable some features first. There are two ways to do this:
Using your iPhone
Step 1: Navigate to the “My Watch” tab on the Watch app.
Step 2: Click on “General.”
Step 3: Scroll down and toggle the “Enable Screenshots” option. (This setting will be green when turned on and gray when turned off.)
Using the iWatch
Step 1: Open “Settings” on your Apple Watch.
Step 2: Tap on “General” and then “Screenshots.”
Step 3: Toggle on the slider next to the “Enable Screenshots” option on your device.
Taking High-Quality Screenshots
Keep these tips in mind to up your screenshot game.
Consider the Screenshot’s Purpose
Does the screenshot support a tutorial? Or have you captured it to share it with your friends and family? Considering the purpose behind the screenshot is the right approach toward taking helpful and high-quality snaps.
Think of an instance where you’ve implemented new software in your organization and want to create a tutorial for it.
You may want to add a snap of the application’s full screen or highlight a specific feature or icon for readers. While sharing an out-of-office screenshot with your teammates, you may want to be particular about the part of the screen you wish to share or conceal.
Avoid Sharing Private Information
We often keep personal details like email addresses, contact details and Slack chat windows open on our laptop screens. More sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and IDs, must be concealed at all times.
Make sure to thoroughly check your screenshot area and double-check before sharing it. If the screen contains private information, blur or crop it out.
Beware of Auto-Upload
Several third-party screen capture tools such as Droplr and Lightshot provide auto- or one-click upload features. This inclusion is handy when you want to capture and quickly share with someone on your team. However, a privacy breach outweighs sharing convenience.
Consider the Layout
Imagine you want to point out a pop-up or software bug. In such scenarios, it’s best to crop and add a pointer instead of sharing the entire screen.
On the contrary, there may be instances where you need to capture the entire screen for context. It’s up to you to decide what works best based on the purpose and situation.
FAQ
To take a screenshot on a Mac and save it to the clipboard, use the keyboard shortcut Control-Shift-Command-3. This will capture a screenshot of your entire screen and save it to the clipboard.
Yes, you can take a picture of your screen and edit it immediately. Press Shift+Command+5 on your keyboard, and it’ll take a picture of your screen and open it in the Preview app, where you can edit it.
To take a picture of your screen and share it with someone, press Shift+Command+5 on your keyboard, then click on the Share button. You can share it through email, Messages and other options.
Yes, Skitch, Snagit and Lightshot are some apps that let you take and edit pictures of your screen on a Mac. These tools offer extra features compared to built-in annotation and editing tools.
To take a screenshot on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, press the Power and Volume-Down buttons at the same time.
To take a screenshot of the whole web page on Mac, press Shift+Command+5 to open the screen control panel and click on the full screenshot icon.
To take a scrolling screenshot on Snagit, select the All-In-One tab in the capture window and click the Capture button (camera icon). When an orange crosshair appears, click and drag it to the area of your page screen, then click the Scrolling Capture button. Scroll through the page and click Done to finish taking the screenshot.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these screenshotting shortcuts are helpful. By now, you should know how to take a screenshot on any of your devices. A plethora of third-party apps are available online that let you take and edit screenshots if you need other options.
How do you take your screenshots? Are there any devices we missed? Let us know in the comments!
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