The fastest way to capture your screen depends on what device you use
A screenshot is a picture of whatever is showing on your screen right now. You take one by pressing a specific key or key combination — the method changes depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Chromebook. The screenshot saves to a folder on your device, and you can then paste it into an email, document, or message. Most people need a screenshot to show someone else a problem, share information from a website, or keep a record of something on screen.
The good news is that every device has a built-in screenshot tool you do not have to download or pay for. You do not need any special software. The steps below walk you through the method for your device.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, press the Windows key and the Print Screen key at the same time to capture your entire screen and save it automatically to your Pictures folder.
- On Mac, press Command, Shift, and 3 together to capture the whole screen, or Command, Shift, and 4 to select just the part you want.
- On Chromebook, press Ctrl and the Show Windows key (usually the key with four squares) at the same time, or Ctrl and Shift and Show Windows to capture just part of the screen.
- After you take a screenshot, it saves as an image file you can find, open, and share like any other picture on your device.
Taking a screenshot on Windows
The simplest method on Windows is to press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo) and Print Screen at the same time. Hold both keys down together for one second, then release. Your screen may flash briefly or dim for a moment — this means the screenshot was taken. The image saves automatically to your Pictures folder in a file called "Screenshot" followed by a number.
If you want to capture only part of your screen instead of the whole thing, use the Snipping Tool. Press the Windows key, type "Snip" and hit Enter. A small window opens with a button that says "New." Click it, then click and drag to draw a box around the part of the screen you want to capture. When you release the mouse, that section is captured and opens in the Snipping Tool window. From there you can save it, copy it, or share it.
If you have an older version of Windows and the Windows key method does not work, try pressing just the Print Screen key by itself. This copies the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file. You can then paste it into a document, email, or image editor by pressing Ctrl and V.
Taking a screenshot on Mac
On a Mac, press Command, Shift, and 3 all at the same time. You will hear a camera shutter sound, and the screenshot saves to your Desktop as a file with today's date in the name. This captures your entire screen.
If you only want to capture part of your screen, press Command, Shift, and 4 instead. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to capture, then release. The screenshot of just that area saves to your Desktop the same way.
You can also use the built-in Screenshot app for more control. Press Command, Shift, and 5 together. A toolbar appears at the bottom of your screen with options to capture the whole screen, a window, or a selected area. Choose what you want, then click "Capture." The screenshot appears as a thumbnail in the corner of your screen — click it to edit, crop, or share before it saves.
Taking a screenshot on Chromebook
On a Chromebook, press Ctrl and the Show Windows key at the same time. The Show Windows key usually has four small squares on it and is located in the top row of your keyboard, near where the F4 key would be on a regular keyboard. Your entire screen is captured and saves to your Downloads folder as a PNG image file.
To capture only part of your screen, press Ctrl, Shift, and the Show Windows key together. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want, then release. That section saves to your Downloads folder.
After you take a screenshot on a Chromebook, a notification appears in the bottom right corner showing a thumbnail of the image. You can click that thumbnail to open it, edit it, or share it right away. If you miss the notification, your screenshot is still in your Downloads folder and you can find it there anytime.
Where your screenshots are saved
On Windows, screenshots go to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. To find them, open File Explorer, click "Pictures" on the left side, then look for the Screenshots folder. On Mac, screenshots save to your Desktop by default, so you will see them right there. If you used the Screenshot app (Command-Shift-5), you can also change where they save before you capture — the toolbar has an "Options" menu.
On Chromebook, screenshots save to your Downloads folder. Click the Files app in your taskbar, then click Downloads on the left. Your screenshots appear there as image files you can open, move, or delete. If you want to move a screenshot to a different folder, right-click it and choose "Move to" or simply drag it where you want it.
What to do with your screenshot after you take it
Once you have a screenshot, you can use it in several ways. You can email it by opening your email, clicking the attachment button, and selecting the screenshot file from your Pictures, Desktop, or Downloads folder. You can paste it into a document by opening the document, pressing Ctrl and V (Windows) or Command and V (Mac), and the image appears. You can also share it on social media, messaging apps, or cloud storage the same way you would share any other image file.
If you need to edit your screenshot — to crop it, highlight part of it, or add text — you can open it in an image editor. On Windows, right-click the screenshot and choose "Open with Paint." On Mac, double-click it to open it in Preview, then use the tools in the toolbar to mark it up. On Chromebook, right-click and choose which app you want to use to open it. These built-in editors let you make simple changes without downloading anything new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just one window instead of the whole screen?
Yes. On Windows, use the Snipping Tool and drag a box around just the window you want. On Mac, press Command-Shift-4, then press the spacebar — your cursor changes to a camera, and you can click the window you want to capture. On Chromebook, press Ctrl-Shift-Show Windows and drag a box around the window.
What if my screenshot key does not work?
On Windows, make sure you are pressing the actual Windows key (with the logo) and not another key. If Print Screen still does not work, try opening the Snipping Tool instead. On Mac, check that you are holding Command (not Control) along with Shift and the number. On Chromebook, make sure you have the right key — it should have four small squares and be in the top row.
How do I copy a screenshot to paste it into an email or document?
On Windows, use the Snipping Tool, capture what you want, then press Ctrl and C to copy it. On Mac, take your screenshot normally, then press Command and C. On Chromebook, right-click the screenshot file and choose Copy, or open it and press Ctrl and C. Then open your email or document and press Ctrl and V (or Command and V on Mac) to paste it.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if I have multiple monitors?
On Windows, pressing Windows key and Print Screen captures all monitors at once and saves them as one image. On Mac, Command-Shift-3 captures all screens. On Chromebook, Ctrl and Show Windows captures everything visible. If you only want one monitor, use the selection tool instead (Shift-4 on Mac, Ctrl-Shift-Show Windows on Chromebook).
Where do I find my screenshots if I cannot remember where they saved?
On Windows, open File Explorer and click Pictures, then look for the Screenshots folder. On Mac, check your Desktop first — most screenshots appear there. On Chromebook, open the Files app and click Downloads. If you still cannot find it, use your device's search function: press Ctrl and F on Windows or Chromebook, or Command and spacebar on Mac, then type "screenshot."