The three main ways to capture your screen on Linux

Linux gives you three straightforward paths to capture what's on your screen: built-in tools that come with your desktop environment, standalone programs you can install, or command-line tools if you prefer typing. Which one you use depends on what you're capturing (a single window, a region, or video), what desktop you're running (GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, or others), and whether you want the simplest option or the most control.

Most people start with their desktop's built-in screenshot tool because it's already there and requires no setup. If you need something more powerful — like capturing video, editing before you save, or scheduling captures — you'll install a separate program. Command-line tools exist for automation and scripting, but you don't need them for everyday use.

Key Takeaways

  • GNOME, KDE, and most other Linux desktops include a screenshot tool you access through your system menu or by pressing Print Screen or Shift+Print Screen.
  • Flameshot and Spectacle are popular standalone programs that let you annotate, blur, or edit screenshots before saving, and work across different desktop environments.
  • SimpleScreenRecorder and OBS Studio record video of your screen, with OBS offering more advanced features like multiple sources and streaming.
  • The command-line tools gnome-screenshot and scrot exist for automation, but the graphical tools are faster for one-off captures.

Using your desktop's built-in screenshot tool

Every major Linux desktop environment includes a screenshot program. On GNOME (used by Ubuntu, Fedora, and others), press Print Screen to capture your entire screen, Shift+Print Screen to select a region, or Alt+Print Screen to capture only the active window. A small notification appears in the corner; click it to open the screenshot in your default image viewer or copy it to your clipboard.

On KDE Plasma (used by Kubuntu, Fedora KDE, and others), press Print Screen to open the Spectacle tool, which lets you choose between full screen, active window, or a region you draw. You can annotate the screenshot with lines and text before saving. Cinnamon (Linux Mint) uses a similar approach: Print Screen opens a menu where you select what to capture.

These built-in tools save screenshots to your Pictures folder by default, though you can change the location in settings. They're fast, require no installation, and handle the most common task — capturing a window or region — without extra steps. The trade-off is limited editing: you can't blur sensitive information or add annotations without opening a separate image editor.

Flameshot for annotated screenshots with more control

Flameshot is a standalone program that works on any Linux desktop and gives you more options than the built-in tools. Install it through your package manager: on Ubuntu or Debian, run sudo apt install flameshot; on Fedora, run sudo dnf install flameshot; on Arch, run sudo pacman -S flameshot. Once installed, you can set it to launch when you press Print Screen, or open it from your applications menu.

When you launch Flameshot, your screen dims and you draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. A toolbar appears with options to draw lines, add text, blur regions, highlight areas, or undo. You can save to a file, copy to your clipboard, or open in an image editor. Flameshot also lets you set a delay before capture (useful for capturing menus that disappear) and upload directly to an image hosting service if you need to share quickly.

Flameshot is lighter than full image editors and faster than taking a screenshot then opening GIMP to annotate it. It's particularly useful if you regularly need to blur passwords, highlight UI elements, or add arrows pointing to specific parts of your screen.

Recording video with SimpleScreenRecorder or OBS Studio

If you need to record video of your screen rather than capture a still image, SimpleScreenRecorder is the easiest starting point. Install it with sudo apt install simplescreenrecorder on Ubuntu/Debian or sudo dnf install simplescreenrecorder on Fedora. Open it, choose your screen or a specific window, set the output folder and video quality, then click Record. When you're done, click Stop and the video saves as an MP4 file.

SimpleScreenRecorder handles audio from your microphone or system sound, lets you choose your video codec and resolution, and shows a live preview of what's being recorded. It's designed for straightforward screen recording without a steep learning curve. The downside is limited features: you can't record multiple sources at once or stream to a platform like Twitch.

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is more powerful but requires more setup. Install it with sudo apt install obs-studio on Ubuntu/Debian or sudo dnf install obs-studio on Fedora. OBS lets you combine your screen, webcam, and audio into a single recording, add overlays, switch between scenes, and stream live to YouTube or Twitch. It's overkill for a simple screen recording but essential if you're creating tutorials, streaming gameplay, or producing video content.

Command-line tools for automation and scripting

If you write scripts or need to automate screenshots, command-line tools let you capture without opening a graphical program. gnome-screenshot is built into GNOME and works from the terminal: gnome-screenshot -f filename.png captures the full screen and saves it as filename.png, while gnome-screenshot -w captures only the active window. Add -d 3 to delay 3 seconds before capturing.

scrot is a lightweight alternative that works on any desktop. Install it with sudo apt install scrot, then run scrot screenshot.png to capture the full screen. Use scrot -s to select a region with your mouse, or scrot -d 5 screenshot.png to wait 5 seconds before capturing. These tools are useful in shell scripts or cron jobs, but most people won't need them for everyday use.

Choosing the right tool for your situation

Start with your desktop's built-in tool if you just need a quick screenshot of a window or region. It's already installed, launches instantly, and requires no configuration. Use Flameshot if you regularly annotate screenshots, blur sensitive information, or need to add text and shapes. Install SimpleScreenRecorder if you record screen video occasionally, or OBS Studio if you create content regularly or stream.

The command-line tools exist for specific workflows — automation, batch processing, or integration with scripts — but they're not necessary for typical use. Most people end up using their desktop's built-in tool 90% of the time and installing Flameshot or SimpleScreenRecorder when they need something more specific.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots save by default on Linux?

Most desktops save to your Pictures folder, usually located at /home/username/Pictures. You can change this in your screenshot tool's settings. Some tools let you choose the location each time you save, while others use a fixed folder.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window?

Yes. On GNOME, press Alt+Print Screen. On KDE, open Spectacle and select "Active Window" from the menu. Flameshot and other standalone tools let you draw a rectangle around any window or region you want to capture.

How do I record my screen with audio on Linux?

SimpleScreenRecorder and OBS Studio both capture audio from your microphone or system sound. In SimpleScreenRecorder, check the audio input options before you start recording. In OBS, add an audio input source in the Sources panel and adjust levels in the mixer.

What's the difference between a screenshot and a screen recording?

A screenshot is a single still image of what's on your screen at one moment. A screen recording is a video file that captures everything that happens on your screen over time, usually with audio. Use screenshots for documentation or bug reports; use recordings for tutorials or demonstrations.

Do I need to install anything to take a basic screenshot?

No. Every Linux desktop includes a screenshot tool built in. Press Print Screen or Shift+Print Screen and your desktop captures the screen without any additional software. You only need to install programs like Flameshot or OBS if you want features beyond basic capture.