The fastest way depends on your device
On Windows, press Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot tool. Your screen will dim and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want, then release. The captured image goes to your clipboard — paste it into an email, document, or image editor with Ctrl + V.
On Mac, press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select your area, then release. The image saves to your desktop as a file named "Screenshot" with today's date. You can also press Shift + Command + 5 to get more options, including the ability to record video or set a timer before capturing.
On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Shift + Screenshot (the Screenshot key is usually in the top row). A menu appears with options to capture the whole screen or select a region. Choose "Region" and drag to select your area.
Key Takeaways
- Windows, Mac, and Chromebook all have built-in tools that let you select a rectangular area without installing anything.
- On Windows, the screenshot tool copies to your clipboard so you can paste immediately into another program.
- On Mac, screenshots save as files to your desktop, and you can use Shift + Command + 5 for more control over where they go.
- All three systems let you drag to select exactly the area you need, rather than capturing the whole screen.
Where your partial screenshot goes after you capture it
Windows puts the image in your clipboard, which means it stays there until you paste it or copy something else. Open the program where you want it — an email, a document, a chat message — and press Ctrl + V. If you want to save it as a file instead, paste it into Paint (search for "Paint" in the Start menu), then go to File > Save As and choose a location and filename.
Mac saves the image directly to your desktop as a PNG file. The filename includes the date and time, so multiple screenshots won't overwrite each other. You can drag this file into an email, a document, or a folder. If you want it to go somewhere other than the desktop, use Shift + Command + 5 instead — a menu will appear with an "Options" dropdown where you can choose to save to Documents, Downloads, or another folder.
Chromebook also saves to your Downloads folder by default. You can find it by clicking the Files app in the taskbar, then clicking "Downloads" on the left. From there you can move it, rename it, or open it with an image editor.
Editing your partial screenshot before sharing
Windows 11 includes a built-in editor. After you take a screenshot with Windows key + Shift + S, a small notification appears in the bottom right corner. Click it to open the image in the Snipping Tool, where you can draw on it, add text, or crop it further before saving.
On Mac, you can edit right away. After taking a screenshot with Shift + Command + 4, a thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to open the image in the built-in markup tools, where you can draw, add text, magnify, or sign. Click "Done" when you finish, and the changes save to the file.
On Chromebook, right-click the screenshot file in your Downloads folder and choose "Open with" to pick an image editor. The built-in Gallery app lets you crop and rotate. For more detailed editing, you can use free online tools like Pixlr or Photopea by uploading the file.
Capturing a scrolling window or webpage
The standard screenshot tools on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook only capture what is visible on your screen at that moment. If you need to capture a long webpage or a document that extends below the fold, you have two options: take multiple screenshots and stitch them together, or use your browser's built-in tool.
In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, right-click anywhere on the page and select "Take a screenshot" or "Take screenshot" (the exact wording varies by browser). A menu appears with options to capture the visible area or the entire page. Choose "Entire page" and the browser will scroll through and capture everything, then let you download it as a PNG file.
Safari on Mac does not have this feature built in, but you can use the screenshot tool to capture the visible portion, scroll down, and take another screenshot, then combine them in an image editor. Alternatively, you can use a free browser extension like Full Page Screen Capture.
Sharing a partial screenshot without saving a file
On Windows, after you capture with Windows key + Shift + S, the image goes straight to your clipboard. Open your email, messaging app, or document and paste it with Ctrl + V. The image appears inline without you having to save it first. This works in Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Discord, Microsoft Word, and most other programs.
On Mac, you can do the same thing. Take your screenshot, then open the program where you want to share it and paste with Command + V. This works in Mail, Messages, Slack, and most web-based tools. If you are sharing in a web browser and pasting does not work, try dragging the screenshot thumbnail from the bottom right corner directly into the message box or upload field.
On Chromebook, the screenshot saves as a file, so you will need to either upload it through a file picker or drag it into a message or email. Open your email or messaging app, click the attachment or image button, and navigate to Downloads to find your screenshot.
Capturing part of your screen on a phone or tablet
On iPhone or iPad, press the Side button + Volume Up button at the same time (or Home + Top button on older models). The screenshot is saved to your Photos app. To capture just part of the screen, take the full screenshot, then open it in Photos, tap "Edit," and use the crop tool to select the area you want to keep.
On Android, press Power + Volume Down at the same time. The screenshot goes to your Photos or Gallery app. Some Android phones also let you long-press the Power button to open a menu with a "Screenshot" option. To crop to a specific area, open the screenshot in your gallery app, tap "Edit," and use the crop tool.
Both iPhone and Android let you share a screenshot directly from the notification that appears after you capture it, without saving it first. On iPhone, tap the thumbnail that appears in the bottom left corner. On Android, tap the notification that appears at the top of the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just one window?
On Windows, use Alt + Print Screen to copy only the active window to your clipboard, then paste it where you need it. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 4, then press the spacebar — your cursor will change to a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture. On Chromebook, there is no built-in option for this, but you can use the region tool and carefully select just the window.
What if I need to capture something that moves, like a video or animation?
A screenshot captures a single moment. If you need to record video instead, use the screen recording tools: on Windows, press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording in Xbox Game Bar. On Mac, use Shift + Command + 5 and choose the record option. On Chromebook, use Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Screenshot. These record everything that happens on your screen for as long as you let them run.
Why does my screenshot look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens when you are capturing text on a high-resolution display. Make sure you are using the native screenshot tool for your device rather than a third-party app, as the built-in tools handle scaling correctly. If the image still looks wrong, try zooming in on the area you want to capture before taking the screenshot, which gives the tool more pixels to work with.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire desktop, including multiple monitors?
On Windows, Windows key + Print Screen captures all monitors and saves the image to your Pictures folder. On Mac, Shift + Command + 3 captures all screens. On Chromebook with multiple displays, the standard screenshot tool captures all of them. If you want to capture only one monitor, use the region selection tool instead.