The fastest way to capture your screen depends on what device you're using
A screenshot is a picture of what's on your screen right now. On Windows, the quickest method is pressing Print Screen or Windows key + Shift + S. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen or Command + Shift + 4 to select just part of it. On Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is usually where F5 would be on a regular keyboard). Each method saves the image somewhere different, and knowing where to find it matters more than knowing the shortcut.
The reason there are multiple ways to do this is that different methods give you different control. Some let you grab just one window. Some let you draw a box around the exact area you want. Some open an editor right away so you can mark it up. The method you pick depends on whether you need the whole screen, part of it, or whether you want to edit it before saving.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Print Screen copies the whole screen to your clipboard; Windows key + Shift + S lets you select just the part you want and opens an editor.
- Mac Command + Shift + 3 captures the whole screen; Command + Shift + 4 lets you draw a box around the area you need.
- Chromebook Ctrl + Show Windows captures the whole screen and saves it to your Downloads folder automatically.
- Screenshots go to different places depending on your method — the clipboard, your Downloads folder, or your Desktop — so know where to look before you take one.
- All three systems let you edit or annotate the screenshot right after you take it, though the process is different on each device.
How to screenshot on Windows
Windows gives you two main options. The first is Print Screen, which copies the entire screen to your clipboard. Press it once, then open any program that accepts images — Outlook, Word, Paint, even a text message — and press Ctrl + V to paste it. The image is not saved as a file; it only lives in your clipboard until you paste it or copy something else.
The second option is Windows key + Shift + S, which opens the Snip & Sketch tool. Your screen will dim and your cursor will change. Click and drag to draw a box around the exact area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, a small window pops up in the corner of your screen showing the screenshot. From there you can annotate it with a pen or highlighter, crop it, or save it as a file. If you don't click anything in that window, the screenshot goes back to your clipboard after a few seconds.
If you want to capture just one window instead of the whole screen, press Alt + Print Screen. This copies only the active window — the one you're currently using — to your clipboard. It works the same way as regular Print Screen; you paste it into another program to use it.
How to screenshot on Mac
Mac has built-in shortcuts for different types of screenshots. Command + Shift + 3 captures your entire screen and saves it as a file on your Desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". The file appears immediately; you don't have to do anything else.
Command + Shift + 4 changes your cursor to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want. When you release the mouse, that screenshot saves to your Desktop the same way. If you press the spacebar while the crosshair is active, it switches to window-capture mode — move the crosshair over a window and click to capture just that window.
If you want to copy a screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it as a file, add Control to either shortcut. So Command + Control + Shift + 3 copies the whole screen to your clipboard, and Command + Control + Shift + 4 lets you select an area and copy it. After you copy it, paste it into Mail, Messages, or any other program the same way you would on Windows.
On newer Macs, you can also press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app, which gives you buttons to choose between full-screen capture, window capture, or recording video. This is the easiest method if you're not comfortable with keyboard shortcuts.
How to screenshot on Chromebook
Chromebooks have one main screenshot method. Press Ctrl + Show Windows. The Show Windows key is usually in the top row of your keyboard where the F5 key would be on a regular computer — it looks like a rectangle with lines inside it. When you press this combination, your entire screen is captured and saved automatically to your Downloads folder as a PNG file.
If you want to capture just part of your screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows instead. Your screen will dim and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want. When you release the mouse, that selection is saved to your Downloads folder.
Chromebooks do not copy screenshots to your clipboard by default. They always save as files. To find your screenshots, open the Files app and look in your Downloads folder. The files are named with the date and time, like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 14.30.45.png".
Where your screenshots are saved
On Windows, if you use Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen, the screenshot goes to your clipboard only — it is not saved as a file. You have to paste it somewhere to keep it. If you use Windows key + Shift + S, you get a few seconds to save it from the Snip & Sketch window, or it goes to your clipboard. If you click "Save" in that window, you choose where to save it.
On Mac, screenshots taken with Command + Shift + 3 or Command + Shift + 4 go straight to your Desktop. You can move them to a folder later, or delete them if you don't need them. If you use the Control modifier, they go to your clipboard instead and you paste them into another program.
On Chromebook, all screenshots go to your Downloads folder automatically. Open the Files app, click Downloads on the left side, and you'll see all your screenshots listed there. You can move them to another folder, delete them, or right-click to rename them.
How to edit or mark up your screenshot right after taking it
On Windows, the Snip & Sketch tool opens automatically after you use Windows key + Shift + S. You'll see your screenshot in a window with a toolbar at the top. Click the pen icon to draw on it, the highlighter icon to highlight text, or the eraser icon to remove marks. When you're done, click "Save" to save it as a file, or close the window to discard your edits.
On Mac, press Command + Shift + 6 to open the Screenshot app after you've taken a screenshot. Your most recent screenshot appears in a thumbnail in the corner of your screen. Click that thumbnail to open the editing window, where you can use the markup tools to draw, add text, or sign it. Click "Done" when you're finished.
On Chromebook, right-click the screenshot in your Downloads folder and select "Open with" and then "Gallery" or "Photos". Both apps have basic editing tools. You can also drag the screenshot into Google Drive and use Google's built-in image editor to mark it up.
Troubleshooting screenshots that don't appear where you expect
If you pressed Print Screen on Windows and nothing seems to have happened, the screenshot is in your clipboard. Open Notepad, Word, Paint, or any program that accepts images and press Ctrl + V to paste it. If nothing pastes, try pressing Print Screen again — sometimes the first attempt doesn't register.
On Mac, if you don't see a screenshot on your Desktop, check your Downloads folder. Some older Macs save to Downloads by default instead. You can also press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Screenshot app and change where new screenshots are saved — look for "Options" in the menu bar.
On Chromebook, if you don't see your screenshot in Downloads, make sure you pressed the Show Windows key and not a different key. The Show Windows key is the one that looks like a rectangle with lines, not the back arrow or forward arrow. If you're still not finding it, open the Files app and search for "Screenshot" in the search box at the top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just one window?
Yes. On Windows, press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 4, then press the spacebar to switch to window-capture mode and click the window you want. On Chromebook, you have to use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows and draw a box around the window manually.
What if I need to screenshot something that's not visible on my screen right now?
You have to scroll to make it visible first, then take the screenshot. If you need to capture something that spans multiple screens — like a long webpage — use the built-in tools in your browser instead. Most browsers have a screenshot feature in the menu that can capture the entire page even if you can't see it all at once.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if I have multiple monitors?
On Windows, Print Screen captures all monitors at once. On Mac, Command + Shift + 3 captures all monitors. On Chromebook, Ctrl + Show Windows captures all monitors. If you want only one monitor, use the selection method instead (Windows key + Shift + S on Windows, Command + Shift + 4 on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows on Chromebook) and draw a box around just the monitor you need.
Where do I find my screenshots if I can't remember where I saved them?
On Windows, check your Desktop first, then your Pictures folder. If you used Print Screen, search your computer for recent PNG or JPG files. On Mac, check your Desktop and Downloads folder. On Chromebook, open the Files app and click Downloads. If you still can't find it, use the search box in the Files app to search for "Screenshot".
Can I take a screenshot without using the keyboard?
On Windows, open the Snipping Tool from your Start menu and click "New" to capture an area. On Mac, open the Screenshot app from Launchpad or Spotlight search. On Chromebook, you cannot take a screenshot without a keyboard shortcut — the feature is keyboard-only.