The fastest way: keyboard shortcut

Press Ctrl + Show Windows to capture your entire screen. The Show Windows key is the one that looks like a rectangle with lines — it's where F5 would be on a regular keyboard. Your screenshot saves automatically to the Downloads folder as a PNG file with a timestamp in the filename, like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 10.32.45 AM.png".

If you only want part of the screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows instead. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want, then release. That partial screenshot also saves to Downloads with its own timestamp.

Both methods work the same way whether you're using Chrome OS on a Chromebook, a Chromebox, or even Chrome on another operating system — the Show Windows key is the consistent trigger across all Chrome devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Ctrl + Show Windows captures your full screen; Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows lets you select just part of it.
  • Screenshots save automatically to your Downloads folder as PNG files with the date and time in the filename.
  • You can open the Files app and navigate to Downloads to find, rename, or move your screenshots.
  • If you need to record video instead of a still image, Chrome OS has a built-in screen recording tool in the same menu.
  • Third-party apps like Lightshot or Gyroflow Toolbox offer more editing options, but the built-in method requires no installation.

Finding and managing your screenshots

After you take a screenshot, a notification appears in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click that notification to open the file immediately, or ignore it and find the file later in your Downloads folder. Open the Files app (the folder icon in your shelf), click Downloads on the left side, and you'll see all your screenshots listed by date.

From the Files app, you can rename a screenshot by right-clicking it and selecting "Rename", move it to a different folder by dragging it, or delete it by right-clicking and selecting "Delete". If you want to share a screenshot directly, right-click it and choose "Share" — Chrome OS will show you which apps can receive it.

Editing a screenshot before you save it

When you first take a screenshot using the keyboard shortcut, a small preview thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner for a few seconds. Click that thumbnail to open the screenshot in a basic editor. You can draw on it with a pen tool, highlight areas, add text, or erase parts of it.

Once you're done editing, click the checkmark or press Enter to save your changes. The edited version replaces the original file in Downloads. If you close the editor without saving, your changes are discarded and the original screenshot stays as it was.

This built-in editor is useful for quick annotations — circling something important or blurring out sensitive information — but it's not a full design tool. For more advanced editing like resizing, cropping to exact dimensions, or applying filters, you'll need to open the screenshot in a different app.

Using the Chrome OS screen recording tool

If you need to record video of your screen instead of taking a still image, Chrome OS includes a screen recorder. Press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows to start recording. A small control panel appears at the bottom of your screen showing a red record button and a timer. Your recording captures everything on screen, including audio from your speakers and microphone if you allow it.

To stop recording, click the stop button in the control panel or press the same keyboard shortcut again. The video saves to your Downloads folder as an MP4 file, just like screenshots save as PNG. You can then open it in any video player or upload it directly to email, messaging apps, or cloud storage.

Third-party screenshot apps and when to use them

The Chrome Web Store has several screenshot and screen recording apps available. Lightshot is one of the most popular — it adds a button to your toolbar and lets you capture, edit, and annotate screenshots with more options than the built-in editor. Gyroflow Toolbox is designed for recording and stabilizing video. Both are free to install and use.

You don't need a third-party app for basic screenshots. The built-in method is faster and doesn't require installation. Use a third-party app only if you need features the built-in tool doesn't have — like uploading directly to a cloud service, applying effects, or recording with custom settings.

To install any of these apps, open the Chrome Web Store from your app drawer or by searching "Chrome Web Store" in the launcher. Search for the app you want, click it, and select "Add to Chrome". The app will appear in your app drawer and usually add a button to your toolbar.

Troubleshooting: screenshot didn't save or keyboard shortcut isn't working

If you pressed the keyboard shortcut but nothing happened, check whether your Chromebook's keyboard layout matches what you tried. Some Chromebooks, especially international models, have different key labels. The Show Windows key is always in the top row where function keys would be on a regular keyboard — look for the rectangle-with-lines icon. If your keyboard doesn't have that key, check your Chromebook's manual or search the model number plus "keyboard layout" to find the correct key.

If the shortcut worked but you can't find your screenshot, open the Files app and make sure you're looking in the Downloads folder. Screenshots always save there by default. If Downloads is empty, check whether your Chromebook's storage is full — if you're out of space, the screenshot may not have saved. You can check storage by opening Settings, clicking "Device" on the left, then "Storage management".

If you're using a Chromebook at work or school, your administrator may have disabled the screenshot feature. Try the keyboard shortcut — if nothing happens and you see no notification, contact your IT support or school tech team to ask whether screenshots are blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just one window instead of the whole screen?

The built-in Chromebook screenshot tool doesn't have a "window only" option. Use Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to select just the part of the screen you need, or take a full screenshot and crop it afterward in an image editor. Some third-party apps like Lightshot do offer a window-capture mode if you need that feature regularly.

Where do screenshots go if I'm using a Chromebook at school or work?

Screenshots save to your Downloads folder on the Chromebook itself, not to a cloud service or shared drive. If your school or workplace has set up Google Drive or another cloud storage, you can manually move screenshots there by opening Files, right-clicking the screenshot, and selecting "Move to" or "Copy to". Your administrator may also have policies about where files must be stored.

Can I take a screenshot if my screen is locked?

No. The screenshot keyboard shortcut only works when your Chromebook is unlocked and you're logged in. If your screen is locked, you'll need to unlock it first. This is a security feature — it prevents someone with physical access to your Chromebook from capturing your login screen or other sensitive information.

What format are Chromebook screenshots saved in, and can I change it?

Screenshots save as PNG files, which is a lossless format that preserves image quality. Chrome OS doesn't have a built-in option to change the format to JPG or another type. If you need a different format, open the PNG in an image editor and export it as JPG or another format, or use a third-party screenshot app that offers format options.

Can I take a screenshot of something that's scrolled off the screen?

No. The built-in screenshot tool captures only what's currently visible on your screen. If you need to capture a long webpage or document, you can take multiple screenshots and stitch them together, or use a browser extension designed for full-page screenshots. Some third-party apps in the Chrome Web Store offer this feature.