How to Take a Screenshot on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook (Every Method)
Every computer can take a screenshot with a keyboard shortcut, but the keys are different on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook. This guide covers every method on each system: full screen, a single window, or just the area you select. It also shows where each screenshot ends up.
Screenshot shortcuts at a glance
| What you want | Windows | Mac | Chromebook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select an area | Windows + Shift + S | Command + Shift + 4 | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows |
| Whole screen | Windows + Print Screen | Command + Shift + 3 | Ctrl + Show Windows |
| One window | Alt + Print Screen | Command + Shift + 4 then Space | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows |
| Screenshot toolbar / recording | Windows + Shift + S | Command + Shift + 5 | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows |
How to take a screenshot on Windows 10 and 11
| Shortcut | Keys | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Snipping Tool | Windows + Shift + S | Drag to capture an area, a window, or the full screen. Copies to the clipboard and shows a notification you can click to edit or save. |
| Full screen, saved | Windows + Print Screen | Screen dims briefly and saves a PNG to Pictures > Screenshots. |
| Full screen, clipboard | Print Screen | Copies the whole screen. Paste with Ctrl + V. On Windows 11 this may open Snipping Tool instead. |
| Active window | Alt + Print Screen | Copies only the window you're using to the clipboard. |
| Game Bar capture | Windows + Alt + Print Screen | Saves the active window to Videos > Captures. |
Tip: If you only remember one Windows shortcut, make it Windows + Shift + S. It does everything and lets you mark up the image before you share it. See more on our Windows keyboard shortcuts page.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac
| Shortcut | Keys | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Whole screen | Command + Shift + 3 | Saves the full screen to your Desktop. |
| Selected area | Command + Shift + 4 | Cursor turns into crosshairs. Drag to select, release to capture. |
| One window | Command + Shift + 4 then Space | Cursor turns into a camera. Click any window to capture it with a clean shadow. |
| Toolbar and screen recording | Command + Shift + 5 | Opens a toolbar with capture options, screen recording, a timer, and save location. |
| Copy instead of save | Command + Control + Shift + 4 | Adding Control to any shortcut copies to the clipboard instead of saving a file. |
Press Esc at any point to cancel a screenshot. More Mac shortcuts are on our Mac shortcuts page.
How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook
| Shortcut | Keys | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Full screen | Ctrl + Show Windows | Captures the entire screen and saves it to Downloads (or your chosen folder). |
| Screen capture menu | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows | Opens the capture toolbar: choose full screen, partial, or window, or switch to screen recording. |
| Tablet mode | Power + Volume Down | Takes a full-screen screenshot when the keyboard is folded away. |
After a capture, a preview appears in the corner and the image is also copied to the clipboard. Students: see our Chromebook keyboard shortcuts page for more.
How to screenshot a whole web page
Keyboard screenshots only capture what's visible. To capture a full scrolling page in Chrome or Edge, open Developer Tools (Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows, Command + Option + I on Mac), then open the command menu with Ctrl + Shift + P (Command + Shift + P on Mac), type "screenshot", and choose Capture full size screenshot. In Firefox, right-click the page and choose Take Screenshot, then Save full page.
Screenshot not working? Quick fixes
- Laptop keyboards: Print Screen often needs Fn held down.
- Windows 11: If Print Screen opens Snipping Tool and you don't want that, turn it off in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Mac: If nothing saves, check System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Screenshots to make sure the shortcuts are enabled.
- School or work devices: Your administrator may have disabled screenshots.
Frequently asked questions
Where do screenshots go on Windows?
Screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen save to Pictures > Screenshots. Print Screen alone, Alt + Print Screen, and Windows + Shift + S copy the image to the clipboard so you can paste it with Ctrl + V. Snipping Tool captures also appear in a notification you can click to save.
Where do screenshots go on a Mac?
By default, Mac screenshots save to the Desktop with a name like 'Screenshot [date] at [time].png'. You can change the save location from the Options menu after pressing Command + Shift + 5.
How do I screenshot without saving a file on Mac?
Add Control to any screenshot shortcut. For example, Command + Control + Shift + 4 copies the selected area to the clipboard instead of saving a file.
What is the Show Windows key on a Chromebook?
It's the key in the top row that looks like a rectangle with two lines beside it, usually where F5 would be on a Windows keyboard. Some newer Chromebooks also have a dedicated screenshot key.
Why doesn't Print Screen do anything on my laptop?
On many laptops Print Screen shares a key with another function. Try holding the Fn key while pressing PrtSc. Also check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Windows 11, where Print Screen can be set to open Snipping Tool.