How to Take a Screenshot on a Windows 7,8,10,11 PC & Android
July 5, 2022
What to know – So on Windows 10 and 8, you press Windows Key+PrtScn to capture the entire screen. On the Window’s 7 & earlier, press PrtScn.
- And so on, to capture only the active window, press Alt+PrtScn.
- And to capture specific parts of the screen, use the Windows Snipping Tool and either Snip & Sketch.
This article explains how to take a screenshot on a Windows PC. And these instructions apply to Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 , Vista and XP.
Windows Screenshot Shortcut
Depending on your hardware, you can use the Windows Logo Key + PrtScn button as a shortcut to Print Screen. And with that, if your device doesn’t have PrtScn button, you can use Fn + Windows logo key + Space bar to take a screenshot, and one that can be printed later.
How to take screenshot
And it’s the same basic way to take a screenshot in Windows, no matter what version of Windows you’re using, and it’s very simple: and it’s pressing the PrtScn key on the keyboard.
- PrtScn: By pressing this button only once, the screenshot of the whole screen is saved. And that if you have more than one monitor connected, and only pressing the Print Screen button once will save this screenshot of all the screens in a single image.
- Alt+PrtScn: Press these buttons at the same time to take a screenshot of the same window, and the one you’re focused on. Select the window one more time to make sure it is in focus, and then hit these keys.
- Win + PrtScn: Using the Windows key together with the Print Screen button (in Windows 8 and newer) will take a screenshot of the entire screen and then save it to the default Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots (and that e.g. C:Users[user]PicturesScreenshots).
How to Paste or Save Screenshot
And the easiest way to save a screenshot is to paste it into the Microsoft Paint application first. This is easy to do in Paint and that’s because you don’t need to download it – it’s included with Windows by default.
And that you have other options like pasting it into Microsoft Word, Photoshop, and any other program that supports either images, and that but for the sake of simplicity, we will use Paint. The Runs dialog box it’s the Fastest ways to open the Paint in all versions of Windows.
Press Win + R
Types mspaint in the Run fields & press The Enter.
This screenshot is still saved to the clipboard with Microsoft Paint open, and you can use Ctrl+V to paste it into Paint, or choose Paste.
To save the screenshot, press Ctrl+S and either choose File > Save as.
And at this point, you may notice that the image you just saved looks a bit off. If the picture doesn’t occupy the entire canvas in Paint, then it will leave white space around it. To fix this, simply drag the bottom right corner of the canvas to the top left of the screen until you reach the corners of your own screenshot.
Take Screenshots on PC with Windows Snipping Tool
And another way to take this screenshot is by using Windows Snipping Tool.
- In Windows 10 itself, type Snipping Tool in the search box on the taskbar and also choose Snipping Tool from the list of results.
- In Windows 8, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Search, type Snipping Tool in the search box, and choose Snipping Tool from its list of results.
- In Windows 7, select the Start button, as well as type Snipping Tool in the search box and choose Snipping Tool from the list of results.
Windows 10 users also have the option of using Snip and So Sketch.
Download This One Print Screen Program
That Windows however works great for basic screenshotting capabilities, and that you can install free and paid third-party apps for more advanced features and that like fine-tuning a screenshot by pixel, than saving it. Annotating it first and its easy saving at that predefined location only.
And this one example of a free print screen tool that is more advanced than the Windows one is PrtScr. Another one, WinSnap, is nice, and that but the free version also lacks some of the more advanced features of the premium version.
How to Take Screenshots in Windows 11
Note that in Windows 11, pressing PrtScn will save the screenshot to your computer’s dedicated Screenshots folder – and you can find it by opening File Explorer and clicking Pictures on the left. And if you have enabled it, it will save the screenshot to your OneDrive as well.
And for anyone who wants to take a screenshot in Windows 11, the Print Screen and Alt + PrtSc options are still available. A new Windows key + PrtSc shortcut will put your own screenshot in the Pictures > Screenshots folder and in the Photos app of Windows itself.
And if you find many screenshot tools confusing, Microsoft has combined the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch to create a new and improved version of the Snipping Tool. You do the same Shift + Windows
Use the Key + S keyboard shortcut and get the same capture option. And that if you open the app directly instead of using the shortcut, and then only you can capture the delay.
Windows 11 actually only allows you to assign the Snipping Tool to the PrtSc key from Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. And so check the Use that print screen button only to open screen snipping box to open the screen capture tool instead of just grabbing your entire screen.
And that you can also use PrtSc in conjunction with OneDrive. And open Settings > Backup to OneDrive and check Automatically save screenshots only to make sure all those screengrabs are saved to this one folder in the cloud.
So that Snippings Tools it’s present in Window’s 10, And but it usually not the screenshot tool you want to use. But in Windows 11, the Snipping Tool got a major upgrade, and now it’s the best way to take custom screenshots.
To start the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, you can simply search for it and either simply press Windows Key + Shift + S. Like Snip & Sketch, your screen will be dimmed and a toolbar of screenshot options will appear at the top of the screen. This toolbar will let you take a single rectangular, freeform, full-window, and either full-screen capture.
This is so once you’ve taken your screenshot, it will be copied to your clipboard so that you can share it immediately. And if you click on the preview that appears in the lower-right corner of your screen, and that’s only you will be able to save and edit it.
Third-Party Screenshot Apps for Windows
If you’re unsatisfied with any of the built-in Windows methods, it’s worth considering third-party screenshot tools, each with their own additional offerings.
- And Lightshot is a free screenshot tool designed just for quick social sharing. When you download and install Lightshot on Windows 10, it replaces the print screen function and provides more editing capabilities.
- Greenshot is another free tool that allows you to edit and customize screenshots, as well as the option to capture a full scrolling web page.
- Snagit is a screenshot tool that allows you to create animated GIFs, take full-page screenshots, and more. Down side? The premium version costs $50. There’s also a 30-day free trial, though it will watermark any photos you capture during this trial.
Work with your screenshots
With your Snipping Tool open, select one of the following to create your screenshots and do the same thing with them.
Capture a snip
In the Snipping Tool, and select that mode. In the earlier version of Window’s And select the arrow & Next to the new button So After that, and that’s when you select the snip of your choice, you’ll see the whole screen turn a bit gray. But then, by selecting whatever is currently displayed on the screen, select the area of your screen and the one you want to capture.
Capture a Snip of the Menu
Only after opening the Snipping Tool, open the menu you want to capture. And this for Windows 7, press the Esc key before opening the menu.
Press the Ctrl + PrtScn keys. And it turns the whole screen gray including the open menu.
Select Mode, and either this So in the earlier versions of Window’s And select the arrow next to the New buttons. Select the type of snip you want, and then select the area of the screen capture and the one you want to capture.
Annotate a snip
It’s so after capturing a snip, you can write or draw on or around it just by selecting the pen or highlighter buttons. And select Eraser only to remove the lines that you drew.
Save a snip
And after capturing this one snip, just select the Save Snip button.
And in the Save As box itself, type the file name, location, and type, and then choose Save.
Remove URL
And when you capture a snip from a browser window and save it as an HTML file, the URL appears below the snip. To prevent the URL itself from being displayed:
The Snipping Tools And select the Options button.
So in the Snipping Tool Options box, below the snip you want to include the URL (HTML only) and clear this check box, then select OK.
Share a Snip
After it’s captured a snip, select the arrow next to the Send Snip button, and then choose an option from the list.
You can use your keyboard shortcuts to use the Snipping Tool itself.
press these keys
To do this
Alt + M – Then Chooses a snipping mode.
Alt + N – Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one.
Shift + arrow keys – Move the cursor to select from different types of snips.
Alt + D – Delay capture by 1-5 seconds
Ctrl + C – Copy the snip to clipboard
Ctrl + Save the snip
Enlarge, rotate, or crop your snip
Note that with your capture open in the Snipping Tool, choose Edit > Edit with Paint 3D to use features for enhancements like size, color, text, and so on.
Print a snip
And that in the folder where you saved your snip, and right click on this snip. Select Print from the options and then choose how you want to print your image.
Put the tool on the taskbar
And in the search box on the taskbar, type Snipping Tool. You’ll see the Snipping Tool app as well as a list of actions you can take. And then select Pin to Taskbar.
Delay your screenshot
So first, you identify the menu or other components you want to capture. In the Snipping Tool, select Delay and then select On, for example, 5 seconds. Select Mode to start the 5-second countdown. And it within 5 seconds, open a menu or otherwise type your image. In 5 seconds, when you see the screen itself turning gray, just use the mouse to draw it around the area you want.
How to Take Screenshot on iPhone & iPad
And the iPhone X, 11, 12, and 13 lines, and newer iPad Pro and iPad Air devices—devices without a Home button—hold down the side button on the right side of the screen and that (the top button on the iPad) and volume up a button to take a screenshot at the same time.
And also if you have an Apple device that still has a Home button, such as the iPhone SE model, hold down the Sleep/Wake button and then press the Home button to take a screenshot. You will hear a camera shutter (if your sound is on) and a “flash” will appear on the screen. Then Screenshot and it will appear in your Camera Roll and it will then be in the Screenshots album.
And also that if you use the Apple Pencil with the iPad, and that you can take a screen grab with the drawing tool. To capture the image itself, swipe up from the bottom corner of the Apple Pencil. Even after taking a picture, you can choose between your current screen and either the entire page.
To annotate a screenshot on iOS/iPadOS, tap on the thumbnail that appears at the bottom of the screen after capturing an image. This will open the device’s markup tool and it will then allow you to edit the screengrab. And to capture that entire web page, tap on the Full Page tab > Done > Save PDF to Files. And it can then be accessed through Apple’s Files app.
And some apps can make it difficult to take screenshots with normal methods. And this is where your device’s built-in screen recording tool comes in. And that while its primary purpose is to record video of your screen itself, you can pause the video and thus take a screenshot. And just make sure to add this shortcut button to the Control Center itself under Settings > Control Center first.
And that you can also use this third-party tool to capture the screen from computer to your mobile device. Just like with LonelyScreen, you share your screen via AirPlay and capture anything from a computer to your mobile device’s screen. And this Epowersoft iPhone/iPad recorder can work as long as the PC and mobile device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Activate the AirPlay connection in Control Center itself, and then just snap your images on your computer.
How to take screenshot on samsung tablet
And that you can capture screenshot at the same time by quickly pressing Power and Volume Down keys at the same time. If you don’t press them all at once or if you keep them pressed for that long, and that then the screenshot will not be taken.
How to Take Screenshots on Dell Laptop
Press Window’s logo key + PrntScrn key togethers On the tablet, press the Windows logo button + Volume Down button simultaneously. (This screenshot is saved in the Screenshots folder in the Pictures folder.)
How to take screenshot on Android
And the Android devices are not the same, so the screenshot commands may differ depending on the manufacturer of the phone. And it should be able to take screen grabs by holding down the power and volume down buttons on most Android devices, and holding the power and home buttons (if your device has a physical button) may also work though.
And it’s a screenshot button in the pull-down shadow in many Android devices. And that if your phone has the Google Assistant or Bixby (Samsung), just use voice commands to ask the voice assistant to take a screenshot for you. For Samsung devices with an S Pen stylus, take a screen grab from the Air Command menu by tapping the screen right and then typing on the image and either Crop.
And these Samsung phones also support gestures to take screenshots. Navigate to the screen image of your choice, and hold your hand as if you’re planning to cut a karate phone, and then swipe the entire side of your hand along the screen from left to right. Set it in Settings > Advanced features > Motion & gesture > Palm swipe to capture only (or turn it off).
And so all Android users can download third-party apps to capture the screen. And many apps made to record this video can also take screenshots. Screenshot Easy is a top-rated alternative and one that uses the same basic triggers as Android; You can even customize it and take a screenshot by just shaking your phone. And that instead you can also use Epowersoft’s Android Recorder to take screenshots of your phone from PC itself.
How to Take Screenshots on Apple Watch
In order for you to take a screenshot of your Apple Watch screen, you must first have this feature enabled. Opend And the Watch Application your iPhone & navigate to My Watch > General > Enable Screenshots & toggle it’s on & open Settings > General and tap Enable Screenshots on your watch.
And take a screenshot on Apple Watch by dragging up the screen you want to capture. Hold the Side button and simultaneously click the Digital Crown. Like the iPhone, the screen will “flash” white and the camera shutter will close. The screenshot will then appear on your iPhone’s Camera Roll and not on the watch.
How to Take Screenshots on Mac
With the release of macOS Mojave, Mac users got more control over taking screenshots on Macs. And that update introduced a screenshot tool that can be triggered by pressing Command+Shift+5 and navigating to either Launchpad > Other > Screenshots itself.
And this screen-capture window itself allows you to perform these various actions and save the images to your desktop. Choose to capture the whole screen, part of the screen, and either that or a specific window. You can also video capture the entire screen or part of it, and there’s an option to take a screenshot on the timer and change where the images are saved.
And for anyone who likes this keyboard shortcut, they are still supported. And use Command+Shift+3 to make it capture the whole screen. If you only want to capture part of the screen, and then Command+Shift+4 will turn the cursor into a crosshair. Select the part of the screen you want to capture.
And this to capture a specific window, use Command+Shift+5 (yes, the same shortcut to trigger the screenshot tool). And then just hit the space bar to switch between capturing a part of the screen and a specific window. Also, if you have a Mac with Touch Bar, capture it by pressing Command + Shift + 6.
And you can capture an image and save it to the clipboard by adding the control to any keyboard shortcut you use. For example, use Command+Shift+Control+3 to capture the entire screen, or Command+Shift+Control+4 for a specific section only. The image will not be saved to the computer, but and can be pasted into an app itself.
And friends, if you have a Mac with a Retina display, a screenshot of the entire screen can be as large in PNG format—as large as 7MB. And if you want to save the Mac to JPG or any other format, change the setting. And that on the Mac in question open a terminal window and type:
default type com.apple.screencapture type jpg
And then you enter your password, if prompted, restart the computer and that should be saved in the preferred format you specify. You can always change it instead by typing the above command with png at the end instead.
And that if you prefer a third-party solution, there are options like Snappy (which can sync screenshots with the Snappy app for iOS as well), TechSmith Capture, Snagit, Skitch, LightShot, and more Huh.
How to Take Screenshots on Linux
And there are almost as many ways to take screenshots in Linux as there are flavors of Linux. Focusing specifically on Ubuntu, open the Actions menu and choose Screenshot. You can then choose between full screen, single window, and either custom area before snapping an image too.
And Linux itself allows you to use the Print Screen button as well as the Alt + Print Screen shortcut to screenshot a specific window. And just use Shift + Print Screen to select the custom area to capture. You can also add the Ctrl key to any shortcut and save that image to the clipboard itself.
And that program GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) allows you to take screenshots from the same program and the one where you edit the image after capture. Open GIMP and go to File > Acquire > Screen Shot. You’ll find a few options, whether it’s to take the whole screen, a window, or use a time delay. That captured image is then opened in GIMP for editing.
How to Take a Screenshots on The Chromebook
And those who have a Chromebook, and they can take a screenshot with the Show Windows key. This button is located at the top of the keyboard and next to it is the image of a box with lines. Press Shift+Ctrl+Show Window, then select Screenshot and capture the full screen, part of the screen, and either a specific window. Chrome OS 89 also added a more full-featured screen capture tool; Click on Time in the bottom right and then click on Screen Capture.
If that’s what you’re using an external keyboard for, and it might not have a window switcher button. And you have to use Ctrl+F5 to capture the whole screen or Ctrl+Shift+F5 to capture a part of the screen. That’s all, when you’re using your Chromebook in tablet mode And To take a picture of the screen press the power and volume down buttons only.
Your screenshots will be saved in the Downloads folder, but you can also upload them to Google Photos and back them up to Google Drive. Since 90% of what you do on a Chromebook is probably done in the Chrome web browser, there are many Chrome extensions you can use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I take a screenshot on Mac?
To take a screenshot on a Mac, press and hold Command + Shift + 3 to take a screenshot of the entire screen. To draw, press and hold Command+Shift+4 and select an area just for the screenshot. And press Command+Shift+5 for additional options including screen recording as well.
How do I take a screenshot on Android?
To take that’s screenshot on Android, use voice commands to ask the Google Assistant to take a screenshot and say, “Okay Google, take a screenshot So that’s” Second options: Press and hold The Power + Volumes Down. Find your screenshot in the Photo Gallery or Screenshots folder itself.
How do I take a screenshot on iPhone?
So to take iPhone screenshot on you iPhone without Home button, press Side and Volume Up button together. So that’s screenshot will be save in the Photos Application. And that on older models, press the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.
How do you take a screenshot and save it automatically on Windows 10?
Let us tell you that to take a screenshot on Windows 10 and save the file automatically, press Windows Key + PrtScn. And then your screen will be blurred and your full screen screenshot will be saved in Screenshots folder
How do I take a screenshot quickly in Windows 10?
Hit the Shift-Windows Key-S keyboard combo, and it also gives you the option to shoot full screen, And rectangular selection, a freehand selection, & either it’s an individual program window.
How do take a screenshot of a One click?
One-click screenshot. And that take screenshots of entire websites. And this is the default shortcut Alt+Shift+S (Option+Shift+S on Mac)
How do I take instant screenshots in Windows?
Alt + Print Screen To take a quick screenshot of the active window, use the same keyboard shortcut Alt + PrtScn. Plus it will snap your currently active window and copy the screenshot itself to the clipboard.
Which keyboard shortcut takes a screenshot of an in focus window?
So Hold down the Alt key and press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. This will only capture the in-focus/active window (the window ‘on top’). So This places the image on the clipboard, ready to be pasted into an application. And friends, note that this method does not automatically save it to the file itself.
How do I capture a screenshot on my PC?
windows. And to take a screenshot of the entire screen, press the PrtScn button/or the Print Scan button. When using Windows, pressing the Print Screen button (located at the top right of the keyboard) will take a screenshot of your entire screen. And pressing this button essentially copies an image of this screen to the clipboard.
Why is Windows Shift S not working?
And that you on your keyboard, press Windows logo key + I together to open Windows Settings, then select System. And that in the left panel, select Notifications & actions. Under Receive notifications from these senders, locate Snip and its sketch and make sure it’s turned on.
What’s the easiest way to take a screenshot?
You take that screenshot
- Press the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
- And if that doesn’t work, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Then tap on Screenshot.
- And if none of that works, just go to your phone manufacturer’s support site for help.
How do I take a screenshot with the shift key on my laptop?
You can use Windows key+Shift+S to take a screenshot of a specific part. Want to capture a specific part, and that is, press these three keys – Windows + Shift + S – simultaneously. This will blur the screen, open the Snip and Sketch tool, and it will also convert the mouse pointer to a drag. Select the part and the one you want to capture.