How to Take a Screen Shot (Screen Capture)

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: May 6, 2024 Fact Checked

Want to take a screenshot on a phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop computer? Capturing your screen is super easy, and you can do it without installing any special software! Whether you're using an HP, Chromebook, iPhone, Android, Mac, or virtually any other device, this wikiHow article will teach you the easiest ways to capture and save screenshots.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Windows

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The "PrintScreen" button may be abbreviated (i.e "prt sc" or similar). This will save you from having to paste it into a separate app. The file will be located in the "Screenshots" folder inside your "Pictures" folder. If this folder does not exist, it will be created automatically.^{[1]
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The "PrintScreen" button may be abbreviated (i.e "prt sc" or similar). The active window is whichever window is displayed on top on your desktop display. It's also the app that's highlighted in the taskbar at the bottom. All apps running in the background will not be included in the screen capture image. Images will be saved to the "Capture" folder in the "Videos" folder.

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Take a full-screen screenshot in Windows 7 or Vista. To do so, press the Print Screen button. It may be abbreviated (i.e "prt sc"). It is typically located in the top row of the keyboard towards the right side.. You may need to press the Function or Fn key if you're using a laptop.^{[2]
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- The image will be copied to the clipboard. This means that the image data will need to be pasted in an image editing program such as Paint or Photoshop. To paste the image, press Ctrl + V.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using Mac

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Press press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+3 to take a full-screen screenshot. This takes a picture of the entire screen. The computer will make the sound of a camera shutter.^{[3]
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- By default, screenshots will be saved to your desktop.
- If you’d rather copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it to a file, press Command + Control + Shift + 3. Instead of saving the image as a jpeg file, the image data will be copied. You'll need to paste it in an image editor such Photoshop, GIMP or Preview.
The pointer will turn into a crosshair. Drag the crosshairs to create a box around the area of the screen you want to capture.^{[4]
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The cursor will become a camera icon. Click the window in which you want a screenshot. When you click, the computer will make a "shutter" sound and the image will be saved to a file on your desktop.^{[5]
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Press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+5 or use LaunchPad to open Screenshot. This method works for macOS Mojave 10.14 and later versions. Here you can choose to capture full screen, selected window, or selected portion freely. Moreover, You can press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+6 to capture the Touch Bar on Mac. The captured image will be saved on desktop in the PNG format by default.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using Chromebook

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This takes a screenshot of everything displayed on your screen. The "Show Windows" button is the button that has an icon that resembles a computer screen with two lines to the right. It's in the center of the top row of the keyboard.
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Press ⇧ Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows to take a partial screenshot. The screen will darken slightly. Click and drag the mouse cursor over the area you want to take a screenshot of. Then press Enter or click Copy to Clipboard if you'd rather copy the screenshot. You can select more screenshot features from the toolbar.^{[7]
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- The "Show Windows" button is the button that has an icon that resembles a computer screen with two lines to the right. It's in the center of the top row of the keyboard.
If your Chromebook is a tablet, you can take a screenshot of the entire screen by pressing the Power Button and Volume Down button at the same time.^{[8]
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A notification appears after you take a screenshot. Click it to view the screenshot. Alternatively, you can find your screenshots in the Files app.^{[9]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using iPhone or iPad

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Find the image, picture, message, website, etc., of which you want to take a picture.
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Press the button combination for your iPhone or iPad model. Each iPhone and iPad model has a specific combination of buttons you need to press at the same time to take a screenshot. The button combination varies from one iPhone model to another. The screen will flash indicating a screenshot has been taken. Use one of the following button combinations:^{[10]
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- iPhone with Face ID: Press the Side button and the Volume Up button at the same time.^{[12]
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- iPhone with a Home button: Press the Home button and the Side button or Wake/Sleep button at the same time. The Side button is on the right side of the phone. The Wake/Sleep button is on the top-right shoulder.
- iPad without a Home button: Press the Top button and Volume Up button at the same time.
- iPad with a Home button: Press the Home button and Top button at the same time.
It has an icon that resembles a colorful flower.
It's in the lower-right corner.
The image you just captured will be the last image at the bottom of the album.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Android

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Find the image, picture, message, website, etc., of which you want to take a picture.
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Press the Power and Volume-Down buttons at the same time. The screen will flash to indicate the screenshot.^{[13]
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- On Samsung Galaxy devices with a Home button, press the Power button and the Home button at the same time. You can also take a screenshot by swiping your hand from left to right on the screen.^{[14]
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It generally has an icon that resembles a photograph. Tap the Gallery icon on your Home screen to open the Gallery.
This is the folder that all your screenshots are saved to.

Community Q&A

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Question

My lock butting on my Samsung is broken. Is there an alternative way of taking a screenshot without downloading an app?

Community Answer

Go to Settings > Motion & Gestures. There you will find an option to take screenshots by swiping the whole screen from left to right.

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Question

What can cause a phone to not capture a screen shot?

Community Answer

If your phone's storage is full, it will not take a screenshot.

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I have a Dell with Windows 7. How do I take a screenshot?

Community Answer

Click the PrtSc SysRq button.

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Before taking a screenshot, check to make sure the screen doesn't display any private or embarrassing information in the background. This may include tabs to any website you don't want others to know you are looking at.

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