How to Take a Screenshot on Computer

Capture a picture of your computer screen to save and share what you see on your monitor.

Steps

  1. 1

    On Windows

    , press the Windows key and Print Screen key at the same time. The screen dims briefly.

  2. 2

    On Mac

    , press Command, Shift, and 3 together. The screenshot saves to your desktop by default.

  3. 3

    Open the screenshot

    by finding it on your desktop or in the Pictures folder under Screenshots.

  4. 4

    Edit the screenshot

    using the Snipping Tool on Windows or the Preview app on Mac to crop and annotate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots save on Windows?Show
Screenshots save to the Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots by default on Windows.
Can I take a screenshot of one window only?Show
On Windows, press Alt and Print Screen. On Mac, press Command, Shift, 4, then tap the Space bar and click the window.
What is the Snipping Tool on Windows?Show
The Snipping Tool is a free app that lets you take screenshots in different shapes and add notes to them.
Can I take a screenshot on a Chromebook?Show
Yes, press Ctrl and Show Windows key. The Show Windows key looks like a rectangle with two lines on the right.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated .