How to Take a Screenshot on Windows, Mac, and Mobile

Screenshots are an essential part of modern computing. Whether you want to capture a funny meme, save an important piece of information, or document a conversation, screenshots allow you to quickly preserve and share what’s on your screen.

Each operating system—Windows, Mac, and mobile devices has its own methods and shortcuts for taking screenshots.

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

Windows offers a variety of built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts for capturing your screen, whether you want to take a full-screen snapshot, capture a specific region, or save a screenshot of just one window.

Using the Print Screen Key (PrtScn)

The most basic way to take a screenshot on Windows is by using the PrtScn key. This method captures the entire screen and places it on your clipboard, allowing you to paste it into an application such as Microsoft Word, Paint, or any image editor.

Full-Screen Screenshot: Press the PrtScn key. This will capture your entire screen and copy it to your clipboard. To view or save the screenshot, open an image editing program (e.g., Paint) and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot. You can then save it.
Active Window Screenshot: If you only want to capture the currently active window (instead of the entire screen), press Alt + PrtScn. This will capture just the window that you’re working on and copy it to your clipboard.

Tip: If you press PrtScn and nothing seems to happen, open an image editor or document application (such as Word or Paint) and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.

Using Windows + Print Screen (For Automatic Saving)

For users who want a screenshot to be automatically saved as a file, press Windows + PrtScn. This method captures the entire screen and saves the screenshot as a file in the Screenshots folder inside your Pictures library.

How to Find the File: Open File Explorer and navigate to Pictures > Screenshots. Your most recent screenshot will be saved here.

Using the Snipping Tool (or Snip & Sketch on Newer Versions)

Windows comes with a built-in tool called Snipping Tool (or Snip & Sketch in more recent versions of Windows 10 and 11), which allows for more control over what part of the screen you want to capture.

To use Snipping Tool (Snip & Sketch):
Open the tool by typing “Snipping Tool” or “Snip & Sketch” in the Start menu search bar and selecting the app.
In the Snipping Tool app, click New and select the type of screenshot you want to take (free-form, rectangular, window, or full-screen).
After taking the screenshot, the tool will display it in a new window. From there, you can save, copy, or annotate the screenshot.

Tip: Snipping Tool is great for capturing custom regions and offers more flexibility than the PrtScn key.

Using the Windows + Shift + S Shortcut (Quick Snip)

For a quick way to capture a specific region of your screen without opening an app, use the Windows + Shift + S keyboard shortcut. This shortcut activates a built-in tool called Snip & Sketch in Windows 10 and 11, allowing you to select a rectangular area, freeform shape, or even capture an entire window.

After pressing Windows + Shift + S, your screen will dim, and a cursor will appear for you to drag and select the area you want to capture. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, and you can paste it into an image editor or document.

How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

On macOS, taking screenshots is equally simple, and Apple provides several built-in keyboard shortcuts to suit various needs.

Using Command + Shift + 3 (Full-Screen Screenshot)

To capture the entire screen, press Command + Shift + 3. Your Mac will automatically save the screenshot as a file on the desktop.

How to Find the File: The screenshot will be saved with a name like “Screen Shot [Date] at [Time].png” on your desktop.

Using Command + Shift + 4 (Custom Area Screenshot)

To capture a specific area of the screen, press Command + Shift + 4. This will turn your cursor into a crosshair, and you can click and drag to select the area you want to capture.

After releasing the mouse button, the screenshot will be saved on your desktop.

Using Command + Shift + 4, Then Spacebar (Window Screenshot)

If you want to capture a specific window (instead of a custom region), press Command + Shift + 4 followed by the Spacebar. Your cursor will change to a camera icon, and you can click on any window to capture it.

How to Find the File: Like the previous methods, the screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.

Using Command + Shift + 5 (Screenshot Menu)

For even more control, macOS Mojave and later versions include a Command + Shift + 5 shortcut that brings up an on-screen menu with more options.

You can capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom area.
You can also record your screen with this option.
The tool allows you to choose where to save the screenshot and whether to show a timer.

Tip: Use this tool if you need to quickly adjust where your screenshots are saved or if you want to record your screen.

Using Command + Shift + 6 (Touch Bar Screenshot)

If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can take a screenshot of the Touch Bar by pressing Command + Shift + 6.

How to Find the File: This screenshot will be saved to your desktop.

How to Take a Screenshot on Mobile Devices

On mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, the process for taking a screenshot is typically straightforward. Here’s how to do it on iPhones, Android phones, and other mobile devices.

Taking a Screenshot on iPhone or iPad

For iPhones and iPads without a Home button (iPhone X or newer), press and hold the Side button (on the right side of the device) and the Volume Up button (on the left side) at the same time. Release both buttons quickly.

For older iPhones with a Home button (iPhone 8 or earlier), press and hold the Home button and the Side/Top button at the same time.

How to Find the Screenshot: The screenshot will appear as a thumbnail in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Tap it to edit, annotate, or share it. The screenshot will also be saved in the Photos app in the Screenshots album.

Taking a Screenshot on Android

On most Android phones, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously. Hold both buttons for about a second until you see the screenshot animation.

How to Find the Screenshot: The screenshot will appear in the notification bar, and it will also be saved in the Photos or Gallery app in the Screenshots album.

Taking a Screenshot on Samsung Galaxy Devices (With Palm Swipe)

On Samsung Galaxy devices, you can also take a screenshot by using the Palm Swipe gesture. First, ensure that the feature is enabled in your settings under Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture.

To take a screenshot, swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right (or vice versa). This gesture will capture the screen just like pressing the buttons.

Editing and Annotating Your Screenshots

After you take a screenshot, you might want to edit or annotate it. Here’s how you can do that on different platforms.

Editing Screenshots on Windows

On Windows, you can edit screenshots in several ways:

Paint: Open the screenshot in Paint, where you can crop, resize, and add text.
Snip & Sketch: If you used Snip & Sketch, you can annotate, highlight, and draw on your screenshot within the app.

Editing Screenshots on macOS

Mac users can edit screenshots quickly:

Preview: Open the screenshot in Preview and use the markup tools to add text, shapes, or signatures.
Third-Party Apps: You can also use third-party apps like Skitch or Photoshop for more advanced editing.

Editing Screenshots on Mobile Devices

On iPhones, once you capture a screenshot, you can edit it immediately by tapping on the thumbnail in the bottom-left corner. You can crop, draw, and add text or shapes.

On Android, you can use the built-in Markup tool or a third-party app like Snapseed for more advanced edits.

FAQs

Can I capture a screenshot of just one application window?

Windows: Yes, press Alt + PrtScn to capture only the active window.
Mac: Press Command + Shift + 4 and then press the Spacebar to capture a specific window.

Where are my screenshots saved on Windows?

By default, screenshots taken using Windows + PrtScn are saved in the Screenshots folder under Pictures.

Can I take a screenshot of a webpage on mobile?

Yes, on both iOS and Android, you can take a screenshot of webpages as long as the webpage is visible on the screen.

How can I capture a scrolling screenshot on mobile?

On some Android phones (like Samsung), you can take a scrolling screenshot by tapping the Capture more button after taking the initial screenshot.