One of the main reasons computers and the internet were invented was to store and share information. It’s part of human nature to love sharing, and it’s an essential part of how we communicate — whether it’s sharing knowledge and resources, or anecdotes and entertainment. Taking screenshots is one of the most convenient ways to capture, share, and save what’s happening on your computer screen. Whether you’re troubleshooting, creating a tutorial, or sending a meme to your friends, knowing how to take screenshots is an essential skill.
Here’s how Mac and Windows users can take screenshots on a computer, and the relevant keyboard shortcuts that make it easy.
How to Screenshot on a Windows Computer
There are several ways to take screenshots on a Windows computer, and there are plenty of built-in tools and shortcuts to make the task even easier.
Keyboard shortcuts on Windows
If you’re a Windows user, here are some of the keyboard shortcuts you can use to quickly capture whatever is on your screen.
- PrtScn (Print Screen) – pressing the PrtScn button will capture your entire screen and save it to your clipboard. From there you can paste it into an image editor or email. If you hold down Alt + PrtScn at the same time, it will capture only your active window. It’s important to note that this shortcut won’t automatically save the image to your computer. To create an image file, you’ll need to save it manually.
- Windows + PrtScn – pressing these keys together will capture your entire screen and automatically save it to your system as a PNG file.
Using the Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is a more comprehensive way to take screenshots, and it can be used in four different ways:
- Free-form – draw the desired shape with your cursor or stylus to capture a specific area
- Rectangular – click and drag to form a rectangular box
- Window – screenshot specific windows
- Full-screen – capture the entire screen
To find the Snipping Tool, either search for it in your Windows search bar or open it by pressing Windows + ⇧Shift + S. Select your mode, capture your screenshot, and either save or edit it using the tool’s built-in features.
The Game Bar
One for the gamers; the Game Bar is built into Windows 10 and 11 and allows you to both record gameplay and take screenshots. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay, and select the screenshot button. Game Bar screenshots are automatically saved to your Videos > Captures folder.
How to Screenshot on a Mac Computer
Here are some ways you can screenshot if your computer is a Mac.
Using keyboard shortcuts on Mac
Macs provide several keyboard shortcuts that make taking screenshots a breeze. Depending on what part of the screen you need to capture, you can use different key combinations.
- Capturing the whole screen – use ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 3 to automatically save a screenshot to your desktop as a PNG file.
- Capturing a specific section of the screen – use ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 4 to change your cursor into a crosshair, before clicking and dragging to select the area to want to screenshot.
- Capture a Window – use ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift +4, tap Spacebar, and then click on the window you want to capture to save an image of it to your desktop.
Using the screenshot tool (⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 5)
If you’re running on a modern version of macOS (Mojave or later,) you’ll be able to access the Screenshot Tool by pressing ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + 5. This will bring up a toolbar from which you can select exactly how you want to capture your screenshot. It also comes with built-in editing tools, similar to the Windows Snipping Tool.
Using Grab (for older Macs)
If you’re using a version of macOS that predates Mojave, you’ll have Grab instead of the Screenshot Tool. Grab can be found in the Utilities folder under Applications.
Take a screenshot, it lasts longer
Knowing a few simple shortcuts can make mundane computing tasks feel easy and save you time and frustration. Understanding how to screenshot on a computer isn’t a big deal for some, but any time you learn something new you should consider it an achievement. For more resources to help you in becoming a more confident computer user, check out our other resources.
