How to take a screenshot

 

The Ultimate Guide to Taking Screenshots on Any Device Screenshots are one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for capturing and sharing information—whether you're saving a receipt, reporting a bug, or grabbing a snippet of a conversation. But with so many devices and operating systems out there, knowing the easiest and most effective way to take a screenshot can be surprisingly tricky. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to take screenshots on Windows 10 and 11, macOS, Chromebooks, iPhones, iPads, and Android phone and tablets—including popular brands like Google Pixel, Samsung, and Xiaomi. We’ll not only show you the quickest methods, but also the easiest ones, tailored to your device. We’ll also dive into: Where your screenshots go (clipboard, folders, or cloud) What you can and can’t capture due to security restrictions (like banking apps or private data) How screenshot permissions work on iOS and Android A bit of the tech behind screenshots—how your device captures and stores what’s on screen Whether you're a tech newbie or just looking to streamline your workflow, this guide will help you master the art of the screenshot with confidence. So you know if someone can snap your social media or private messages and how they can do it.

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 10 & 11 Whether you call it a screenshot, screen capture, or simply “taking a picture of your screen,” Windows 10 and 11 offer several built-in ways to do it—each suited to different needs. Whether you want to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or just a portion, here’s how to do it.  1. Quickest Way: Print Screen (PrtScn) Key Full screen: Press PrtScn – this captures the entire screen and copies it to your clipboard. You can then paste it (Ctrl + V) into apps like Paint, Word, or email. Note: This method doesn’t save the image automatically—you’ll need to paste and save it manually. 2. Best Way: Snipping Tool / Snip & Sketch Windows 10 and 11 both include Snipping Tool (older) and Snip & Sketch (newer), which let you: Capture the entire screen Capture a rectangular area Capture a freeform shape Capture a specific window How to use: Press Windows + Shift + S This opens the Snip & Sketch overlay. Select the type of snip you want. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard and shows as a notification. Click the notification to edit or save the image. This is the easiest and most flexible method for most users. 3. Capture a Single Window Click on the window you want to capture. Press Alt + PrtScn This captures only the active window and copies it to your clipboard. 4. Automatically Save Screenshots Press Windows + PrtScn This captures the full screen and automatically saves the image to: Pictures > Screenshots Where Do Screenshots Go? If you use PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn, the image goes to your clipboard—you’ll need to paste it somewhere. If you use Windows + PrtScn, it’s saved in your Screenshots folder. If you use Snip & Sketch, you can edit, copy, or save the image directly. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking apps, video streaming services, or secure login screens—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons. You might see a blank image or a warning message instead. See FAQ below as this does not mean you cannot do this, it’s just not an easy out of the box feature. Pro Tip: If you take screenshots often, consider pinning Snip & Sketch to your taskbar or setting up a custom shortcut for even faster access.

How to Take a Screenshot on macOS (MacBook & iMac) Whether you're using a MacBook or an iMac, taking a screenshot—or as some call it, a screen capture or “picture of the screen”—is quick and flexible on macOS. Whether you want to capture the whole screen, a specific window, or just a portion, macOS has you covered with built-in tools. 1. Capture the Entire Screen Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 This takes a screenshot of your entire screen and automatically saves it to your desktop. 2. Capture a Specific Window Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then tap the Spacebar Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Click the window you want to capture. The screenshot is saved to your desktop. 3. Capture a Selected Portion of the Screen Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 Your cursor becomes a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release to take the screenshot—it’s saved to your desktop. 4. Use the Screenshot Toolbar (Best for Most Users) Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 This opens the Screenshot Toolbar, which gives you options to: Capture the entire screen Capture a selected window Capture a selected portion Record your screen (video) You can also choose where to save the screenshot, set a timer, or show/hide the cursor. This is the most user-friendly and flexible method, especially for beginners. 5. Copy to Clipboard Instead of Saving Add Control to any shortcut to copy the screenshot to your clipboard instead of saving it. Example: Command + Control + Shift + 3 This copies the full-screen screenshot to your clipboard—you can then paste it (Command + V) into apps like Mail, Messages, or Pages. Where Do Screenshots Go? By default, screenshots are saved to your desktop with filenames like: Screen Shot [date] at [time].png You can change the default save location using the Screenshot Toolbar (Command + Shift + 5 > Options). Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking apps, video streaming services, or private system dialogs—may block screenshots for security reasons. In those cases, you might see a blank image or no screenshot at all. See FAQ below as this does not mean you cannot do this, it’s just not an easy out of the box feature. Pro Tip: Use Preview or Photos to quickly crop, annotate, or convert your screenshots after capturing them.

How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone (iOS) Taking a screenshot—or as many call it, a screen capture or “picture of the screen”—on an iPhone is quick and easy, whether you're using the latest iPhone 15 or an older model. iOS offers a few different ways to capture your screen, depending on your device and preferences. 1. Capture the Entire Screen (Button Method) For iPhones with Face ID (no Home button): Press the Side button + Volume Up at the same time. The screen will flash, and a thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner. For iPhones with a Home button: Press the Home button + Side (or Top) button at the same time. This is the fastest and most common way to take a screenshot. 2. Use AssistiveTouch (No Buttons Needed) If you have trouble pressing buttons, you can use AssistiveTouch: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Tap the floating AssistiveTouch button > Device > More > Screenshot. Great for users with accessibility needs or worn-out buttons. 3. Where Do Screenshots Go? Screenshots are automatically saved to the Photos app. You’ll find them in: Photos > Albums > Screenshots You can also tap the thumbnail preview to edit, crop, draw, or share right away. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking apps, streaming services, or private content—may block screenshots for security and privacy reasons. In those cases, you might see a blank screen or receive a warning. See FAQ below as this does not mean you cannot do this, it’s just not an easy out of the box feature. Pro Tip: You can also screen record your iPhone screen by enabling the Screen Recording option in: Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls Then swipe down from the top-right (or up from the bottom on older models) and tap the record icon.

How to Take a Screenshot on iPad (iPadOS) Taking a screenshot—also known as a screen capture or “picture of the screen”—on an iPad is simple and built into iPadOS. Whether you're using an iPad with Face ID, Touch ID, or even a keyboard, there are multiple ways to capture exactly what you need. 1. Capture the Entire Screen (Button Method) For iPads with Face ID (no Home button): Press the Top button + Volume Up at the same time. The screen will flash, and a thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner. For iPads with a Home button: Press the Home button + Top button at the same time. This is the fastest and most common way to take a screenshot on any iPad. 2. Use AssistiveTouch (No Buttons Needed) If you prefer not to use physical buttons, you can enable AssistiveTouch: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Tap the floating AssistiveTouch button > Device > More > Screenshot. Ideal for accessibility or if your buttons are unresponsive. 3. Using a Keyboard Shortcut (iPad with Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard) Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 to capture the entire screen. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 to capture a portion of the screen (on iPadOS 17+). Great for productivity users who prefer keyboard shortcuts. 4. Where Do Screenshots Go? Screenshots are automatically saved to the Photos app. You’ll find them in: Photos > Albums > Screenshots Tap the thumbnail preview to edit, crop, draw, or share immediately. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking apps, streaming platforms, or secure login screens—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons. In such cases, you might see a blank image or receive a warning. Pro Tip: You can also screen record your iPad screen by enabling Screen Recording in: Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls Then swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the record icon.

How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook If you're using a Chromebook, taking a screenshot (also known as a screen capture or “picture of your screen”) is simple and built right into ChromeOS. Whether you want to capture the whole screen, a specific window, or just a portion, here’s how to do it. 1. Capture the Entire Screen Press Ctrl + Show Windows (Show Windows is the key that looks like a rectangle with two lines next to it, usually in the top row) This takes a screenshot of your entire screen and automatically saves it. 2. Capture a Selected Area Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. The screenshot is saved automatically. 3. Capture a Specific Window Press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows Then click on the window you want to capture. 4. Use the Screenshot Toolbar (Best for Most Users) Press Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows This opens the Screenshot Toolbar, which gives you options to: Capture full screen Capture a window Capture a partial area Record your screen (video) This is the most user-friendly method, especially if you want more control or prefer a visual interface. Where Do Screenshots Go? Screenshots are automatically saved to the Downloads folder. You’ll also see a preview pop up in the bottom-right corner—click it to edit, copy, or move the image. Copy to Clipboard After taking a screenshot, click the preview and choose Copy to Clipboard if you want to paste it into a document, email, or chat. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking apps, DRM-protected content, or secure login screens—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons. See FAQ below as this does not mean you cannot do this, it’s just not an easy out of the box feature. Pro Tip: You can also take screenshots using the Stylus (if your Chromebook has a touchscreen and stylus). Just tap the stylus icon in the taskbar and choose Capture Screen or Capture Region.

How to Take a Screenshot on Android Tablets (Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi) Taking a screenshot—also known as a screen capture or “picture of the screen”—on Android tablets is straightforward, but the method can vary slightly depending on the brand and Android version. Here’s how to do it on the most popular Android tablets: Google Pixel Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Xiaomi Pad. 1. How to take a screenshot on Google Pixel Tablet (Stock Android) Capture the Entire Screen: Press the Power button + Volume Down at the same time. The screen will flash, and a screenshot will be taken. Where It Goes: Saved automatically to: Photos > Library > Screenshots You’ll also see a preview with options to edit, share, or delete. Pro Tip: Tap the screenshot button in the Recent Apps view (swipe up and hold to open it) to capture the current app without using buttons. 2. How to take a screenshot on Samsung Galaxy Tab (One UI) Capture the Entire Screen: Press Power + Volume Down simultaneously. You’ll see a flash and hear a shutter sound. Use Palm Swipe (if enabled): Swipe the edge of your hand across the screen (left to right or right to left). Enable this in: Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm swipe to capture Where It Goes: Saved to: Gallery > Albums > Screenshots Pro Tip: Use the Smart Capture toolbar (appears after taking a screenshot) to scroll and capture long pages (like websites or chats). 3. How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Pad (MIUI) Capture the Entire Screen: Press Power + Volume Down together. Use Quick Ball or Gesture: Enable Quick Ball or Three-finger swipe: Settings > Additional Settings > Button Shortcuts or Quick Ball Where It Goes: Saved to: Gallery > Albums > Screenshots Pro Tip: Use Scroll Screenshot to capture long content: After taking a screenshot, tap Scroll in the preview to capture more of the page. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking, streaming, or secure login apps—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons. You might see a blank image or get a warning. Bonus Tip: You can also use Google Assistant or Samsung Bixby to take screenshots by saying: “Hey Google, take a screenshot” “Hi Bixby, take a screenshot”

How to Take a Screenshot on Android Phones (Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi) Taking a screenshot—also called a screen capture or “picture of your screen”—is a basic but essential feature on any smartphone. While the core method is similar across Android devices, each brand adds its own shortcuts and tools. Here’s how to do it on the most popular Android phones: Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and Xiaomi. 1. How to take a screenshot on Google Pixel Phones (Stock Android) Capture the Entire Screen: Press Power + Volume Down at the same time. The screen will flash, and a screenshot will be taken. Where It Goes: Saved to: Photos > Library > Screenshots A preview appears with options to edit, share, or delete. Pro Tip: In Recent Apps view, tap the Screenshot button under the app preview to capture just that app. 2. How to take a screenshot on Samsung Galaxy Phones (One UI) Capture the Entire Screen: Press Power + Volume Down together. You’ll see a flash and hear a shutter sound. Use Palm Swipe: Swipe the edge of your hand across the screen (left to right or vice versa). Enable it in: Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm swipe to capture Where It Goes: Saved to: Gallery > Albums > Screenshots Pro Tip: Use the Smart Capture toolbar (appears after taking a screenshot) to: Scroll and capture long pages Draw or crop Share instantly 3. How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Phones (MIUI) Capture the Entire Screen: Press Power + Volume Down simultaneously. Use Three-Finger Swipe: Swipe down with three fingers to take a screenshot. Enable it in: Settings > Additional Settings > Button Shortcuts or Gestures Where It Goes: Saved to: Gallery > Albums > Screenshots Pro Tip: After taking a screenshot, tap Scroll in the preview to capture long content like web pages or chats. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking, streaming, or secure login apps—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons. You might see a blank image or get a warning. Bonus Tip: You can also use Google Assistant or Samsung Bixby to take screenshots hands-free: “Hey Google, take a screenshot” “Hi Bixby, take a screenshot”

How to Take a Screenshot on the Top 3 Linux Distros (Linux Mint, CachyOS, MX Linux) Taking a screenshot—also known as a screen capture or “picture of the screen”—on Linux is easy, but the method can vary slightly depending on the desktop environment (like Cinnamon, KDE, or Xfce). Here’s how to do it on the top 3 Linux distributions of 2025. 1. How to take a screenshot on Linux Mint (Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce) Capture the Entire Screen: Press PrtScn (Print Screen) Saves the screenshot to your Pictures > Screenshots folder. Capture a Selected Area: Press Shift + PrtScn Drag to select the area you want to capture. Capture a Specific Window: Press Alt + PrtScn Clipboard Option: Screenshots are also copied to the clipboard, so you can paste them directly into apps like GIMP, LibreOffice, or email. Built-in Tool: Use the Screenshot app (search for it in the menu) for more options like delay timers and saving formats. 2. How to take a screenshot on CachyOS (KDE Plasma) Capture the Entire Screen: Press PrtScn Opens Spectacle, KDE’s screenshot tool. Capture a Region or Window: Press Shift + PrtScn or open Spectacle manually. Choose from full screen, active window, or rectangular region. Clipboard & Save: Spectacle lets you copy to clipboard, save to file, or open in an editor. Pro Tip: You can set Spectacle to auto-save screenshots or upload them directly to cloud services. 3. How to take a screenshot on MX Linux (Xfce) Capture the Entire Screen: Press PrtScn Opens the MX Screenshot Tool or Xfce Screenshot Utility. Capture a Region or Window: Use the screenshot tool to select region, window, or entire screen. Clipboard & Save: You can choose to copy to clipboard, save to file, or open in an image editor. Pro Tip: MX Linux also includes Shutter and Flameshot for advanced screenshot editing and annotation. Can You Screenshot Everything? Not always. Some apps—especially banking, DRM-protected content, or secure login screens—may block screenshots for privacy and security reasons.

FAQ: Taking Screenshots on Social Media Apps Can I take a screenshot of Snapchat messages or stories? Snapchat notifies the sender when you take a screenshot of chats, snaps, or stories. However, this only applies to screenshots taken using the device’s built-in tools. Note: Some content may be blocked from being captured due to Snapchat’s security policies. Can I screenshot Instagram stories, posts, or DMs? Yes, you can take screenshots of Instagram stories, posts, and messages, and Instagram does not notify the other person (as of now). However, for disappearing photos/videos sent in DMs, Instagram may notify the sender. Can I screenshot WhatsApp chats or media? Yes, WhatsApp allows screenshots of chats, images, and videos. However, view-once media (photos/videos) cannot be screenshotted on some devices due to app-level restrictions. Can I screenshot YouTube videos? Yes, but: Some DRM-protected videos (especially in YouTube Premium or in browsers) may appear black when screenshotted. YouTube does not notify anyone if you take a screenshot. Can I screenshot Facebook posts, stories, or messages? Yes, you can screenshot anything on Facebook, including Messenger chats, and no notification is sent to the other person. Can I screenshot Messenger conversations? Yes, but: For end-to-end encrypted chats, Messenger may notify the other person if you take a screenshot. Regular chats can be screenshotted without any alerts. Why can’t I take a screenshot in some apps? Some apps (especially banking, streaming, or secure messaging apps) use security policies to block screenshots. This is to protect sensitive data like: Bank account details Passwords Personal information Can someone still capture my screen even if screenshots are blocked? Yes. Even if an app blocks screenshots: Someone can use another device (like a phone or camera) to take a photo or video of the screen. If a device has video output (like HDMI or screen casting), it can be used to record the screen externally. Are there apps that enhance screenshot features? Yes! There are many third-party apps available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that offer: Scrolling screenshots Annotations and markup tools Automatic cloud saving Screen recording with audio Examples include: “Screenshot Easy,” “AZ Screen Recorder,” “Snagit,” and “Lightshot.”   How to use your laptop lessons is a service provided by https://optimisedcomputing.co.uk/ for in person lessons in herefordshire