How Do I Take a Screenshot on Any Device?

Every platform has its own shortcut and every platform has changed it at least once, which is why this question gets asked so often. The current methods, all in one place.

Windows

• Windows + Shift + S: opens the snipping toolbar. Drag to select a region, or choose window or full screen. The capture goes to the clipboard and a notification lets you edit and save it.
• PrtScn: copies the whole screen to the clipboard. Paste into any app.
• Windows + PrtScn: saves the whole screen directly to Pictures > Screenshots.
• Alt + PrtScn: copies only the active window.

On some laptops the PrtScn key needs the Fn key held as well.

Mac

• Cmd + Shift + 3: the whole screen, saved to the desktop.
• Cmd + Shift + 4: drag to select an area. Press the space bar after to capture a specific window instead.
• Cmd + Shift + 5: opens the screenshot toolbar with options for screen recording and where to save.
• Add Ctrl to any of these to copy to the clipboard instead of saving a file.

iPhone

• Face ID models: press the side button and volume up at the same time.
• Home button models: press the home button and the side or top button together.

A thumbnail appears bottom left. Tap it to crop, mark up or, in Safari, capture the full scrolling page. Screenshots land in Photos under a Screenshots album.

Android

• Most phones: press power and volume down together, briefly.
• Samsung: the same, or swipe the edge of your palm across the screen if that gesture is enabled.
• Pixel and many others: swipe up to the app switcher and tap Screenshot beneath the app.

Look for a Capture more or Scroll option immediately after, for long pages. Files go to the Gallery or Photos app.

Chromebook

• Ctrl + Show Windows (the key with a rectangle and two lines): whole screen.
• Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows: opens a toolbar to select an area or window.

Screenshots save to Downloads and appear in the clipboard.

iPad

Same as iPhone: top button and volume up, or home and top button on older models. With an Apple Pencil, swipe up from either bottom corner.

Before you share one

A screenshot captures everything on screen, including notification previews, other tabs, usernames and anything in the background. Crop to what matters.

If you need to hide something, cover it properly. Light blur and semi-transparent highlighter are frequently reversible. A solid block that replaces the pixels is not.

And remember that screenshots of documents, chats and forms can carry more than is visible, such as account numbers in a partly scrolled field or a timestamp that gives away where you were. Look at the whole image once before sending it anywhere.