The fastest way to capture your screen in Linux

Most Linux desktops come with a built-in screenshot tool already installed. On Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) to capture your entire screen, or Shift + Print Screen to select just the area you want. The image saves to your Pictures folder automatically. If you use a different desktop environment like KDE or GNOME, the same keyboard shortcuts work — the tool that opens depends on which one you have, but the result is the same.

For recording video instead of still images, GNOME Screen Recorder (built into Ubuntu and Fedora) starts with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R. A red dot appears in the corner while recording. Press the same keys again to stop. The video saves as an MP4 file in your Videos folder.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to capture your whole screen, or Shift + Print Screen to select a region — both save to your Pictures folder by default.
  • GNOME Screen Recorder (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R) records video on Ubuntu and Fedora without installing anything extra.
  • If your desktop environment does not include a recorder, install SimpleScreenRecorder or OBS from your package manager for more control over quality and file format.
  • Screenshots and recordings go to your Pictures or Videos folder, and you can change the save location in your screenshot tool's settings.

Using the built-in screenshot tool for more control

If you want to choose where to save your screenshot or delay the capture by a few seconds, open your screenshot process directly instead of using the keyboard shortcut. On Ubuntu and Fedora, search for "Screenshot" in your applications menu. On KDE, search for "Spectacle". The process window gives you buttons for capturing the whole screen, a window, or a selected area.

Most built-in tools let you set a delay before capture — useful if you need to open a menu or hover over something that disappears when you click. After you take the screenshot, the tool usually shows you a preview and buttons to save, copy to clipboard, or open in an image editor. Copying to clipboard is faster if you plan to paste the image directly into a document or email.

Recording with SimpleScreenRecorder for better video quality

GNOME Screen Recorder works for quick clips, but it records at a fixed quality and saves only as MP4. If you need to change the frame rate, resolution, or file format, install SimpleScreenRecorder instead. Open your package manager (Ubuntu Software, GNOME Software, or the terminal) and search for "SimpleScreenRecorder". It installs in seconds.

When you open SimpleScreenRecorder, click "Start recording" and select your output file name and location. Before you hit record, click the "Output" tab to change the video codec (H.264 is standard), frame rate (30 or 60 fps), and resolution. You can record your whole screen, a window, or a custom area. The preview pane shows you exactly what will be captured before you start.

Using OBS Studio for streaming or advanced recording

OBS Studio is the tool most people use if they stream to Twitch or YouTube, but it also works for regular screen recording. It is more complex than SimpleScreenRecorder because it lets you layer multiple sources — your screen, a webcam, text overlays, audio from your microphone and system sound. Install it from your package manager by searching for "OBS Studio".

For a basic screen recording, create a new scene, add a Display Capture source (your monitor), and click "Start Recording". OBS saves to your Videos folder by default. If you want to add your webcam or a second monitor, right-click in the Sources box and select "Add Source". You can also mute system audio or microphone before you start if you only want one or the other.

Choosing where screenshots and videos save

By default, screenshots go to your Pictures folder and videos go to your Videos folder. Both folders are in your home directory — you can open them by clicking the folder icon in your taskbar and navigating there. If you want to change where files save, open your screenshot or recording tool's settings (usually a gear icon or menu button).

In GNOME Screenshot settings, you can toggle "Save to clipboard" on or off, and set whether to save automatically or ask you each time. SimpleScreenRecorder and OBS let you pick the exact folder and file name before you record. If you record a lot of videos, create a subfolder inside Videos for each project so files do not pile up in one place.

Editing screenshots and videos after capture

Most screenshot tools include a basic editor — you can draw arrows, add text, or blur sensitive information before saving. If you need more control, open the image in GIMP (a free image editor available in your package manager). GIMP handles cropping, resizing, color correction, and adding text or shapes.

For video editing, install Shotcut or OpenShot from your package manager. Both let you trim the beginning and end, cut out sections in the middle, add captions, and export at different quality levels. If you only need to trim a few seconds off the start or end, many video players (like VLC) can do that without opening a full editor.

Troubleshooting common issues

If Print Screen does not work, your desktop environment may not have a screenshot tool installed. Open your package manager and search for "gnome-screenshot" (for GNOME desktops) or "spectacle" (for KDE). Install it and the keyboard shortcut will work. If you use a laptop, Print Screen might be combined with another key — try Fn + Print Screen or check your keyboard's label.

If your recording tool captures only a black screen, you may be using Wayland instead of X11 (two different display systems in Linux). Open your terminal and type echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE to check which one you have. Some older recording tools do not work with Wayland yet. If you see "wayland", try OBS Studio instead — it works with both systems. If you see "x11", try updating your recording tool or switching to a different one.

If your video file is huge, your recording tool is saving at too high a bitrate. In SimpleScreenRecorder, lower the bitrate in the Output tab before recording. In OBS, go to Settings > Output and reduce the bitrate under "Recording". A bitrate of 5000 to 8000 kbps gives good quality without enormous file sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record audio from my speakers and microphone at the same time?

Yes, but it depends on your tool. GNOME Screen Recorder records system audio only. SimpleScreenRecorder lets you choose system audio, microphone, or both in the Audio tab before recording. OBS lets you add separate audio sources for each — add one for system audio and another for your microphone, then adjust the volume of each in the mixer.

What format should I use if I want to share the video online?

MP4 with H.264 video codec works on every platform and website. Most Linux recording tools default to this. If your tool gives you options, choose H.264 for video and AAC for audio. This keeps file size reasonable while maintaining quality that looks good on YouTube, Discord, or email.

How do I capture just one window instead of the whole screen?

In the screenshot tool, select "Capture a window" instead of "Capture the whole screen". Click the window you want to capture. For video recording, SimpleScreenRecorder and OBS both have a "Window Capture" source option — select it and click the window you want to record.

Can I take a screenshot of something that requires scrolling?

The built-in screenshot tools capture only what is visible on screen. For a long webpage or document, use Firefox's built-in screenshot feature (right-click and select "Take Screenshot") which can capture the whole page. For other applications, you may need to take multiple screenshots and stitch them together in an image editor, or use a tool like Flameshot which has a scrolling capture option.

Why is my recording laggy or dropping frames?

Close other applications that use a lot of CPU or GPU. Lower your recording resolution or frame rate — 30 fps at 1080p uses less resources than 60 fps at 4K. In SimpleScreenRecorder or OBS, reduce the bitrate. If you are recording a game or video, lower the game's graphics settings or the video's playback quality first.