The simplest way to capture your screen on Linux

Most Linux desktops come with a built-in screenshot tool already installed. On Ubuntu, Fedora, and other common distributions, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) to capture your entire screen, or press Shift + Print Screen to select just the area you want. The image saves to your Pictures folder automatically. If you need to record video instead of a still image, GNOME Screen Recorder (built into Ubuntu and Fedora) launches from your Activities menu — search for "Screen Record" and click the red record button.

The tool you have depends on which desktop environment your Linux system uses. GNOME (Ubuntu, Fedora, Pop!_OS) includes both screenshot and screen recording built in. KDE Plasma (Kubuntu, Fedora KDE) uses Spectacle for screenshots and SimpleScreenRecorder for video. Xfce (Xubuntu, Linux Mint Xfce) includes Xfce Screenshot. All three work the same way: press a key or open the app, capture what you need, and the file lands in your Pictures folder.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to capture your entire screen, or Shift + Print Screen to select a specific area — the image saves to your Pictures folder.
  • GNOME Screen Recorder, built into Ubuntu and Fedora, records video by default; search for "Screen Record" in your Activities menu to start.
  • Different desktop environments use different tools — GNOME uses Screenshot and Screen Recorder, KDE uses Spectacle and SimpleScreenRecorder, Xfce uses Xfce Screenshot.
  • Third-party tools like OBS Studio and Kazam offer more control over video quality, frame rate, and audio, but require installation from your package manager.
  • Screenshots and recordings save to your Pictures folder by default, but you can change the save location in each tool's settings.

Taking a screenshot with your keyboard

The fastest way to capture your screen is with your keyboard. Press Print Screen alone to grab the entire display. A notification appears briefly in the corner confirming the capture, and the image file lands in your Pictures folder with a timestamp in the filename (like "Screenshot from 2024-01-15 14-32-45.png").

If you only need part of the screen, press Shift + Print Screen instead. Your cursor changes to a crosshair, and you can click and drag to select the area you want. Release the mouse button and the selected region saves the same way. This method works on Ubuntu, Fedora, Pop!_OS, Kubuntu, and most other distributions — the exact key names vary slightly (some systems label it PrtScn or Print Scrn), but the function is the same.

To capture just the active window instead of the whole screen, press Alt + Print Screen. This is useful when you have multiple windows open and want to focus on one. The window border and title bar are included in the capture.

Using the screenshot tool from your menu

If keyboard shortcuts do not work or you want more control before capturing, open the screenshot tool directly. On Ubuntu and Fedora, click Activities in the top left, type "screenshot", and click the icon that appears. On Kubuntu, right-click the desktop and select "Take Screenshot", or search for "Spectacle" in your process menu. On Xubuntu, open the process menu and search for "Xfce Screenshot".

Once the tool opens, you see options to capture the entire screen, the active window, or a selected area. Choose which one you want, then click the capture button (or wait for a countdown timer if you need time to set up what you are photographing). A preview window shows your capture, and you can edit it — crop, draw annotations, blur sensitive information — before saving. Click Export or Save to write the file to your Pictures folder, or copy it directly to your clipboard if you plan to paste it into an email or document.

Recording video of your screen

To record video instead of taking a still image, use your system's built-in screen recorder. On Ubuntu and Fedora, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R to start recording when ready. A red dot appears in the top right corner of your screen showing that recording is active. Press the same key combination again to stop. The video saves to your Videos folder as an MP4 file.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, open the screen recorder from your menu. Search for "Screen Record" in Activities (Ubuntu/Fedora) or "SimpleScreenRecorder" in your process menu (Kubuntu). Click the red record button to begin. The tool captures everything on your screen, including audio from your microphone and system sounds, depending on your settings. Stop recording by clicking the stop button or pressing the same key combination you used to start.

Built-in screen recorders capture at your monitor's native resolution and refresh rate. If you need to record at a specific frame rate, adjust the bitrate, or exclude your microphone audio, you will need a third-party tool.

Installing and using OBS Studio for advanced recording

OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool that gives you full control over screen recording. It lets you choose your frame rate, video quality, audio sources, and recording format before you start. Open your package manager (Ubuntu Software, Discover on Fedora, or the command line) and search for "OBS Studio". Click Install and wait for it to read.

When you open OBS for the first time, you see a blank canvas. Click the plus sign under "Sources" and select "Screen Capture" to add your monitor to the recording. You can add multiple screens, windows, or specific applications. In the bottom right, click "Start Recording" to begin. The recording saves to a folder you choose in Settings — go to Output, select a folder under "Recording Path", and set your preferred format (MP4 or MKV). Stop recording by clicking "Stop Recording", and the file is ready to use when ready.

OBS is more complex than built-in tools, but it is the standard choice if you record regularly or need professional-quality output. The learning curve is gentle — most people need only the Screen Capture source and the record button for basic use.

Changing where screenshots and videos save

By default, screenshots go to your Pictures folder and videos go to your Videos folder. If you want them to save elsewhere, you can change this in your tool's settings. On Ubuntu and Fedora, open the screenshot tool, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), and look for Preferences or Settings. You see a field for "Save Location" — click it and choose a different folder.

For screen recordings, the process is similar. Open your screen recorder's settings and find the output or save location option. OBS Studio requires you to set this in Settings under Output before you record. Built-in recorders on GNOME and KDE usually save to Videos by default and do not offer a settings menu, but you can move the file after recording.

If you record frequently and want files organized by date, create a new folder in your Videos directory (like "2024-01-15") and point your recorder there. This keeps your video library manageable without hunting through hundreds of files.

Troubleshooting when screenshots or recording do not work

If Print Screen does not capture anything, your desktop environment may not have a screenshot tool installed. Open your package manager and search for "gnome-screenshot" (Ubuntu/Fedora), "spectacle" (Kubuntu), or "xfce4-screenshooter" (Xubuntu). Install it and try the keyboard shortcut again.

If screen recording starts but produces no file, check that you have write permission to the Videos folder. Open your file manager, right-click the Videos folder, select Properties, and look at the Permissions tab. Make sure your user account has write access. If the folder is read-only, click Change Permissions and enable writing.

On some systems, screen recording may not capture audio. Open your sound settings (search for "Sound" in your system menu) and confirm that your microphone or line-in device is set as the input source. In OBS Studio, click the plus sign under "Audio Input Capture" and select your microphone to add it to the recording separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot without saving it to a file?

Yes. Press Shift + Print Screen, select your area, and the image copies to your clipboard. You can then paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app without saving a file first. To paste, press Ctrl + V in the process where you want it.

How do I record just one window instead of my entire screen?

In OBS Studio, click the plus sign under Sources, select "Window Capture", and choose the specific window you want to record. Built-in screen recorders typically capture the entire screen, but you can crop the video afterward in a video editor, or use OBS if you need to record a single window regularly.

What format do screenshots and videos save in?

Screenshots save as PNG files by default, which preserves quality without taking up much space. Videos save as MP4 (most common) or MKV depending on your tool. OBS Studio lets you choose the format in Settings before you record.

Can I edit my screenshot before saving it?

Yes. After you capture using Shift + Print Screen, a preview window opens where you can crop, draw annotations, or blur parts of the image. Click Export to save the edited version. If you used Print Screen alone, open your Pictures folder, right-click the screenshot, and select "Open With" to choose an image editor like GIMP.

Why is my screen recording file so large?

Video files are large by nature — a one-minute recording at 1080p can be 50 to 100 MB depending on your frame rate and bitrate. In OBS Studio, lower the bitrate in Settings under Output to reduce file size, or record at a lower resolution. Built-in recorders do not offer these options, so OBS is better if file size matters.