How to Take a Screenshot on Windows, Mac, and Linux

The fastest way to capture your screen

A screenshot is a still image of what you see on your screen right now. On Windows, press Print Screen (or PrtScn) to capture your whole screen, or Windows key + Shift + S to select just the part you want. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen or Command + Shift + 4 to select a portion. On Linux, Print Screen usually works, though some systems use Shift + Print Screen instead.

The image goes to your clipboard — a temporary holding space in your computer's memory. From there, you can paste it into an email, document, or image editor by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows and Linux) or Command + V (Mac). If you want to save it as a file instead of pasting it, use the built-in screenshot tool on your system, which lets you choose where to save it before you take the shot.

Key Takeaways

Windows: Press Print Screen for the whole screen, or Windows key + Shift + S to select a portion and save it directly.
Mac: Press Command + Shift + 3 for the whole screen, or Command + Shift + 4 to select an area, and the file saves to your desktop automatically.
Linux: Press Print Screen or Shift + Print Screen depending on your desktop environment, then paste the image or use your screenshot tool to save it.
Screenshots go to your clipboard by default, so you can paste them when ready into documents, emails, or image editors.

Windows screenshot tools and keyboard shortcuts

Windows has two main ways to take a screenshot. The quickest is Print Screen, which captures your entire screen and puts it in your clipboard. You then paste it into Paint, Word, an email, or anywhere else you need it. This method does not save a file — it just holds the image temporarily.

For more control, use Windows key + Shift + S. This opens the Snipping Tool interface, which lets you draw a rectangle around the part of the screen you want to capture. Once you release the mouse, the image goes to your clipboard and a small notification appears in the bottom right corner. Click that notification to open the image in the Snip & Sketch editor, where you can crop it, draw on it, or save it as a file.

If you want screenshots to save automatically as files instead of going to your clipboard, press Windows key + Shift + S, take your screenshot, then click the notification and choose Save as. Windows will ask you where to save it and what to name it. You can also open the Snipping Tool directly from your Start menu and choose New to start a fresh capture.

Mac screenshot tools and keyboard shortcuts

Mac saves screenshots as files on your desktop by default, not to your clipboard. Press Command + Shift + 3 to capture your entire screen — the file appears on your desktop with a name like "Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 2.30.45 PM.png". Press Command + Shift + 4 to select just the part you want; your cursor becomes a crosshair, and you drag to draw a rectangle around the area.

If you want the screenshot in your clipboard instead of as a file, hold Control while you press the shortcut. So Command + Control + Shift + 3 captures the whole screen to your clipboard, and Command + Control + Shift + 4 lets you select an area and copy it. This is useful when you want to paste the image directly into an email or document without saving a separate file.

Mac also has the Screenshot app, which you can open from Spotlight (press Command + Space, type "Screenshot", and press Enter). This app gives you options to capture the whole screen, a window, or a selected area, and it lets you set a timer so you can capture something that appears after a delay. You can also choose whether to save as a file or copy to your clipboard before you take the shot.

Linux screenshot tools and keyboard shortcuts

Linux screenshot tools vary by desktop environment. On most systems, pressing Print Screen captures your whole screen. On some desktops like GNOME, this opens a screenshot tool that lets you select an area or save the full screen. On others like KDE, it may save directly to a file in your Pictures folder.

If Print Screen does not work, try Shift + Print Screen, which often opens a selection tool. You can also right-click your desktop and look for a screenshot or capture option in the menu. If your system has GNOME, you can open the Screenshot process from your applications menu — it works similarly to Mac's tool, with options to capture the whole screen, a window, or a selected area, and a timer if you need one.

For more advanced options, install Flameshot or Shutter from your package manager. These tools let you annotate screenshots, blur sensitive information, and choose exactly where to save files. Open your package manager (like Ubuntu Software Center or your system's app store), search for the tool by name, and install it. Once installed, you can usually set a keyboard shortcut to launch it — check your system settings under Keyboard Shortcuts.

Saving and editing your screenshot

Once you have taken a screenshot, you need to decide whether to save it as a file or use it right away. If the image is in your clipboard, you can paste it directly into an email, document, or messaging app by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows and Linux) or Command + V (Mac). This is the fastest route if you just need to send the image to someone or include it in a document.

To save a screenshot as a file, use your system's built-in editor. On Windows, open Paint (search for it in your Start menu), paste the image with Ctrl + V, then go to File > Save As and choose a location and filename. On Mac, if your screenshot is on your desktop, just double-click it to open it in Preview, where you can crop, rotate, or annotate it before saving. On Linux, right-click the file and choose Open With, then select an image editor like GIMP or Krita.

If you need to edit your screenshot — crop out sensitive information, add arrows or text, or blur parts of it — use a free tool like Paint (Windows), Preview (Mac), or GIMP (all systems). These tools let you draw on the image, add text, and save it in different formats like PNG or JPG. Most of these editors are already on your computer; if not, you can read GIMP for free from gimp.org.

Choosing between full-screen and partial screenshots

A full-screen screenshot captures everything on your monitor, including your taskbar, open windows, and desktop background. Use this when you want to show someone the entire state of your screen — for example, if you are reporting a technical problem and want to show all your open programs at once. The downside is that full-screen shots often include things you do not need, like your taskbar or other windows, which makes the image larger and harder to read.

A partial screenshot lets you select just the part you want to capture. This is usually better because it removes clutter and focuses on the specific thing you are trying to show. If you are showing someone how to find a button in a menu, a partial screenshot of just that menu is clearer than a full-screen shot of your entire desktop. All three operating systems have tools to select a portion — Windows key + Shift + S on Windows, Command + Shift + 4 on Mac, and Print Screen or Shift + Print Screen on Linux.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does my screenshot go after I press Print Screen?

It goes to your clipboard, a temporary holding space in your computer's memory. You can paste it into any program by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows and Linux) or Command + V (Mac). If you close all your programs without pasting it, the screenshot is lost. To save it as a file instead, use your system's screenshot tool — Windows key + Shift + S on Windows, or Command + Shift + 3 on Mac.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window?

Yes. On Windows, press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window. On Mac, press Command + Shift + 4, then press Space, and click the window you want. On Linux, use your screenshot tool's window selection option, or press Shift + Print Screen and select the window. This is useful when you have multiple programs open and only want to show one.

What file format should I save my screenshot in?

PNG is the best choice for most screenshots because it is lossless (no quality loss) and smaller than JPG. Most screenshot tools save as PNG by default. Use JPG only if you are sending the image over email and file size matters. Avoid BMP because it creates very large files. Your image editor lets you choose the format when you save — just look for a dropdown menu that says "Save as type" or "Format".

How do I take a screenshot of something that appears after a delay?

Use the timer feature in your system's screenshot tool. On Mac, open the Screenshot app and set a delay before clicking Capture. On Windows, use the Snipping Tool and set a delay in the options. On Linux, use Flameshot or your screenshot app's timer. The timer gives you time to navigate to the thing you want to capture before the screenshot is taken.

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