How to take a screenshot is one of the most useful skills on any device, and also one of the easiest to learn. A screenshot captures whatever is on your screen at that moment, as a picture you can save, crop, share or keep for later. You might use one to save a receipt, show a friend an error message, keep a record of a booking, or capture a funny moment from a video. The steps are different on every device, but they all follow the same idea: press a shortcut, and save the image.
This guide explains how to take a screenshot on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, including how to capture the whole screen, part of the screen, and a scrolling page. It also shows you where screenshots are saved, how to edit and share them safely, and how to fix the most common problems. To answer the question directly: on Windows press Windows plus Shift plus S, on a Mac press Command plus Shift plus 4, on iPhone press the Side button and the Volume Up button together, and on Android press Power and Volume Down together.
Why Take a Screenshot?
A screenshot is a useful way to save information that is on your screen. You can keep proof of an order, a booking reference, or a payment. You can show a support person exactly what you see when something goes wrong, which is much clearer than describing it in words. You can capture a map, a recipe, or a message that might disappear later. It is a quick, reliable way to remember something that you will need in the future.
Screenshots are also useful in work. Teachers use them for instructions, developers use them to report bugs, and anyone who writes a guide uses them to show steps. The key is to know the shortcut for your device, and to share them carefully, because a screenshot can contain phone numbers, account numbers, addresses and private messages.
How to Take a Screenshot on Windows
Windows gives you several methods. The fastest for most people is Windows key plus Shift plus S. This opens the Snipping Tool, and you can drag to select a part of the screen. The capture is copied to your clipboard, and a small notice lets you open it for editing and saving. To capture your whole screen, press the Print Screen key, sometimes labelled PrtScn, which copies the screen to the clipboard. Paste it into any picture or document with Ctrl plus V.
The Snipping Tool is also worth learning. Open it from the Start menu, click New, and choose a rectangular area, a window, or the whole screen. You can also set a delay, which is handy for a menu that disappears as soon as you click away. For games and video, press Windows key plus Alt plus Print Screen to save a capture to the Captures folder. On a Windows laptop you may need to press the Function key with Print Screen.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac
On a Mac, the shortcuts are simple and memorable, because they all start with Command plus Shift. To capture the whole screen, press Command plus Shift plus 3, and the screenshot is saved to your desktop. To capture part of the screen, press Command plus Shift plus 4, then drag to select the area. To capture a window, press Command plus Shift plus 4, then press the Spacebar, and click the window.
For more control, press Command plus Shift plus 5. This opens a toolbar with options for capturing the whole screen, a window, or a selected part, and for recording a video of your screen. From that toolbar you can change where screenshots are saved, set a timer, and choose whether the mouse pointer is shown. To copy a screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file, hold the Control key as you press the shortcut. If you work on Windows too, our article on transferring photos from phone to computer explains how to move images between devices.
How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone and iPad
On an iPhone with Face ID, press the Side button and the Volume Up button together, then quickly release both. The screen flashes white, and a thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner. Tap it to crop or add text, or swipe left to close it. On an iPhone with a Home button, press the Side button and the Home button together instead.
On an iPad, use the same buttons as an iPhone: the top button and either volume button. You can also take a full-page screenshot in Safari: tap the thumbnail, choose Full Page, and save it as a PDF. That is useful for saving a long article or a whole receipt in one file.
How to Take a Screenshot on Android
On most Android phones, press the Power button and Volume Down together, at the same time, and let go quickly. The screen flashes, and a small preview appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to edit or share the photo.
Many Android phones also offer shortcuts. On Samsung phones you can also swipe the edge of your palm across the screen to capture it, when that setting is turned on. On a Google Pixel, you can press the power button, then tap Screenshot on the screen, or ask the voice assistant to take a screenshot. To capture a long page, take a screenshot, then tap the Capture more or Scroll option where it appears, and drag to include more of the page. If you often take screenshots that might contain passwords, it is worth protecting your accounts first, for example by using our strong password generator to create unique passwords.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook
On a Chromebook, press Ctrl plus the Show Windows key. That key is the one with a rectangle and two lines next to it, at the top of the keyboard. To capture a part of the screen, press Ctrl plus Shift plus the Show Windows key, then drag to select the area. Screenshots are saved in the Downloads folder, and you can find them in the Files app, where you can preview them and move them to a different folder.
If you take a lot of screenshots, it helps to keep them organised. Our guide to organising your digital photos shows how to sort a growing collection and find pictures quickly later.
Where Are Screenshots Saved?
Screenshots are saved in a different place on every device, and it helps to know where yours go. On Windows, screenshots taken with the Print Screen key go to the clipboard, not into a file. Screenshots taken with the Snipping Tool are saved in the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder, with a file name based on the date and time. On the Mac, screenshots are saved on the desktop by default. You can change the location under Command plus Shift plus 5, then Options.
On iPhone and iPad, screenshots are saved to the Photos app, in the Screenshots album, which is in the Media Types section. On Android, screenshots are saved to the Pictures folder, under the Screenshots folder, and they are visible in the gallery or your Photos app. On a Chromebook, screenshots are saved in the Downloads folder. If you move them to a computer, use a cable or cloud sync to copy them. Old screenshots can pile up quickly, so delete the ones you no longer need. To free up space safely, read our guide to freeing up phone storage without losing photos.
Editing and Sharing a Screenshot Safely
After you take a screenshot, you can edit it before you share it. On most devices, tap the thumbnail after taking a screenshot, and you will see crop, pen and text tools. Crop out the edges you do not need, and remove details that are not relevant. If the screenshot contains a password, a card number, a phone number or an address, cover it with a solid colour or a black box before you send it anywhere. If a person appears in the background, check whether they want to be in your screenshot.
Be careful about metadata. A screenshot’s file name can give away the date, and the contents can show which device you used, which apps you had open, and what you were signed in to. Before you share a screenshot publicly, look for any reference to an account, a code, an address, or a note about someone else. If you are unsure, send a screenshot only to a person you trust.
Common Screenshot Problems and Fixes
The most common problem is a black screenshot, which often happens in banking apps and streaming services. Those apps block screenshots for security reasons, and you cannot work around the block. The second problem is a wrong shortcut. If you press Print Screen and nothing seems to happen, it may have been copied to the clipboard. Open an image editor and press Ctrl plus V, or open a document and paste it.
A third problem is that nothing is saved to a file. On the Mac, check that screenshots are set to save to the Desktop in the Options menu of Command plus Shift plus 5. On Android, the Screenshots folder is inside the Pictures folder, and you can find it in the Files app. A fourth problem is that a screenshot comes out too small when you capture only part of the screen. Try capturing the whole screen and cropping it instead, which usually gives a sharper image. If nothing works, take a photo of the screen with your phone, as a last resort.
Conclusion
How to take a screenshot depends on your device, but the idea is the same everywhere: press the right shortcut, and save the image. On Windows, use Windows plus Shift plus S. On a Mac, use Command plus Shift plus 4. On an iPhone, press Side and Volume Up together, and on Android press Power and Volume Down together. Chromebook users should use Ctrl plus Show Windows. Once the image is saved, crop it, check for private details, and share it carefully.
Screenshots are a simple tool, and a little practice makes a big difference. After a week of using them, you will reach for the shortcut without thinking, and it will become one of the most useful skills on your phone and your computer. If you need to record video instead of taking a still image, use the built-in screen recorder: on Windows press Windows plus G, on a Mac press Command plus Shift plus 5 and choose Record, and on a phone use the screen recorder in your quick settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I take a screenshot on Windows 11?
Press Windows plus Shift plus S to open the Snipping Tool and drag over the part of the screen you want. The image is copied to the clipboard, and you can open the notice to save it.
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
Press Command plus Shift plus 3 for the whole screen, Command plus Shift plus 4 to select part of the screen, or Command plus Shift plus 5 for options and screen recording.
How do I take a screenshot on an iPhone?
On an iPhone with Face ID, press the Side button and the Volume Up button together. On an iPhone with a Home button, press the Side button and the Home button together.
Why is my screenshot black?
Some apps, especially banking apps and streaming services, block screenshots for security reasons. The image is intentionally blank, and there is no setting to change it.
Where do screenshots go?
On Windows they go to the clipboard or your Pictures Screenshots folder. On the Mac they go to your desktop. On iPhone and Android, they go to the Photos and Gallery apps.