How to Take a Screenshot on Any Device (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android)
Every screenshot shortcut you need in one place: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, plus scrolling screenshots and where your files end up.
Bookmark this one. Here's how to take a screenshot on everything you own, and where to find it afterwards.
Windows 11
| What you want | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Choose an area, window or full screen | Windows + Shift + S |
| Same thing, one key (on most PCs) | Print Screen (PrtScn) |
| Save the full screen straight to a file | Windows + Print Screen |
Windows + Shift + S opens the Snipping Tool overlay. Pick a shape, drag, and the screenshot is copied so you can paste it anywhere. Click the notification to annotate or save it.
Where they go: Windows + Print Screen saves to Pictures → Screenshots. Snipping Tool captures can be saved wherever you choose.
Mac
| What you want | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Whole screen | Cmd + Shift + 3 |
| Drag to select an area | Cmd + Shift + 4 |
| One window | Cmd + Shift + 4, then press Space and click a window |
| Toolbar with all options, including recording | Cmd + Shift + 5 |
Where they go: your Desktop by default. You can change that in the Options menu of Cmd + Shift + 5. Add Control to any shortcut to copy instead of saving, for example Cmd + Control + Shift + 4.
iPhone
- iPhones with Face ID: press the side button and volume up together.
- iPhones with a Home button: press the side (or top) button and the Home button together.
A thumbnail appears in the corner. Tap it to crop or mark up. Full-page screenshots: in Safari, tap the thumbnail and choose Full Page to save a whole web page as a PDF.
Where they go: Photos → Screenshots album.
Android
- Most Android phones: press power and volume down together.
- Samsung Galaxy: the same buttons, or swipe the edge of your hand across the screen if Palm swipe is on.
- Pixel: the same buttons, or use the Screenshot button in the recent apps view.
For a scrolling screenshot, look for Capture more or Scroll capture after taking it.
Where they go: Photos or Gallery → Screenshots.
Chromebook
| What you want | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Full screen | Ctrl + Show windows (the key with stacked rectangles) |
| Choose an area | Ctrl + Shift + Show windows |
Many newer Chromebooks also have a dedicated Screen capture key. Screenshots go to your Downloads folder.
Recording your screen instead
If you need a video rather than a still image, see free screen recorders for Windows and Mac.
Before you share a screenshot
- Crop out private details: email addresses, notifications, account numbers and the time and battery bar if you don't need them.
- Blur, don't just draw over, sensitive text. Thin pen marks can sometimes be removed.
- Check the whole image. Background tabs and notifications reveal more than people expect.
