How to Screenshot on Laptop — Windows, Mac, Chromebook

To take a screenshot on a laptop, press Windows + Shift + S on Windows, Shift + Command + 4 on Mac, Ctrl + Show Windows on Chromebook, or PrtSc/Screenshot app on Linux. Save, edit, or share instantly.

Learning how to take a screenshot on your laptop has never been easier.

Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, or Chromebook, this guide will show you step-by-step, quick, and easy methods to capture a screenshot, save it, and edit it instantly.

You’ll discover keyboard shortcuts, built-in tools like Print Screen, Snipping Tool, and Snip & Sketch, as well as optional third-party apps to make capturing your screen effortless.

From taking a full-screen screenshot to capturing just a single window or partial screen, this guide covers everything you need to learn how to screenshot like a pro, including tips and tricks for saving, editing, and sharing your images quickly.

Methods

Method 1 — Print Screen (PrtSc)

Press PrtSc (or Fn+PrtSc on some laptops) to copy the full screen to clipboard. Paste into Paint or your editor (Ctrl+V) and save.

Method 2 — Windows + PrtSc

Press Windows + PrtSc to save a screenshot to Pictures > Screenshots automatically.

Method 3 — Snipping Tool

Open Snipping Tool (Start menu). Click New and choose Rectangular, Free-form, Window or Full-screen. Edit and save.

Method 4 — Snip & Sketch

Press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snip & Sketch toolbar, select an area and edit from the notification.

Method 5 — HP Built-in Tools

Some HP laptops include a camera or screenshot function key (often F12). Use it or HP apps to capture and annotate directly.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action
Shortcut
Saved To
Full screen
Clipboard (paste into editor)
Active window
Clipboard
Save fullscreen automatically
Pictures > Screenshots
Snip & Sketch toolbar
Clipboard / Notification

Tips & Screen Recording

  • Clear unnecessary windows for a neat capture.
  • Use PNG for best quality.
  • Organize screenshots into folders for easy access.

Screen recording: Use Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G) or press Windows + Alt + R to start/stop recording.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I take a screenshot quickly?

Use PrtSc, Alt + PrtSc, Windows + PrtSc, or Windows + Shift + S.

Where are screenshots saved?

Default: Pictures > Screenshots when using Windows + PrtSc. Otherwise paste from the clipboard into an editor and save manually.

What format is best?

PNG preserves image detail and is recommended for screenshots.

Laptop Screenshot Shortcut Keyboard

Common Questions

Press Windows + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch, select the area, then paste or save. Or press PrtSc to copy the full screen.

Press Shift + Command + 4 to select an area, or Shift + Command + 3 to capture the full screen. The screenshot saves automatically to your desktop.

Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the key with a rectangle and two lines) to capture your screen. The screenshot is saved in your Downloads folder.

Press PrtSc to capture the full screen or Shift + PrtSc to select an area. Most Linux distributions also have a Screenshot app.

Check your default save location, ensure you have permission to write files, and try using a different method (keyboard shortcut or screenshot tool).

Open the screenshot in your built-in editor like Paint (Windows), Preview (Mac), or a third-party tool like Snagit or Lightshot.

Yes, use browser extensions like GoFullPage for Chrome or Firefox’s built-in full-page capture feature.