How to Take a Screenshot on Your PC, Phone and Tablet

A screenshot is a picture of what's on your screen: handy for showing tech support an error message, saving a receipt or sharing something with a friend. You don't need to buy anything. Windows has several built-in ways to take one, and the right one depends on whether you want the whole screen, one window or just part of it. Phones and tablets are covered at the end.

1. Capture Part of the Screen (Windows + Shift + S)

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This is the quickest way to grab exactly what you need.

1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool capture bar.
2. Choose a mode: Rectangle, Window, Full screen or Freeform.
3. Drag across the area you want (or click a window).
4. Paste the screenshot where you need it with Ctrl + V.

In Windows 11, Snipping Tool also saves your snips to the Screenshots folder automatically. You can change this in Snipping Tool under See more > Settings.

Expected result: the area you chose is on the clipboard, ready to paste.

2. Use the Print Screen Key

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What PrtScn (Print Screen) does depends on a setting:

• With Use the Print screen key to open screen capture turned on, PrtScn opens the same snipping bar as Windows logo key + Shift + S.
• With it turned off, PrtScn copies an image of your whole screen to the clipboard.

To change it in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn Use the Print screen key to open screen capture on or off. In Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and use the Print Screen shortcut toggle.

Expected result: pressing PrtScn either opens the snipping bar or puts the full screen on your clipboard, as you chose.

3. Save the Whole Screen as a File (Windows + PrtScn)

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1. Press Windows logo key + PrtScn.
2. Open File Explorer, select Pictures in the left pane, then open Screenshots.

If your keyboard has no PrtScn key, Microsoft suggests Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar instead.

Expected result: a new image of your whole screen is in Pictures > Screenshots.

4. Capture One Window (Alt + PrtScn)

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1. Click the window you want so it's active.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn. Only that window is copied to the clipboard.
3. Paste it with Ctrl + V.

Expected result: the pasted image shows just the active window, without your desktop or taskbar.

5. Use the Snipping Tool App for More Options

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Open the app when you need a delay, want to mark up a screenshot or want to save it with a name.

1. Select Start, type snipping tool and select Snipping Tool.
2. Pick a snipping mode. To capture a menu or tooltip, select Delay and choose a time such as 5 seconds, select New, then open the menu before the countdown ends.
3. Mark up the screenshot with the Pen, Highlighter or Eraser.
4. Press Ctrl + C to copy it or Ctrl + S to save it.

Windows 10: choose the type of snip from the Mode menu, then select New (Full screen captures straight away). Save with the Save Snip button. To capture a menu, open Snipping Tool, open the menu, then press Ctrl + PrtScn.

Expected result: your screenshot is copied or saved where you chose.

6. Record Your Screen (Windows 11)

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1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, or open Snipping Tool and select Record > New.
2. Drag to choose the area to record, then select Start.
3. Select Stop when you're done, then save the recording.

Windows 10's Snipping Tool can't record video.

Expected result: a video of the area you chose, ready to save or share.

7. Take a Screenshot on a Phone, Tablet or Mac

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iPhone

• With Face ID: press the side button and the volume up button at the same time, then quickly release both.
• With a Home button: press the side button (the top button on older models) and the Home button at the same time, then quickly release both.

Find them in Photos > Collections > Media Types > Screenshots.

iPad

• Without a Home button: press the top button and either volume button at the same time, then quickly release both.
• With a Home button: press the top button and the Home button at the same time, then quickly release both.

Find them in Photos > Collections > Media Types > Screenshots.

Android Phone or Tablet

Press the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time. If that doesn't work, press and hold Power and tap Screenshot. Steps vary between devices, so check your maker's support site if neither works. Find them in Photos > Collections > On this device > Screenshots.

Mac

Press Shift-Command-3 for the whole screen, Shift-Command-4 to select an area, or Shift-Command-5 for more options. Screenshots save to your desktop by default.