How to Take a Screenshot on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone
Screenshots are one of the most useful everyday tech skills. You can save a receipt, share an error message with support, capture directions or keep a copy of an important chat. Yet many people only know one method, and often not the fastest one.
This guide covers every major device, including handy extras like capturing a single window or taking a long scrolling screenshot.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
Snipping Tool shortcut (best option)
Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top. You can choose:
- Rectangle: drag to select any area.
- Window: click a single window to capture only that.
- Full screen: capture everything.
- Freeform: draw any shape around what you want.
The screenshot is copied to your clipboard, so you can paste it straight into WhatsApp Web, an email or a document with Ctrl + V. A notification also appears; click it to annotate, crop or save the image.
Print Screen key
- PrtScn copies the whole screen to the clipboard. On newer Windows 11 versions, this key may open the Snipping Tool instead; you can change this in Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard.
- Windows + PrtScn saves a full-screen image automatically to Pictures → Screenshots.
- Alt + PrtScn copies only the active window.
On some laptops you need to hold the Fn key together with PrtScn.
Mac
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shift + Command + 3 | Captures the entire screen |
| Shift + Command + 4 | Lets you drag to select an area |
| Shift + Command + 4, then Space | Captures a single window |
| Shift + Command + 5 | Opens the screenshot toolbar, including screen recording |
Screenshots are saved to the Desktop by default. Add Control to any shortcut to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving a file. You can change the save location from the Options menu in the Shift + Command + 5 toolbar.
Android phones
On almost every Android phone, press Power + Volume Down at the same time and release. The screen flashes and a small preview appears in the corner.
Other methods depend on the brand:
- Three-finger swipe: many Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme and OnePlus phones let you swipe down with three fingers. Turn it on in Settings by searching for "screenshot".
- Palm swipe: on Samsung phones, swipe the edge of your hand across the screen. Enable it under Settings → Advanced features → Motions and gestures.
- Quick settings: pull down the notification panel and look for a Screenshot tile.
Scrolling screenshots on Android
After taking a screenshot, look for a button labelled Capture more, Scroll or a downward arrow in the preview toolbar. Tap it to extend the screenshot down the page, which is perfect for long chats, articles or web pages.
iPhone and iPad
- iPhone with Face ID: press the Side button + Volume Up together.
- iPhone with a Home button: press the Side (or Top) button + Home button together.
A thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner. Tap it to crop and draw on the image, or swipe it away to save it to the Photos app.
Full-page screenshots in Safari
When you screenshot a web page in Safari, tap the thumbnail and choose the Full Page tab at the top. You can save the entire page as a PDF to the Files app.
Back Tap shortcut
Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap and set Double Tap to Screenshot. Now you can take a screenshot by tapping the back of your iPhone twice.
Chromebook
Press Ctrl + Show windows (the key with rectangles) for a full screenshot, or Ctrl + Shift + Show windows to choose an area or window. Screenshots are saved to the Downloads folder.
Tips for better screenshots
- Hide private information. Crop out or blur phone numbers, email addresses, account numbers and faces before sharing.
- Delete old screenshots regularly. They quietly use a lot of storage; see our guide on freeing up space on Android.
- Use screen recording when you need to show a process with several steps. Windows (Snipping Tool), Mac (Shift + Command + 5), Android and iPhone (Control Centre) all include a built-in recorder.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I screenshot some apps?
Banking apps, streaming services and some private chats block screenshots to protect sensitive content. This is intentional and cannot be bypassed from normal settings.
Where are my screenshots saved?
Windows: Pictures → Screenshots. Mac: the Desktop. Android: the Screenshots album in Gallery or Google Photos. iPhone: the Screenshots album in Photos.
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