To take a screenshot on a Windows PC, press Print Screen (PrtSc) to copy the whole screen or Windows + Shift + S to pick just a piece of it. On a Mac, press Shift + Command + 3 for the full screen and Shift + Command + 4 for an area. Below are the four most useful methods, with the exact steps for each and what to do when your screenshot goes missing.
Way 1: the Print Screen key (Windows)
This is the oldest and simplest method. The key usually reads PrtSc, PrtScn or something similar, near the top right of the keyboard.
- Press Print Screen. The entire screen is copied to the clipboard, your computer’s temporary memory, but nothing is saved yet.
- Open a program that accepts images, like Paint, Word or a chat window.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste.
If you want Windows to save the file right away, use Windows + Print Screen. It captures the full screen and saves it as a PNG in the Pictures > Screenshots folder, according to guides that tested the shortcut. On many laptops the Print Screen key shares duty with another function, so you may need to hold Fn as well.
Way 2: Windows + Shift + S to snip an area
This is the shortcut most worth memorizing, because you usually want just part of the screen, not the whole monitor.
- Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims slightly to show it’s ready to capture.
- Choose the snip shape: rectangle, window, freeform or full screen.
- Drag over the area you want (or click the window, in window mode).
- Release. The snip goes to your clipboard.
Paste it anywhere with Ctrl + V. In Snipping Tool you can draw, highlight, crop and save. On Windows 11, Microsoft says snips are saved automatically to your Screenshots folder. To pick another location, open Snipping Tool and go to See More > Settings.
Way 3: Snipping Tool, with delay and recording
Select Start, type “snipping tool” and open it. It does everything the shortcuts do, and more:
- Delay: on Windows 11, choose Delay and set 1 to 5 seconds. This is for capturing menus that close when you press another key. Open the menu before the timer runs out.
- Markup: use the pen, highlighter, shapes and eraser to point out what matters before you send it.
- Text in the image: the text actions option pulls text out of the screenshot using optical character recognition (OCR). Microsoft says the processing happens on your device.
- Record your screen: press Windows + Shift + R, or in the app click Record > New. Pick the area, click Start, then Stop when you’re done. You can save the video or open it in Clipchamp to edit.
To save right away, press Ctrl + S. To copy, Ctrl + C. Features like Perfect Screenshot require a Copilot+ PC, and you don’t need them for everyday use.
Way 4: screenshots on a Mac
On a Mac the shortcuts always use Shift + Command plus a number:
- Shift + Command + 3: captures the whole screen.
- Shift + Command + 4: the pointer becomes a crosshair. Drag to choose the area and release. Hold the Space bar while dragging to move the selection without resizing it. Esc cancels.
- Shift + Command + 4, then Space bar: the pointer becomes a camera. Click a window or menu to capture only that. Hold Option while clicking to leave out the window’s shadow.
- Shift + Command + 5: opens the Screenshot app, with an Options menu for a timer, where to save, the floating thumbnail and whether to show the mouse pointer.
By default, screenshots go to your desktop with a name based on the date and time. Right after you capture, a thumbnail appears in the corner of the screen: click it to mark it up, or drag it to another folder. If you do nothing, the file saves to the desktop.
Want to copy without saving? Add Control to any shortcut, like Control + Shift + Command + 3. The screenshot goes to the clipboard and you paste it with Command + V.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Full screen, fast | Print Screen or Windows + Print Screen | Shift + Command + 3 |
| Just a piece | Windows + Shift + S | Shift + Command + 4 |
| One window | Windows + Shift + S, window mode | Shift + Command + 4, Space |
| With a delay | Snipping Tool | Shift + Command + 5 (timer) |
What to do if it doesn’t work
- The screenshot doesn’t show up anywhere on Windows: Print Screen alone only copies. Paste with Ctrl + V, or use Windows + Print Screen to save.
- The key does nothing on a laptop: try Fn + Print Screen.
- I can’t find the file: on Windows, check Pictures > Screenshots. On a Mac, check the desktop or the location under Shift + Command + 5 > Options.
- The snip shortcut won’t open: open Snipping Tool from the Start menu and click New.
Screenshots pile up and take space. To clean up, see how to free up space on Windows with the DISM command. And if you’re screenshotting network info, remember you can also see the Wi-Fi password you already use without writing anything down.
Frequently asked questions
Where are screenshots saved on Windows 11?
Snips made with Snipping Tool are saved automatically to the Screenshots folder, and you can change the location in Settings. Those made with Windows + Print Screen go to Pictures > Screenshots.
How do I screenshot just one window?
On Windows, press Windows + Shift + S and choose window mode. On a Mac, press Shift + Command + 4, then the Space bar, and click the window.
How do I record my PC screen?
On Windows 11, press Windows + Shift + R, choose the area and click Start. On a Mac, open the Screenshot app with Shift + Command + 5 and look at the available options.
Can I take a screenshot without saving the file?
Yes. On Windows, Print Screen and Windows + Shift + S copy to the clipboard. On a Mac, add the Control key to the shortcut.
