Taking screenshots is a skill that comes in handy for various tasks, from capturing memorable moments to sharing important information. Instead of relying on third-party software, you can effortlessly capture your screen using built-in keyboard shortcuts. In this post, we’ll guide you through the simple steps to take screenshots on your computer like a pro.
Screenshot Options
Capture the Entire Screen
For Windows: Press the “PrtScn” (Print Screen) key. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
For Mac: Press “Command (⌘) + Shift + 3.” The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
Capture a Specific Area (Our Personal Favorite)
For Windows: Press “Windows + Shift + S” to open the Snip & Sketch tool, which allows you to select and capture a specific area. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
For Mac: Press “Command (⌘) + Shift + 4.” Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
Capture a Single Window
For Windows: Press “Alt + PrtScn.” The screenshot of the active window will be copied to your clipboard.
For Mac: Press “Command (⌘) + Shift + 4” and then press the “Spacebar.” Your cursor will turn into a camera icon. Click on the window you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop.
Annotate and Edit Screenshot
You can further enhance your screenshot by clicking the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right corner of your screen after capturing. This opens the screenshot in the Markup tool, allowing you to annotate, crop, or make other adjustments before saving or sharing.
Clipboard and Saving
After taking a screenshot, it’s either copied to your clipboard or saved as a file, depending on the method you used. To access a clipboard screenshot, paste it into an image editor (e.g., Paint on Windows) and save it. Desktop-saved screenshots can be found in the “Screenshots” folder on Windows or directly on your desktop for Mac.
Advanced Options
For Windows: If you want to change the default location where screenshots are saved, you can customize these settings in the “Captures” section of Settings.
For Mac: If you want to change the default location where screenshots are saved on a Mac or include a timestamp in the file name, you can customize these settings in the “Screenshot” section of your Mac’s System Preferences.