How to Take a Screenshot on Any Device
The exact keyboard shortcuts and steps to capture your screen on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Chromebook.
3 min read · Updated 2026-04-01
General information only. This article may include AI-assisted content. While we aim for accuracy, verify important details before acting on them.
Screenshots are one of the most useful things you can do on any device, but the method is different on every platform. Here's the complete reference.
Windows
Full screen: Press PrtScn (Print Screen) — this copies the screenshot to your clipboard. Paste it into Paint, Word, or any image editor.
Full screen and save automatically: Press Windows + PrtScn — saves directly to Pictures → Screenshots folder.
Active window only: Press Alt + PrtScn — captures only the window you're currently using.
Custom area (best option): Press Windows + Shift + S — your screen dims and you drag to select exactly what you want. Saves to clipboard and shows a notification you can click to save.
Snipping Tool: Search for "Snipping Tool" in Start — gives you timer options, annotation tools, and more control.
Mac
Full screen: Command + Shift + 3 — saves to desktop automatically.
Custom area: Command + Shift + 4 — cursor turns into crosshairs, drag to select area.
Specific window: Command + Shift + 4, then press Space — cursor turns into a camera, click any window to capture it.
Screenshot toolbar (most flexible): Command + Shift + 5 — opens a toolbar with all options plus screen recording.
All screenshots save to the desktop by default. You can change this in the screenshot toolbar (Options → Save to).
iPhone
iPhone with Face ID (no home button): Press Side button + Volume Up simultaneously. Screenshot appears in the bottom-left corner — tap it to edit, or swipe left to dismiss and it saves to Photos.
iPhone with Touch ID (home button): Press Home button + Side button simultaneously.
Android
Most Android phones: Power button + Volume Down simultaneously. Hold for 1–2 seconds.
Some Samsung phones also support: Swipe the edge of your palm across the screen. Enable this in Settings → Advanced Features → Motions and Gestures → Palm swipe to capture.
Screenshots save to Gallery → Screenshots.
Chromebook
Full screen: Ctrl + Show Windows key (the key that looks like a rectangle with lines, usually where F5 is)
Custom area: Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows — drag to select.
Screenshots save to your Downloads folder.
iPad
Same as iPhone — press Top button + Volume Up simultaneously (or Top button + Home button on older models with a home button).
Quick Tips
- On any device, if you need to annotate a screenshot (draw arrows, add text), use the built-in markup tools that appear right after taking a screenshot
- For long pages that don't fit one screen, search for a "scrolling screenshot" or "full page screenshot" option — many phones and browsers support this
- Chrome and Firefox let you take full-page screenshots of websites: press F12 → click the three-dot menu → Capture screenshot → Capture full size screenshot