How to Take a Screenshot on Your Computer

Learn how to capture what is on your screen on Windows or Mac, and how to save, find, and share your screenshots.

Easy 5 steps all ~8 min March 6, 2026

What you will learn

In this guide, you will learn how to take a picture of whatever is shown on your computer screen. This is called a screenshot. It is useful for saving information, sharing something you see online, or showing someone a problem on your computer.

What you need

A computer (Windows or Mac)
A keyboard

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Take a full screenshot on Windows

Press the Print Screen key on your keyboard. It may be labelled PrtSc, PrtScn, or Print Screen. It is usually in the top-right area of the keyboard.

This copies an image of your entire screen to the clipboard. You can paste it into a document or email by pressing Ctrl + V.

To save it directly as a file, press Windows key + Print Screen. Your screen will flash briefly. The image is saved in Pictures > Screenshots.

Step 2: Take a full screenshot on Mac

Press Cmd + Shift + 3 at the same time.

You will hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail will appear briefly in the corner of your screen. The screenshot is saved as a file on your Desktop.

Step 3: Capture part of the screen on Windows

Press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim and a toolbar will appear at the top.

Click and drag your mouse to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the selected area is copied to your clipboard.

A notification will appear. Click it to open the Snipping Tool, where you can save the image as a file.

Step 4: Capture part of the screen on Mac

Press Cmd + Shift + 4. Your cursor will change to a crosshair.

Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse when you have the right area. The screenshot is saved to your Desktop.

On Windows: Open File Explorer and go to Pictures > Screenshots.

On Mac: Look on your Desktop for files named “Screenshot” followed by the date and time.

To share a screenshot, you can:

Attach it to an email
Send it in a WhatsApp or Messenger chat
Copy and paste it into a document

Tips

On Windows, the Snipping Tool app lets you take screenshots with more options. Search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu.
On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + 5 to open a screenshot toolbar with options for full screen, window, or area capture, plus screen recording.
If you take many screenshots, create a folder to organise them so your Desktop does not get cluttered.

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Frequently asked questions

Where do screenshots get saved?

On Windows, screenshots taken with the Windows+Print Screen shortcut are saved in the Pictures > Screenshots folder. On Mac, screenshots appear on your Desktop by default.

Can I take a screenshot of just part of the screen?

Yes. On Windows, press Windows+Shift+S to select an area. On Mac, press Cmd+Shift+4 to draw a rectangle around the part you want to capture.

How do I take a screenshot if my keyboard has no Print Screen key?

Many laptop keyboards combine the Print Screen function with another key. Look for PrtSc or PrtScn on your keyboard. You may need to press the Fn key along with it. On Mac, use Cmd+Shift+3.

Can I paste a screenshot into an email?

Yes. After taking a screenshot, you can paste it directly into an email by pressing Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac) in the email body.

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