How To Take Screenshots On Windows or MAC – A Complete Guide
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to capture a screenshot while using a laptop, it could be due to various reasons. Are you unable to locate the traditional Print Screen shortcut you are accustomed to, or is the Print Screen key on your laptop no longer functional? This guide will provide you with the necessary steps to address both scenarios. Depending on your laptop or computer, you can take a screenshot in a number of different ways. Screenshots can be captured and stored in a variety of common operating systems, including Windows and macOS.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots in Windows
By Pressing the Print Screen key
Since the first method has been around since the very beginning of Windows, it is also the most popular. To take a screenshot on your laptop or desktop, press the Print Screen key on your keyboard. The CTRL+Print Screen shortcut can also be used to take a screenshot.
Windows takes a screenshot of the entire screen and copies it to the clipboard. The image should then be pasted into an image editing software like Paint. The screenshot can now be saved as a file and modified in a few simple ways. In Windows 10 and Windows 7, using the Print Screen key to take screenshots is functional.
By Pressing the Win+Print Screen keys
Would you like to capture your complete screen and save it as an image to your computer? By using the simple Print Screen shortcut, you may do this without any additional software. On a Windows 10 computer, press Win+Print Screen simultaneously to capture a full-screen image.
By using the Windows+Shift+S keyboard shortcut
If you’re using Windows 10, you can copy a section of your screen to your clipboard by pressing Windows+Shift+S at the same time. When you use this shortcut to take screenshots in Windows 10, your screen fades and a crosshair cursor appears.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots in MAC
Follow these instructions to snap a screenshot on your MacBook:
- To capture a snapshot of the whole screen, simultaneously press Shift+Command+3 on your keyboard.
- Your screen’s corner will display a confirmation that a screenshot was captured along with a thumbnail of the snapshot.
- Click on the preview if you want to edit this screenshot. You will need to wait for the screenshot to be saved if it isn’t.
FAQs
<strong><em>Can we take Screenshots on MAC?</em></strong>
Yes, you can take screenshots on a Mac, and there are several ways to do it. Here are the common methods:Command + Shift + 3:Press and hold the “Command” key (⌘).Press and hold the “Shift” key.While holding both keys, press the “3” key.By default, the screenshot will save to your desktop.Command + Shift + 4 (to capture a selected portion of the screen):Press and hold the “Command” key (⌘).Press and hold the “Shift” key.While holding both keys, press the “4” key.Your cursor will change to a crosshair.Click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.Command + Shift + 4, then Spacebar (to capture a specific window):Press and hold the “Command” key (⌘).Press and hold the “Shift” key.While holding both keys, press the “4” key.Press the “Spacebar.”Move the camera cursor over the window you want to capture.Click to take a screenshot.Using the Screenshot App:Press and hold the “Command” key (⌘).Press and hold the “Shift” key.While holding both keys, press the “5” key.This opens the Screenshot app with options for capturing the entire screen, a selected portion, or a specific window.
<strong>Can I take screenshots of specific menus or dropdowns on Windows or Mac?</strong>
Yes, on both Windows and Mac, you can use the Snipping Tool (on Windows) or Grab (on Mac) to capture specific menus or dropdowns by selecting the window or menu option you want to capture before taking the screenshot.
<strong>Are there any third-party applications for taking screenshots on Windows or Mac?</strong>
Yes, there are many third-party applications available for taking screenshots on both Windows and Mac, offering additional features such as annotation, editing, and sharing. Examples include Snagit, Lightshot, Greenshot, and Skitch.
<strong>Can I edit screenshots before saving them on Windows or Mac?</strong>
Yes, you can edit screenshots using image editing software like Paint on Windows or Preview on Mac. These programs allow you to crop, annotate, and make other modifications to your screenshots before saving them.
<strong>Can I take screenshots of specific areas or windows on Windows or Mac?</strong>
Yes, both Windows and Mac allow you to capture specific areas or windows on the screen. Use the appropriate keyboard shortcuts mentioned earlier to capture the entire screen, a selected portion of the screen, or a specific window.
<strong>How do I take a screenshot of a dropdown menu on Windows?</strong>
On Windows, you can’t directly capture dropdown menus using the “PrtScn” key. However, you can use the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch app to capture dropdown menus by selecting the specific area you want to capture.
<strong>Can I annotate or edit screenshots on Windows or Mac?</strong>
Yes, both Windows and Mac have built-in image editing tools that allow you to annotate or edit screenshots. You can also use third-party image editing software for more advanced editing capabilities.
<strong>Is there a way to take a screenshot and automatically save it as a file on Windows?</strong>
Yes, press Windows + PrtScn, and the screenshot will be saved automatically in the Pictures library, under the Screenshots folder.
<strong>Can I customize the keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots on Windows?</strong>
Yes, you can use third-party software or customize keyboard shortcuts in some applications to take screenshots on Windows. However, built-in options are limited to default shortcuts.
