how to screenshot on chromebook

How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is a simple process that can be achieved in a few different ways, depending on what part of your screen you want to capture: the entire screen, a partial screenshot, or a window.

Step 1: Decide What You Want to Capture

Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to take a screenshot of your entire screen, just a portion of it, or a specific window. Here’s how you can do each:

Step 2: Capture the Entire Screen

To take a screenshot of the entire screen, follow these steps:

1. Look for the ‘Show Windows’ key on your Chromebook. This key usually has a rectangle with two trailing lines on the right, resembling a window or is marked with an icon similar to a camera.
2. Press the Ctrl key and the ‘Show Windows’ key simultaneously.
3. You will see a notification at the bottom right of your screen indicating that the screenshot has been taken and saved.

Step 3: Capture a Portion of the Screen

If you only want to capture part of the screen:

1. Press the Ctrl key, the Shift key, and the ‘Show Windows’ key together.
2. Your screen will dim, and your cursor will turn into a crosshair.
3. Click and drag with your cursor to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
4. Release the mouse or touchpad button to take the screenshot.
5. As with the full-screen option, you will get a notification that your screenshot has been taken and saved.

Step 4: Capture a Specific Window

To take a screenshot of a specific window:

1. Open the window that you want to capture.
2. Press the Ctrl key, the Alt key, and the ‘Show Windows’ key together.
3. Your cursor will change to a camera, and the window will be highlighted.
4. Click on the window to capture it.
5. A notification will appear to confirm the screenshot has been taken and saved.

Step 5: Access Your Screenshots

Your Chromebook saves the screenshots in the Downloads folder by default. You can access them by:

1. Opening the Files app from your Chromebook’s app launcher.
2. Navigating to the Downloads folder.
3. Finding your screenshot, which will be named with the date and time it was taken.

Additional Tips

You can also take screenshots using external keyboards connected to your Chromebook by using the Ctrl key and F5 for a full screenshot and Ctrl + Shift + F5 for a partial screenshot.

Remember, the screenshot feature will capture everything visible on your screen, so make sure to close or minimize any sensitive information before taking a screenshot.

Lastly, screenshots can be edited or annotated after you capture them using the built-in image editor in the Files app or any other image editing app that you prefer on your Chromebook.

Following these steps should help you successfully take a screenshot on your Chromebook.