Key: How to Use Print Screen

This updated guide examines Key: How to Use Print Screen and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

On Windows

1. Find your computer's "Print Screen" key. It's usually in the upper-right side of the keyboard, right a key or two of theF12key. The "Print Screen" key usually has "sys req" ("System Requirements") written on it as well.
   • The "Print Screen" key might be labeled "prt sc", "prt scr", "print scr", and so on.
   • If the "Print Screen" (or similar) text is below other text on the key, you may have to hold down theFnkey while pressing the "Print Screen" key. Look forFnin the lower-left side of your keyboard.
2. Find the Windows?Winkey. The Windows logo key is usually in the lower-left side of the keyboard. Holding down the Windows key while pressing the "Print Screen" key will take a snapshot of your entire screen's contents.
   • On Windows 8 and prior, you cannot take a screenshot using the?Winkey.
3. Go to a screen that you want to screenshot. Navigate to a page that you want to take a screenshot of. Keep in mind that everything on the screen (except your mouse pointer) will appear in the screenshot.
4. Hold down the?Winkey. Do so firmly, and don't release the?Winkey until after you've taken your screenshot.
   • If you determined that you'll need to use theFnkey, hold that key down as well.
   • Skip this step if you're on Windows 8 or prior.
5. Press firmly the?Print Screenkey. You should see your computer's screen dim for a brief moment. At this point, you can release the "Print Screen" key and the Windows key.
   • If the screen doesn't dim, try using theFnkey if you didn't, or don't use it if you did.
   • Sometimes Windows won't recognize your screenshots the first couple of times that you attempt to take them, so try a few times.
6. View your screenshots. After you've taken a few screenshots, your computer will create a "Screenshots" folder in the "Pictures" folder, which can be found by opening Start , clicking File Explorer , and clicking the Pictures tab on the left of the File Explorer window.
   • If you're on Windows 8 or prior, your computer won't create the screenshots folder. Instead, open Start (or Search on Windows 8), type inpaint, click Paint when it appears, and paste in your screenshot by pressingCtrl+V. You can then save the screenshot by clicking File , clicking Save , and clicking Save in the pop-up window.

Method 2of 2:

On Mac

1. Find the?Commandand?Shiftkeys. Both keys can be found in the lower-left side of your Mac's keyboard. to take a screenshot on a Mac, you'll hold down both of these keys at the same time while pressing a number key.
2. Go to a screen that you want to screenshot. Open a page or go to a screen that you want to save as an image file.
3. Take a screenshot of the whole screen. Hold down?Commandand?Shift, tap3, and then release all keys. Your Mac will make a camera snapshot noise, and the screenshot's image file will appear on your computer's desktop.
4. Take a screenshot of a specific section of the screen. Press?Command+?Shift+4to turn your mouse cursor into a crosshairs icon, then click and drag your mouse across the area that you want to screenshot and release the mouse.^[1]
   • If you press the spacebar while the mouse is in the crosshairs mode, it will switch to a camera icon. You can click an open window with the camera cursor to take a picture of only that window.
5. Save the image to the clipboard instead of to a permanent file. PressControlalong with the?Commandand?Shiftkeys to save the image to the clipboard temporarily instead of to a permanent file. This will allow you to paste the screen image into another application, such as software that allows you to edit the image.
6. View your screenshots. Your screenshots are saved to the desktop by default. You can double-click a screenshot to open it.