How to Screenshot on Chromebook

You might know how to take a screenshot in Windows or MacOS, however if you're new to Chromebooks, you might be a little not sure concerning just how to do it. The process isn't considerably various, but it's much from the very same. While also the very best Chromebooks don't consist of a "Publish screen" key, discovering how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook is actually fairly simple-- whether you need to grab the whole display or simply a section.

How to Screenshot on Chromebook


Quick pointers

  • Hold down the Ctrl + Switch window keys to record a full screenshot
  • Hold back the Ctrl + Shift + Switch window keys to capture a partial screenshot

Capturing a full screenshot

To take a screenshot of everything you see on your Chromebook's screen at once, hold back the Ctrl key and press the Switch window key.. The latter switch is usually located in the top row, in between the Full-screen as well as Brightness down buttons, and appears like a rectangular shape followed by two lines.

Once you push both secrets, you will see a notice in the bottom edge of the display alerting you that your screenshot has been saved. Screenshot picture files save straight to the Chromebook's Downloads folder, so you can take as well as gain access to screenshots also when offline, as well as are classified with the day and time they were videotaped. Click the notice to open up the Downloads folder as well as choose the photo data.

Keep in mind: Screenshots are saved in your area as well as won't be available on Google Drive unless you by hand relocate the file.

If you take place to have a Chromebook with a 360-degree joint like a Pixelbook, there's another method you can use for capturing a complete screenshot.

Catching a partial screenshot

Chrome OS can additionally specify a part of your screen to take and also conserve a snapshot of. Below's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Hold down the Ctrl as well as Shift key at once, then push the Switch window switch.

Step 2: Chrome's cursor will certainly be temporarily changed with a crosshair. Click and also drag a square throughout the part of the screen you want to conserve, after that release the trackpad or computer mouse switch.

The partial screenshot will certainly be conserved in the Downloads folder, the same as a complete screenshot.

Screenshots in tablet computer mode

A variety of Chromebooks are two-in-ones or tablet computers where you might not have immediate accessibility to a key-board. Do not stress, there's a very easy screenshot shorthand you can utilize in tablet computer setting. Just press the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Your screen will register the screenshot and take a photo of the entire screen.

If you have a stylus pen that you're making use of in tablet mode, you should be able to make use of a stylus pen device to take a screenshot of a specific area of the screen as well as annotate it as required.

Other tips and methods

Duplicating screenshots

Chrome OS doesn't conserve screenshots as duplicated pictures like Windows does when the Print screen button is pressed.

If you 'd like to merely replicate a screenshot (for insertion into a picture editor, for instance), enjoy the alert that appears above the system clock. Click the Copy to clipboard switch, after that press Ctrl+ V when you want to paste it.

Editing screenshots

The screenshots caught by Chrome OS prepare to share, however if you want to do a little a lot more with them, you must familiarize on your own with Chrome's integrated image editor. Below's exactly how to access it.

Action 1: Open up the Downloads folder as well as double-click your screenshot to open it in the image audience.

Action 2: Click the pen symbol in the bottom-right edge of the home window to get in edit mode. Tools for chopping, turning, and illumination changes will certainly appear at the bottom of the window.

Action 3: When you're done, click the pen icon once again to finalize your edits. The built-in editor does not enable you to save copies, so you might intend to duplicate the picture manually before servicing it.

Making use of external keyboards

If you're using a Chrome-powered desktop (likewise referred to as a Chromebox) or if you've plugged an exterior key-board (these are a few of our faves) into your Chromebook, the key-board possibly uses a conventional function key row as opposed to Chrome's specialized button row.

Fortunately is that the function keys do the very same task-- F1 returns, F2 goes forward, and so on. The F5 button works as the Switch over home window button on basic key-boards, so the screenshot command becomes Ctrl + F5.

Various other screenshot tools

The integrated image devices for Chrome OS are a little bit anemic, yet thankfully there are plenty of applications and also extensions on Google's Chrome Internet Store to help include added functionality. Right here are some practical choices:

Lightshot: Lightshot is a great novice alternative that enables you to drag as well as go down a screenshot over whatever section of your screen that you desire. You can modify the screenshot in position, then download it or send it to the cloud. It's easy to use and also widely appropriate for the majority of functions.

FireShot: Conserve an entire page as a picture without several screenshots. You can save in multiple layouts and send them straight to OneNote or e-mail.

Incredible Screenshot: For those that want a broader, extra effective tool, Awesome Screenshot allows you to select between screen capture and also screencasting so you can also take video clip whenever you desire. The application sustains comments and also easy obscuring also.

SuperChrome: If you mostly take screenshots of websites, you'll want to have a look at SuperChrome, which includes devices to your browsing experience that permits you to screenshot a whole web site, regardless of exactly how awkwardly formed it may be. There's additionally one-click sharing, editing choices, and also conversion to PDFs among other styles.