Taking a screenshot is an essential skill for those with computers. For example, if you’re running a program that bugs out and sends an error message across the screen or you want to capture a funny moment in gameplay, then a screenshot could be what saves the day! Screenshots can be useful not only for personal reasons but also for sharing moments on social media.
Screenshots are important to store and share information, you might find out that you need to take a screenshot for a project at school. They are essential tools in the business world to show product details, communicate with your team, or provide proof of what’s on the screen.
Screenshots are a great way to save an error message, an in-progress game score, a funny meme your friend sent you, or a problem you need to show your IT department.
They’re also handy for sharing an error message you’re receiving on your computer, so you can ask a friend for help without having to describe the issue.
Taking screenshots is quite easy to do on your laptop. There are two types of screenshot taking processes you can go with: capturing a screenshot of the whole desktop and capturing a screenshot just of a single window or webpage.
Following these steps, you will be able to take screenshots on your laptop easily in no time.
How To Screenshot on Windows Laptops
To take a screenshot of your windows laptop screen, it’s pretty simple.
Let’s look at your available options:
Windows + Print Screen
Windows + Print Screen is a very common way to take a screenshot, but it works differently on laptops versus desktop computers. On a laptop, the Windows key is the ‘super’ key. If you press both Windows and Print Screen at the same time, you’ll get a screenshot of your entire screen.
- Start with the screen that you want to take a screen shot of, and press both Windows and the Print Screen keys at the same time.
- This will create a screenshot on your desktop in a Screenshot folder. Rename this file as needed and move it to where you want it to be stored, such as an email attachment.
- If you’re working directly with the screenshot, you can paste it into Word or another edit tool.
CTRL+Print Screen
This is similar to the first method using Windows, Print Screen key, but it simply saves the image to your clipboard instead of creating a file on your desktop.
- Start with the screen that you want to take a screen shot of, and press the Control and Print Screen keys at the same time.
- The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard so you can paste it into Word or another editing tool. If you’re working directly with the screenshot, then you can paste it into paint, word or another editing tool.
Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a screenshot app that you can access through the Start menu, or it can be accessed by right-clicking the start button. This tool allows you to take screenshots of any size and immediately edit them.
- Open the Snipping Tool app. If it isn’t available on your computer, search for “snipping tool” in the start menu and select it from the search results.
- When you first start the app, select the button on the left to “New”.
- Select the box next to “Screen Only”. When this is selected, all you have to do is click and drag. Drag a box over the area that you want to capture and release it.
- If you wish to edit screenshots, click on your screenshot in your main window and choose “Edit”.
How To Take Screenshot On Apple MacOS Laptops
Macs have a built in function to take screenshots of your monitor.
Command + Shift + 3
You can press Command + Shift + 3 and then click on the marquee to take a screenshot. The screen will flash as you take the screenshot and you will see it appear in the MacOS x86 Applications folder. This option will also allow you to take a screenshot on your entire screen or specific window
Command + Shift + 4
This option allows you to take a screenshot of an area of your screen by selecting the area with the mouse or trackpad. You then press Command + Shift + 4 and then press Space Bar. Next, you will see a cross-hair type pointer appear on the screen, click and drag over to the desired area of your screen.
Taking Screenshots on Specific Laptops
We have created a specific guide for capturing screenshots on specific brands. The capture guide is listed below:
- How to screenshot on Asus laptops
- How to screenshot on Acer laptops
- How to screenshot on Samsung laptops
- How to screenshot on Lenovo laptops
- How to screenshot on Windows laptops
- How to screenshot on Gateway laptops
- How to screenshot on HP laptops
- How to screenshot on Toshiba laptops
Conclusion
Both Windows and Mac offer their own specific ways to take screenshots. Both OS’s allow you to take a screenshot quickly with a simple keyboard combination.
Taking screenshots is incredibly useful on the computer. You can capture a screenshot of a specific web page, capture the entire screen, or if you are a gamer, take screenshots of your gaming accomplishments and share them with your friends! If you are new to computers like many seniors are, I hope this article was helpful for you.