Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is a straightforward process, though it may differ slightly from what you’re used to on other devices like Windows laptops or MacBooks. However, once you understand the keyboard shortcuts and other available methods, capturing the whole screen or just a portion of it becomes simple.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through different ways to take screenshots on a Chromebook, whether you’re using keyboard shortcuts, a stylus, or Chrome extensions. We’ll also cover where your screenshots are saved and provide additional tips for Windows keyboard users on Chrome OS.
How to Take a Screenshot Using Keyboard Buttons
The easiest way to take a screenshot on a Chromebook is by using specific button combinations on your keyboard. There are two primary shortcuts to remember:
- Ctrl + Show Windows (⎘): This captures a screenshot of your entire screen.
- Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows (⎘): This allows you to capture a selected portion of your screen. You can drag the cursor to select the area you want to capture.
For Chromebooks being used in tablet mode, the keyboard might not be available. In this case, you can still take a screenshot by pressing the Power + Volume Down buttons simultaneously. This will capture the entire screen, and you can crop the image afterward if needed.
If you’re using an external keyboard designed for Windows, the shortcuts are slightly different. You’ll need to use:
- Ctrl + F5: For a full-screen screenshot.
- Ctrl + Shift + F5: For capturing a specific portion of your screen.
How to Take a Screenshot with a Stylus
If your Chromebook comes with a stylus, like the Samsung Chromebook Plus or Google Pixelbook with the Pixelbook Pen, you have additional options for capturing screenshots. Using the stylus, you can access a menu with different tools located in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. This menu gives you the option to capture either a selected region of the screen (which you can outline with the stylus) or the entire screen.
How to Take a Screenshot with Chrome Extensions
While the built-in methods for taking screenshots on a Chromebook work well, you may want more advanced options for capturing, editing, and sharing screenshots. In this case, Chrome extensions can come in handy. Some of the best options include:
- Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder: This extension allows for both full and partial screenshots, includes editing tools, and offers the ability to record video from your screen and webcam.
- Scrn.li: Another popular option, Scrn.li offers full and partial screenshot capabilities along with editing and annotation tools.
- FireShot: FireShot is ideal for users who need to send screenshots directly to Gmail. It also offers full and partial screenshot capabilities and editing tools.
These extensions are free and easy to install from the Chrome Web Store. They can be a great asset if you frequently take screenshots or want more control over how they are captured and edited.
How to Take a Screenshot on Chrome OS with a Windows Keyboard
As the Chrome OS ecosystem continues to grow, many users may opt to use an external Windows keyboard with their Chromebook. Fortunately, Chrome OS is compatible with most Windows keyboards, though there are some differences in key functions, particularly when it comes to taking screenshots.
If you’re using a Windows keyboard with Chrome OS, there are two ways to capture a screenshot:
- Ctrl + F5 (or F4): This is the Chrome OS equivalent to the Show Windows (⎘) key and will capture a screenshot of the entire screen.
- Ctrl + Shift + F5 (or F4): This allows you to capture a specific portion of the screen.
Alternatively, Windows keyboards have a dedicated Print Screen button that works similarly to Chrome OS’s screenshot functions. However, there are a few differences:
- Print Screen: Captures the entire screen.
- Shift + Print Screen: Allows you to capture a specific area of the screen.
Note that there isn’t a shortcut for capturing a single window using the Print Screen method, as there is on Windows devices.
Where Are Chromebook Screenshots Saved?
Once you’ve taken a screenshot, a notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This notification will show that your screenshot has been saved, and it will provide options to either open the screenshot in Google Keep Notes (for editing and drawing) or copy the image to your clipboard.
By default, screenshots on a Chromebook are saved in the Downloads folder. To access this folder:
- Press the Search button on your keyboard.
- Type “Files” and open the Files app.
- In the left-hand menu, click on Downloads to view your screenshots.
From here, you can move your screenshots to Google Drive or another cloud storage service, or simply organize them into different folders.
FAQs
Q: What is the Show Windows (⎘) key on a Chromebook? A: The Show Windows key, which looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines, is typically located in the top row of keys on your Chromebook’s keyboard. It functions as the overview button for managing windows and is used in screenshot shortcuts.
Q: Can I take a screenshot on a Chromebook using an external keyboard? A: Yes, you can take a screenshot using an external Windows keyboard. The shortcuts for this are Ctrl + F5 for a full-screen capture and Ctrl + Shift + F5 for a partial screen capture.
Q: Where can I find my screenshots on a Chromebook? A: Screenshots are automatically saved in the Downloads folder. You can access this folder through the Files app on your Chromebook.
Q: Can I take a screenshot of just one window on a Chromebook? A: Yes, you can take a screenshot of a single window by using Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows (⎘). This will capture the active window rather than the entire screen.
In summary, taking screenshots on a Chromebook is easy and flexible, with several methods available to suit different needs. Whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts, using a stylus, or Chrome extensions, capturing your screen can be done with minimal effort. Make sure to explore all the options to find the method that works best for you!
How to take a screenshot with buttons
In most instances, the easiest way to take a screenshot on your Chromebook is by using button combinations — whether that be on your Chromebook’s keyboard or with the power and volume buttons.
Starting beginning with keyboard shortcuts, there are two you’ll want to remember:
Ctrl + []]] to grab a screenshot of the whole screen.
Ctrl + Shift + []]] to grab a screenshot of a particular portion of your screen.
For the second command, you’ll apply your mouse/cursor to select the area of your screen you want to capture. For those times when there’s just a small part of your screen you need to save, it’s quite handy.
On that note, it’s deserving mentioning that these commands are slightly different if you’re using an external keyboard with your Chromebook. In that outline, you’ll use Ctrl + F5 and Ctrl + Shift + F5, respectively.
Next, let’s say you’re using your Chromebook in tablet mode and need to take a screenshot. The keyboard is inactive while in tablet mode, but catching a screenshot is still relatively simple. In this situation, you’ll need to press the power button + volume down to take a screenshot.
This combo will take a screenshot of your whole screen, and in tablet mode, this is the only option you have. As such, you’ll require to crop the image after the fact if you don’t need a picture of the entire screen.
How to take a screenshot with a stylus
If you have a Samsung Chromebook Plus, Pixelbook with the Pixelbook Pen, or any other Chromebook with an included stylus, you have an extra option available.
When you utilize the pen, you’ll have a menu of tools available to you in the lower right corner. Inside that menu, you can take a section of the screen (and use the pen to draw this region), or capture the entire screen.
How to take a screenshot with Chrome extensions
The built-in methods for taking a screenshot on a Chromebook work well, but if you want even more options, you can always install Chrome extensions that give you more screenshot-capturing abilities.
A few of our favorites include:
Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder — Complete and partial screenshots, editing tools, trim/crop tools, record video from screen and webcam.
Scrn.li — Whole and partial screenshots, editing/annotation tools,
FireShot — Complete and partial screenshots, editing tools, send screenshots right to Gmail.
All of the above extensions are free to use, and if you plan on taking a lot of screenshots regularly, it might be worth getting a wing dedicated to doing just that to make your workflow a little smoother.
How to take a screenshot on Chrome OS with a Windows keyboard
While the market for Chrome OS accessories has steadily been increasing, most external keyboards are designed with Windows in mind and will still work reasonably well on Chrome OS. There are two separate ways to take screenshots on your Chromebook while using a Windows keyboard, though one is a bit less reliable than the other.
The first, more unreliable method is based on the fact that, by default, Chrome OS treats a Windows keyboard’s F1 through F12 keys like your Chromebook keyboard’s top row of keys. What executes this unreliable is the fact the Overview key is not in the same place on each Chromebook, meaning you would need to press a different F key on the Windows keyboard.
For instance, on my personal Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630, the Overview key is at the F5 position (counting rightward from the Esc key). At the same time, the Pixel book and Pixel Slate have a Summary in the F4 place. Aside from that, the F5 (or F4) key works precisely as Overview does on the Chromebook keyboard.
Ctrl + F5 — Grab a complete display screenshot
Ctrl + Shift + F5 — take a region screenshot
Ctrl + Alt + F5 — take a single-window screenshot
Thankfully, rather than wanting to memorize which is the correct F row key to press, Chrome OS offers yet another way to take screenshots on your Chromebook or tablet with a Windows keyboard. Just like on Windows, you can get a screenshot by pressing the Print Screen key (sometimes abbreviated to something like Print Screen).
However, the Print Screen key, for whatever purpose, does not work the same way as Chrome OS’s Overview ☐|| key shortcuts. Rather, Shift now examines the role of taking a region screenshot and there isn’t a shortcut for taking a single-window screenshot.
Print Screen — Takes a full display screenshot
Shift + Print Screen — Take a region screenshot
Where are Chromebook screenshots saved?
Once you’ve taken a screenshot, a new notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen letting you know that it’s been saved. This notification also allows you to open your screenshot in Google Keep Notes to draw on top of, copy the screenshot to your clipboard, or show you where the screenshot is saved.
By default, though, Chrome OS screenshots are stored in the Downloads folder, which you can enter using the Files app.
If you’re not assured how to find those tap the Search button, type files, open the Files app and hit Downloads in the left-hand shortcut list.