How to take a Screenshot on a Chromebook 2022 Ultimate Guide

How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook 2022

How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook 2022 is a little different than taking screenshots on a Windows PC or Mac, but it’s still an easy method. The keyboard commands are simple to use and remember, whether you want to capture the entire screen or only a portion of it.

Learn how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook with keyboard shortcuts or a stylus by reading on. We also have additional tips and tools for capturing the screen of your Chromebook.

Below are some quick hints you should use

Quick tips

• Hold down the Ctrl + Show Windows keys to capture a full screenshot.
• Hold down the Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows keys to capture a specific area.

How to screenshot on Chromebook : Capture a Full Screenshot

Click the following keys at the same time to take a screenshot of the entire screen: Display Windows (Ctrl + Show windows).

As seen above, the show windows button is usually found between the Full-screen and Brightness down buttons in the top row. It looks like a rectangle with two lines on it, and it takes the place of the regular F5 key on keyboards.

Here is a screenshot of how to screenshot on a Chromebook

When you press both keys at the same time, a message appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen, showing a thumbnail of your screenshot, as shown above. By clicking the thumbnail, you’ll be taken to the Downloads folder, where all screenshots are saved by default and can be accessed offline. You can also view screenshots by picking Images or Downloads from the blue Files folder-style icon on the Shelf.

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Both screenshots in Chrome OS are labelled with the date and time they were taken.

Since Chrome OS saves screenshots locally on your laptop, you won’t be able to access them on Google Drive unless you manually upload them. To do so, take the following steps:

Below are guided steps on how to screenshot on a Chromebook

• Step 1: Open the Files app and choose either Images or Downloads from the left-hand menu.
• Step 2: Choose the image you want to upload. For multiple uploads, click the check icon on each screenshot (thumbnail view) or use a mouse or touchpad to draw a box around the files (list view).
• Step 3: In the top-right corner, click the Share button.
• Step 4: From the drop-down menu, select Save to Drive. You can submit the screenshot to other accounts, such as OneDrive and Dropbox, as shown below.

If you have a Chromebook with a 360-degree hinge, such as the Pixelbook, skip ahead to the “Screenshots in Tablet Mode” portion of this guide for a touch-based alternative.

More information about how to use Google Drive can be found in our guide.

How to screenshot on Chromebook: Capture a specific area

You may create a window to catch a portion of the screen in addition to a complete image. Here’s how to do it:  (Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows

• Step 1: Push the Show Windows button while simultaneously holding down the Ctrl and Shift keys.
• Step 2: The screen dims, and the cursor transforms into a crosshair for a brief moment. Start one corner of your capture area with the crosshair and hold down the mouse button or touchpad.

Step 3: Using your mouse or finger, drag the cursor around the screen until a box appears. To complete the box and grab the screen, let go of the mouse button or raise your finger.
Like a complete screenshot, the captured window is saved to the Images and Downloads files.

Note: If you’re using Chrome OS 88 or newer and you used flags to allow the new Screen Capture utility, the new toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen, by default, the Screenshot and Partial buttons are selected on the keyboard. There are also buttons to switch between Fullscreen and Window modes.

How to screenshot on Chromebook: Screenshots in tablet mode

Make use of the keys.
Many Chrome OS 2-in-1 and tablet computers can not have immediate access to a keyboard. Don’t worry, you can use a quick screenshot shorthand in tablet mode.

Simultaneously click the following physical buttons: Power + Volume Down

The screenshot is registered on your phone, and a picture of the entire screen is taken.

Use a stylus for complete capture.

A stylus can be used to take a screenshot of the entire screen. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Squeeze the Stylus (or Pen).

Step 2: Tap the Capture Screen option with the stylus. This takes a picture of your entire computer.

Use a stylus to capture a portion of the image.

Do you just want to catch a portion of your screen?

Consider the following steps.

Step 1: Squeeze the Stylus (or Pen).

Step 2: Using the stylus, tap the Capture Region option.

Step 3: Click and keep your starting point on the tablet with the stylus.

Step 4: Build a box by dragging your stylus to the final stage.

Step 5: Let go of the mouse to take a screenshot.

Here is a video guide on how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook : Screenshots in tablet mode

Other helpful hints

Copying and pasting screenshots

In contrast to Windows, Chrome OS does not immediately copy screenshots to the clipboard when you push the Print Screen button.

Watch for the message that appears above the device clock when you take a screenshot if you want to copy it (for use in an image editor, for example). Click the Copy to Clipboard button, then press Ctrl + V to paste it, as shown above.

Alternatively, locate and pick your screenshot, then press Ctrl + C to copy it to the clipboard, followed by Ctrl + V to paste it — just as in Windows.

Making changes to screenshots

Chrome OS screenshots are ready to post, but if you need to edit them first, learn how to use the built-in image editor. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1: On the Shelf, click the blue Files folder icon and pick Images or Downloads from the left-hand menu.

Step 2: To open your screenshot in the Gallery app, double-click it. Right-click the file and choose Gallery from the pop-up menu if it isn’t your default image viewer.

Crop & Rotate, Rescale, and Lighting Filters are all available from the toolbar at the top of the Gallery app. Each tool opens a panel on the right side that allows you to change the settings. For example, the Lighting Filters tool, as shown above, has sliders for Exposure, Contrast, and Saturation.

You’ll see buttons to Undo and Redo any changes you create in addition to the three main editing methods.

Step 3: When you’re done, press the blue Save button to return to the original file and save your changes. Alternatively, you can save the edited image as an altered copy by pressing the blue Down arrow.

Making use of external keyboards When you’re using a Chrome OS-powered desktop (Chromebox) or an external keyboard plugged into a Chromebook, the keyboard would most likely have a regular function key row rather than Chrome’s dedicated button row.

Here are the Chrome OS commands that take the place of the traditional function keys on how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook.

• F1 — Previous page
• F2 — Next page
• F3 — Refresh
• F4 — Fullscreen
• F5 — Show windows
• F6 — Decrease brightness
• F7 — Increase brightness
• F8 — Mute
• F9 — Decrease volume
• F10 — Increase volume

On a regular keyboard, press Ctrl + F5 to take a screenshot. Press Ctrl + Shift first, then F5 for a partial capture.

Other screenshot applications on how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook

The built-in image resources in Chrome OS are somewhat vague, but there are plenty of applications and plugins available on Google’s Chrome Web Store to complement them. Here are a few suggestions:

Lightshot: Lightshot is a great beginner option for dragging and dropping screenshots over any part of the device. You can make adjustments to the screenshot in real-time, then save or send it to the cloud. It’s easy to use and can be used for a number of purposes.

Save an entire page as a picture without taking several screenshots with FireShot. You can save them in a variety of formats and send them to OneNote or email directly.

Awesome Screenshot: For those who want a more detailed, versatile method, Awesome Screenshot lets you choose between screen capture and screencasting, enabling you to capture video at any time. Annotations and fast blurring are also supported by the software.

Conclusion on how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook

In contrast to Windows, Chrome OS does not immediately copy screenshots to the clipboard when you push the Print Screen button.

The method of taking screenshots on a Chromebook differs slightly from what you’re used to on a Windows PC or Mac, but it’s still quite easy.

The most popular way to take a screenshot with a Chromebook is to grab the entire screen, which you can do with ease by pressing Ctrl + display windows (the feature between the full-screen and minimize brightness buttons, there’s a key with a rectangle and two trailing lines).