Taking a screenshot from the keyboard is simple and convenient. It will help you capture a cool moment in a movie or an epic scene in a video game. This guide contains a detailed description of How to take a screenshot on a computer using the keyboard.
Using the Print Screen key
This method is deservedly considered the simplest and most effective. Depending on the keyboard model, the name of the button may vary, from PrntScrn and PrtScn to PrtScr and PrtSc.
However, the key always works the same way: when pressed, an instant screenshot of the screen is taken and sent to the clipboard. After this, all that remains is to launch any graphic editor, for example Paint, and use the Ctrl+V combination to paste the image. The resulting image can be edited or immediately saved on your computer.
Using Windows + Print Screen
This combination is suitable for those cases when you need to take a series of photographs. Another convenience lies in the fact that after pressing the Win + Print Screen buttons, the pictures are saved automatically. You can view and edit screenshots in the “Images” → “Screenshots” folder.
Using Alt + Print Screen
The Alt + Print Screen combination allows you to take a screenshot of only the active window, and not the entire computer screen. It is very convenient if you urgently need to show or save the window of a specific program or document.
How to take a screenshot on a laptop or compact keyboard
The Print Screen key may not be present on a laptop or compact keyboard. Then screenshots are taken by pressing the following button combinations: Fn + Print Screen, Win + F11 and Win + Alt + F11. Also, after pressing Win + Shift + S, a panel with buttons appears where you can select the desired type of screen.
Also read: How to check PC Information
How to take a screenshot on MacOS
You can view the list of commands for screenshots on macOS in “Settings” → “Keyboard” → “Keyboard shortcuts” tab → “Screenshots” item. The most popular key combinations are as follows:
- Command ⌘ + Shift + 3 – takes a screenshot of the entire desktop.
- Command ⌘ + Shift + 4 – brings up a tool with which you can select a specific area for saving.
- Command ⌘ + Shift + 4 + space – takes a screenshot of the program window.
By default, all images are saved to the desktop in png format.
The file name is approximately as follows: “Screenshot date (time).png.” By pressing Ctrl, the screenshot can be saved to the clipboard and immediately pasted into the document.
