Taking a Screenshot

Screenshots, while easily faked, often serve as important records of the past. They are often used as records of chats and website user interfaces. Here’s how to take one:

iOS/iPadOS:

If the device has a home button: Quickly press the home and sleep/wake buttons. A screenshot will be saved to your camera roll. (Newer versions of iOS/iPadOS offer the ability to edit/share a screenshot before saving.)

If the device does not have a home button: Quickly press the volume up and sleep/wake buttons. A screenshot will be saved to your camera roll. (Newer versions of iOS/iPadOS offer the ability to edit/share a screenshot before saving.)

Windows:

All versions: Press the Print Screen (PrtScn) button. A screenshot will be copied to your clipboard and can be pasted in an image editor, Word document, PowerPoint presentation, etc.

Windows 7/8/8.1: These users can also use the pre-installed Snipping Tool.

Windows 10: In addition to the Snipping Tool, these users can also use the more modern Snip and Sketch app. Tip: in the Settings app, under Ease of Access, in Keyboard, you can check “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” to use the PrtScn button to take a screenshot with the more robust Snip and Sketch app instead of copying the image to the clipboard. (I use this feature.)

Alternatively, you can also use the third-party Greenshot app to take screenshots also.

macOS:

All versions: Press Shift-Command-3. After a short delay, a screenshot will be copied to the desktop.

macOS Mojave or newer: These users can also use the Screenshot app to take screenshots.

Android:

Press and hold the power button until a menu pops up. Then press “Screenshot”. Otherwise, try pressing and holding the Power and Volume Down buttons for a few seconds. A screenshot icon will appear at the top of your screen. If these instructions don’t work, try looking for instructions specific to your device, as it can vary between devices.

—tech234a

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For Linux users, there are a couple of packages you could use. The GNOME solution is GNOME Screenshot which lets you take a screenshot with the PrtScr button, though you do have to navigate through a menu to do so. Hit the print screen button, wait a few seconds, and it asks you where to save this image. (Useful for people who don't have a Paint analogue anywhere on their system.)

The KDE solution is called Spectacle which seems to function similarly. (I have no familiarity with this so I'm guessing here.)

- glmdgrielson