In today’s technological age, taking a screenshot of your desktop is easier and quicker than typing everything that’s in it. Screenshots are a better way to save an image that you’ve found on a website because some images on websites cannot be downloaded or copied.
Other than that, you can also make a screenshot of important receipts that have been sent to you via email or show a specific problem with your Windows computer using it. It’s very helpful, right? But, how can you take a screenshot on your computer? Follow the step by step guide below.
Take a Screenshot Using Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use your keyboard to take screenshots. Here’s how.
1. Print Screen button. If you press the “Print Screen” button on your keyboard, the image of your entire screen will be captured. In your keyboard, you will see it at the upper-right part, next to the F12 key. It can also be labeled as “Print Src” or “PrtSc”, depending on your keyboard brand. This is the fastest way to take a screenshot.
However, the screen image can only be copied to the clipboard – it will not be automatically downloaded or saved on your computer. Opening the Paint or Word app is required so you can save your screenshot using Print Screen shortcut. Just paste the image on the Paint or Word app.
Go to the File option at the top of the screen and click Save on the drop-down menu that will appear. Choose the format that you want for your screenshot, the location where you want it to be saved, and the name of the file. Click Save once done.
2. Windows + PrtScn button. When you click press these buttons at the same time, a flash will appear on your screen, which means a screenshot has been taken. The screenshot will be saved automatically, not just on the computer’s clipboard but on the computer as well.
To see the saved screenshot, just open the File Explorer and go to ThisPC\Pictures. Another path can also be followed to see saved screenshots. This path is C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\OneDrive\Pictures.
3. Alt + PrtScn button. If you use this shortcut to take a screenshot, you should remember that it will only save a copy of this screenshot to the clipboard, just like the first shortcut method we have mentioned earlier.
It will not be automatically downloaded or saved on your computer. Opening the Paint or Word app is required so you can save your screenshot using Print Screen shortcut. Just paste the image on the Paint or Word app.
Go to the File option at the top of the screen and click Save on the drop-down menu that will appear. Choose the format that you want for your screenshot, the location where you want it to be saved, and the name of the file. Click Save once done.
4. Windows + Shift + S button. If you want to take a screenshot of a certain part of your screen, then you can use this shortcut method. Your mouse pointer will become a cross and your screen will go dark when you press these 3 buttons at the same time. Your mouse will be your cropping tool so that only a specific area of your screen will be captured. If you drag your mouse, a box will be formed. Drag this box on the area of the screen where you want to take a screenshot. Once done, the image will be copied to your clipboard.
It will not be automatically downloaded or saved on your computer. Opening the Paint or Word app is required so you can save your screenshot using Print Screen shortcut. Just paste the image on the Paint or Word app.
Go to the File option at the top of the screen and click Save on the drop-down menu that will appear. Choose the format that you want for your screenshot, the location where you want it to be saved, and the name of the file. Click Save once done.
