Taking a screenshot is one of the most useful everyday computer skills — for saving a receipt, capturing an error to send to support, or grabbing something before it disappears. Every device does it differently, though, which is why people search for it constantly.
This guide covers exactly how to take a screenshot on each major device, including how to capture just part of the screen and where the file ends up.
What you need
- ✓The device you want to capture from.
- ✓Nothing else — screenshotting is built into every operating system.
- ✓Optionally, an image tool to crop or shrink the result afterwards.
Step-by-step
- 1
On Windows
Press the Windows key + Shift + S to open the snipping toolbar, then drag to select any area — the most flexible option. For the whole screen, PrtScn (Print Screen) copies it, or Windows key + PrtScn saves it to Pictures › Screenshots.
- 2
On Mac
Press Shift + Cmd + 4 to select an area with the crosshair, or Shift + Cmd + 3 for the whole screen. Add Shift + Cmd + 4 then Space to capture a single window cleanly. Files save to the desktop by default.
- 3
On iPhone
On models with Face ID, press the Side button and Volume Up together; on models with a Home button, press the Side/Top button and Home together. A thumbnail appears in the corner — tap it to crop or mark up before saving to Photos.
- 4
On Android
Press the Power and Volume Down buttons together on most phones. A preview lets you crop, edit or share, and the image saves to your gallery (usually a 'Screenshots' album). Some phones also support a three-finger swipe.
- 5
Capture just part of the screen
Where possible, use the area-select options (Windows + Shift + S, or Shift + Cmd + 4 on Mac) rather than capturing everything and cropping later — it's faster and cleaner.
- 6
Find, crop and shrink the file
Locate the saved image (Screenshots folder, desktop, or Photos/gallery). Crop out anything private, and if you need to email or upload it, compress or resize it so the file isn't unnecessarily large.
Examples
- Windows + Shift + S to drag a box around just an error message, then paste it straight into a support chat.
- Shift + Cmd + 4 then Space on Mac to capture one app window with a clean drop shadow, no cropping needed.
Tips
- →Learn the area-select shortcut for your device — it saves cropping later.
- →On phones, the corner preview lets you crop and mark up before saving.
- →Crop out anything private (emails, account numbers) before sharing a screenshot.
- →Shrink large screenshots before emailing so they attach and send quickly.
- →On Mac, Shift + Cmd + 5 opens a full capture menu including screen recording.
Common mistakes
- Capturing the whole screen then cropping. Use the area-select shortcut to grab just what you need.
- Sharing private details on screen. Crop out account numbers, emails and messages before sending.
- Losing the file. Check the Screenshots folder, desktop or Photos/gallery for where it saved.
- Emailing huge screenshots. Compress or resize large captures so they send without hitting limits.
Conclusion
Every device screenshots differently, but the pattern is the same: learn the area-select shortcut, capture just what you need, crop out anything private, and shrink it before sharing. Once the shortcut is muscle memory, it becomes one of the handiest things your device can do.