How to Screenshot on Chromebook: Try This Easy Guide

November 30, 2022 • April Miller

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Whether you’re a long-time user or someone who just got one for your birthday, there will probably come a time when you need to know how to screenshot on Chromebook. Fortunately, it’s easy to do, and you have a few different ways to do it. Let’s get started. 

Learn How to Screenshot on Chromebook With Keyboard Commands and Built-In Options

Your Chromebook has a few built-in commands to help with taking screenshots. Begin by pressing Shift + Ctrl. Then, choose the Show Windows option. It looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines on its right side. Alternatively, your Chromebook may have a dedicated screenshot key. It looks like a square with a circle in the middle. If your keyboard has it, you can just press it without using the Shift + Ctrl and Show Windows option.

You’ll then see a menu at the bottom. Choose the Screenshot option from it. Its icon mimics a camera. Doing that gives you three ways to screenshot on Chromebook. The first is to capture the full screen. That option looks like a rectangle.

There’s also an icon that looks like a square with a dot in the bottom right of the shape. Choosing that one lets you grab a capture of part of the screen. Finally, there’s an option that looks like a square with a slightly thicker uppermost line. Select it to take a screenshot of the entire window. 

Use the Quick Settings Menu to Screenshot on Chromebook

Maybe you’d like to know how to screenshot on Chromebook without remembering any keyboard commands. Those can be convenient, but they’re also easy to forget if you don’t use them often.

No problem. Your Chromebook has a hidden utilities menu that’s easy to pull up. From there, you can take a screenshot. Click on the clock in the bottom right corner of the Chromebook’s screen. Then, choose the Screen Capture option. It looks like a rectangle with a square in the middle.  This part of your Chromebook is called the Quick Settings menu.

Its functionality spans beyond taking screenshots, too. For example, you can manipulate the wifi or Bluetooth settings, lock the Chromebook’s screen, shut down the computer or access the Chromebook’s full Settings section. 

Taking a screenshot with the Quick Settings menu allows you to select how much of the screen to capture. You’ll simply drag borders around what to capture, similarly to what you’d do if cropping an image. 

Try a Third-Party Screenshot Tool

Most people find the Chromebook’s built-in screenshot options very capable. However, your Chromebook works with lots of third-party apps. You can find out how to screenshot on Chromebook with a tool made specifically for the purpose. The possibilities range from the basic to the more advanced. Plus, you can usually use many or all of their features without paying anything. 

Learning how to screenshot on Chromebook with these tools will require a bit of time because each one works slightly differently. However, if you’re someone who takes a lot of screenshots, the effort you put into getting acquainted with a tool should pay off. 

Taking a Screenshot With a Stylus

If your Chromebook has a connected stylus, there are some quick options to take full and partial screenshots. This method is especially helpful if you have an Acer Chromebook with an included connected stylus, as it’s the fastest method when using the stylus.

When your stylus is connected, a “Stylus” menu will appear. You can open this menu and select either “Capture Screen” or “Capture Region” for full and partial screenshots respectively.

Where Do Chrome Screenshots Go After You Take Them?

Once you know how to screenshot on Chromebook, the next logical question you might have is how to retrieve the captured images. Screenshots go to the Chromebook’s Downloads folder by default. However, you can change that. 

Press Ctrl + Shift and the Show Windows option. Then, at the bottom, select the Settings cog. Choose Select Folder to designate a new place for the screenshots to go. The screen capture options you’ve already learned about also integrate smoothly with the Tote feature. It’s Chromebook’s holding area for certain content, including screenshots. Tote also allows you to edit or annotate screenshots. 

If you decide to use a third-party screenshot app, the captured images might go into an app-specific folder. That’s why it’s best to do a little experimenting to be sure. 

Keep in mind, too, that any screenshots you take while using the Chromebook get sent to your clipboard. Then, you can paste them into a Word document or something similar. 

How Will You Use Your New Chromebook Screenshot Knowledge?

The internet is an incredibly vast resource and it’s totally understandable to need a reliable way to save some of the things you find. These screenshot tips will make it easy to do that while using a Chromebook. 

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