How to Take a Screenshot on a Computer: Windows and Mac Shortcuts

How to take a screenshot in Windows 11 or 10: four built-in methods

If this is your first time taking a screenshot, choose the shortcut based on the result you need.

What you want to capture	Screenshot shortcut	Result
A custom area	Win+Shift+S	Copies the image to the clipboard for editing or saving
The full screen for pasting	PrtSc	Copies the image to the clipboard
The full screen as a file	Win+PrtSc	Saves an image file automatically
The active window	Alt+PrtSc	Copies the image to the clipboard

Method 1: use Win+Shift+S for an area, window, or full screen

This is the most flexible built-in Windows screenshot shortcut for capturing part of the screen.

1. Press Win+Shift+S. The screen dims and the capture toolbar appears.
2. Choose Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Full-screen mode.
3. Capture the content you need.
4. Windows copies the screenshot to the clipboard. Press Ctrl+V to paste it into a chat, document, or image editor.
5. To edit or save it as a separate file, click the screenshot preview in the system notification.

If automatic saving of original screenshots is enabled in the Windows 11 Snipping Tool, an image file is also saved. The exact behavior depends on the current Snipping Tool settings.

Method 2: use PrtSc to copy the full screen

1. Press PrtSc to copy the full screen to the clipboard. Some laptops require Fn+PrtSc.
2. Open a chat app, Word, Paint, or another app that accepts images.
3. Press Ctrl+V to paste the screenshot, then save it if needed.

If the Windows setting to use the Print Screen key to open screen capture is enabled, pressing PrtSc opens the Snipping Tool instead of following the default behavior above.

Method 3: use Win+PrtSc to capture and save the full screen

1. Press Win+PrtSc. Some keyboards also require the Fn key.
2. Windows captures the full screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures\\Screenshots folder.

This option is useful when you want a full-screen image file immediately. It usually does not copy the screenshot to the clipboard at the same time.

Method 4: use Alt+PrtSc to capture the active window

1. Click the window you want to capture so that it is active.
2. Press Alt+PrtSc. Some laptops also require the Fn key.
3. Open the destination app and press Ctrl+V to paste the screenshot.

This computer screenshot shortcut works well for an error dialog or a single application window and can reduce the need for cropping.

Use PixPin for more screenshot tools

The built-in Windows methods cover area, window, and full-screen screenshots. If you also need UI element detection, a magnifier with color picking, annotations, or pinned images, you can install a dedicated screenshot tool such as PixPin.

How to take a screenshot with PixPin

1. Press Ctrl+1 on Windows or Control+1 on macOS to enter screenshot mode.
2. Move the pointer over a window or interface element and use UI element detection to select it. You can also hold the left mouse button and drag to select an area manually.
3. Add annotations from the screenshot toolbar if you need to highlight something.
4. Press Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on macOS to copy the screenshot. Press Ctrl+S on Windows or Command+S on macOS to choose a location and save the file.

You can change the default screenshot shortcut under Configuration > Shortcut/Action in PixPin. During capture, the magnifier shows the pixels and color value around the pointer. Press C to copy the current pixel color. You can also pin a screenshot on screen and keep it on top when you need the image for reference.

Once you understand the workflow, you can download PixPin and follow the steps above to take your first screenshot.

Mac screenshot shortcuts and built-in methods

Use Shift+Command+3 to capture the full screen

1. Press Shift+Command+3.
2. macOS captures the full screen. If you use multiple displays, it creates a separate image for each display.
3. The image is saved to the desktop as a PNG by default. Click the floating thumbnail in the corner of the screen if you want to edit it.

Use Shift+Command+4 to capture an area or window

1. Press Shift+Command+4. The pointer changes to a crosshair.
2. Drag over the rectangular area you need, then release the mouse button to capture it.
3. To capture a window or menu bar, press Space to switch to camera mode, then click the item.

Use Shift+Command+5 to open the Screenshot toolbar

1. Press Shift+Command+5 to open the Screenshot toolbar.
2. Choose the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion of the screen.
3. Open Options to set a timer, save location, floating thumbnail behavior, and pointer visibility.
4. Click Capture to take the screenshot.

Frequently asked questions

Where are screenshots saved on a computer?

• In Windows, screenshots taken with Win+PrtSc are saved to Pictures\\Screenshots by default. PrtSc, Alt+PrtSc, and Win+Shift+S usually send the image to the clipboard first.
• macOS saves screenshots to the desktop by default. You can change the location from the toolbar opened with Shift+Command+5.
• PixPin manual saving lets you choose a file location. Quick Save writes to the path configured under Configuration > Save > Quick Save. When Auto Save is enabled, PixPin also saves an additional image according to Configuration > Save > Auto Save.

How do I take a screenshot if my laptop has no PrtSc key?

Press Win+Shift+S to open the Windows Snipping Tool without using PrtSc. Some devices without a dedicated PrtSc key also support Fn+Win+Space; the exact key combination depends on the keyboard layout.

What should I do if a screenshot shortcut does not work?

First check whether the shortcut requires the Fn key, then check whether another app is using the same key combination. If only PrtSc behaves differently than expected, review the Windows setting that uses the Print Screen key to open screen capture.

When an administrator-level window such as Task Manager is in the foreground, PixPin global shortcuts running with standard permissions may not activate. Open Configuration > System, choose Restart as administrator, and try again.

Do I need to install software to take a screenshot?

Windows and macOS both include built-in screenshot methods, so you do not need extra software for standard area, window, or full-screen captures. Use PixPin when you need UI element detection, magnified color picking, annotations, or pinned images.

Summary

To take a screenshot on a computer, start with three useful shortcuts: use Win+Shift+S to choose a capture area in Windows, Win+PrtSc to save the full screen directly, or Shift+Command+4 to capture an area on a Mac. The built-in tools cover basic screenshots. When you need more accurate UI element selection or want to annotate, pick colors, and pin the result after capture, you can download PixPin and use those tools.