Windows

Take a snapshot to copy words or images from all or part of your PC screen. Use Snipping Tool to make changes or notes, then save, and share.


Capture any of the following types of snips:

  • Freeform - Draw a freeform shape around an object.
  • Rectangle - Drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
  • Window - Select a window, such as a dialog box, that you want to capture.
  • Full screen - Capture the entire screen.
  • Video snip - Capture a video clip of a rectangular selection of any part of the screen you like.


When you capture a snip, it's automatically copied to the Snipping Tool window where you make changes, save, and share. 


Select the Start button, enter snipping tool, then select Snipping Tool from the results. You can use these shortcuts for getting things done with Snipping Tool faster:

  • Press Windows logo key  + Shift + S to open the snipping tool overlay to capture an image snapshot.
  • Press Windows logo key  + Shift + R to open the snipping tool overlay to capture a video clip.
  • Press Print Screen (PrtSc) for a static image snapshot of your entire screen and place it in your clipboard.
In Snipping Tool, select Snipping Mode. and choose the kind of snip you want and select New.
  • Rectangle: Allows you to select a rectangular area to capture.
  • Window: Allows you to select a window that you want to capture.
  • Full screen: Immediately captures a snapshot of the entire screen.
  • Freeform: Allows you to draw a freeform shape to select the area you want to capture.


For more information on taking screenshots on Windows, refer to this page.


Mac

 

If you would like to take a screenshot of your entire screen:

  1. Press Shift + Command + 3

 

If you would like to take a screenshot of a selected portion of the screen;

  1. Press Shift + Command + 4
  2. Click and drag to select an area. Release when done. 
Note: While dragging, you can hold Shift (locks height), Option (inverts selection), or Spacebar (moves entire selection) to change the way the selection moves.


Capture a window or menu

  1. Open the window or menu that you want to capture.
  2. Press and release these three keys together: Shift, Command, and 4. Then press and release the Space bar. The pointer changes to a camera icon.
  3. To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.
  4. To take the screenshot, click the window or menu to capture it. To exclude the window's shadow from the screenshot, press and hold the Option key while you click.


Capture using the Screenshot app

In macOS Mojave 10.14 or later, you can also use the Screenshot app to take a screenshot. To open the app, press Shift-Command-5. Or find the Screenshot app in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.


The Screenshot app includes an Options menu from which you can:

  • Set a screenshot timer
  • Choose where screenshots are saved
  • Choose whether to show the floating thumbnail after taking a screenshot
  • Choose whether to show the mouse pointer in your screenshot
  • On supported Mac models using macOS Tahoe 26 or later, choose the capture format:
  • SDR (Most Compatible) to capture in standard dynamic range using the PNG image format
  • HDR to capture in high dynamic range using the HEIF image format
  • Learn more about the Screenshot app


Find your screenshots

  • By default, screenshots save to your desktop with the name ”Screen Shot [date] at [time].” You can change the default save location in the Screenshot app.
  • Instead of waiting for the screenshot to be saved to your desktop, you can drag the thumbnail that appears in the corner of your screen, then drop it in another location.
  • To save a screenshot to the Clipboard instead of your desktop, Control-click the screenshot thumbnail that appears in the corner of your screen, then choose Save to Clipboard from the shortcut menu that appears. Or press Control in addition to the other keys you press to take the screenshot. For example, instead of pressing Shift-Command-3, press Control-Shift-Command-3.


For information on taking screenshots, and video recordings of your screen on a Mac or iOS device, refer to this page.


iOS (iPhone and iPad)

  1. Quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time.
  2. After you take a screenshot, do any of the following:
    • Crop: Drag the handles to save only the portion you want.
    • Annotate: Tap the Markup button, then use the Markup tools.
    • Share: Tap the Share button, then choose a sharing option.
    • Save: Tap the Check button, then choose an option.

      By default, screenshots are saved to your photo library in the Photos app. To see all your screenshots, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down to Media Types, then tap Screenshots.

    • Cancel or delete: Tap the Close button.



For information on taking screenshots on iOS refer to this page.