In this article you will learn about how to take a screenshot on Chromebook. There are many ways to get a screenshot on Chromebook, you need to follow easy steps discussed below. If you’ve recently purchased a Chromebook, you’ve probably noticed that it’s not like most laptops. One of these differences is the lack of the Print Screen (PrtSc) key, commonly found on Windows laptops and used to capture screenshots. Chromebooks lack a dedicated screenshot button.
The function is instead built into the Chrome operating system. However, the process remains relatively simple and, in some ways, similar to taking screenshots on a Windows PC or Mac, but for a few keyboard shortcut differences and different steps.
There are various methods to take a screenshot on Chromebook to produce the images you require If you want to grab the entire screen or a specific portion of the window. Also read discord screen share no audio fixed.
Various Methods for Taking a Screenshot on a Chromebook
- Using the Show Windows key
- Using an external keyboard
- Using the Power and Volume down buttons
- Using a stylus pen
- Using advanced Chromebook apps
Making Use of the Show Windows Key
Before using any of these methods to take screenshots on your Chromebook, you should become acquainted with a specific key on the keyboard known as the Show Windows key.
It’s known as the Overview key or the Windows Switcher key in some places, but Google refers to it as the Show all windows in Overview mode key. Show Windows will be used in this guide. This key is placed just above the number row on your keyboard, between the full screen and brightness down buttons.
On the right side, it resembles a small rectangle with two vertical lines.
To capture a full or partial screenshot, use various key combinations with the Show Windows key. Based on your Chromebook’s model and manufacturer, the keys referenced in the steps below may appear differently on the keyboard.
- Press and hold the to capture the entire screen CTRL+Show Windows key.
A notification window will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen, indicating that the screenshot was successfully captured and saved.
- To take a partial screenshot or select a specific region of your screen, press and hold the CTRL+SHIFT+Show Windows keys simultaneously.
- The mouse cursor will temporarily change to a crosshair icon, so click and drag to highlight the area you want to capture.
After you’ve selected it, let go of the trackpad to take a screenshot.
A notification window will appear in the lower right corner of your screen once more, indicating that the process was successful and the screenshot was saved.
Using the Volume Down and Power Button
If your Chromebook has a 360-degree hinge, you can take screenshots in tablet mode by pressing the power and volume down buttons, similar to you would on an Android smartphone or tablet.
The keyboard is normally inactive in tablet mode, so the Show Windows and CTRL key method will not work.
To obtain an image of the entire screen while in tablet mode, press and hold power and volume down buttons together.
If you want a partial screenshot, crop the full screenshot you just took and save it. In tablet mode, there is no option for capturing specific areas of your screen.
Making Use of a Stylus Pen
Some Chromebooks, such as the Pixelbook or the Samsung Chromebook Plus, include a stylus with which you can get a full or partial screenshot while in tablet mode and annotate it if desired.
At the right corner of the screen bottom, a tool menu will appear.
From here, you can use the pen to draw or select a region to capture a portion of the screen.
Using An External Keyboard
To take screenshots, you can use an external keyboard with your Chromebook or a Chrome-powered desktop (Chromebox).
External keyboards do not always use Chrome’s dedicated button row, but their function keys perform the same function.
For example, on standard function keyboards, the F5 button acts as the Show Windows key, so you’ll use CTRL+F5 to take a full screenshot and CTRL+SHIFT+F5 to take a partial screenshot.
In a Chromebook, where does the screenshot save?
Screenshot image files are saved directly on your Chromebook in the Downloads folder and are organized by the date and time the screenshots were taken. However, they will not be available on Google Drive, so you must manually move the files.
- To find a specific screenshot, open the Files app by clicking the folder icon on the Chrome OS shelf.
- Select Downloads from the left menu pane and look for your screenshot on the right side of the Files interface.
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How to Use the Native Image Viewer to Edit Screenshots
You can edit your screenshots using the built-in image viewer editor before using them or sharing them with others.
- Navigate to Downloads and double-click the screenshot to launch the Image Viewer editor.
- To enter Edit mode, click the pen icon in the window’s lower right corner.
At the foot of this window, you’ll find tools for cropping, rotating, and adjusting brightness.
Because Image Viewer does not allow you to save copies of your edits, click the pen icon again to finalize your changes.
Make Use of Advanced Chromebook Apps
Numerous Chromebook extensions and apps are available for taking screenshots on a Chromebook that provide more functionality than the built-in methods explained above. Here are some best Chromebook apps for enhancing your screenshot-taking capabilities.
FireShot
This free extension allows you to take full or partial screenshots (including web pages), edit and save them in multiple formats, and send them directly to Gmail or OneNote.
SuperChrome
This extension makes it easier and faster to capture full-screen screenshots of web pages. It includes tools for entire screenshotting websites and editing, sharing, and conversion options in a variety of formats, including PDF conversion.
Awesome Screenshot
With this extension, you can select to capture a screenshot, screencast (screen record), or take a video whenever you want. It supports annotations and blurring, as well as other screenshot-related features.
Lightshot
This is a simple tool for taking screenshots of any section of your website. Drag and drop the image to any portion of your screen, edit it in place, and then save it to your Chromebook or send it to the cloud.
