As you work on a laptop, screenshots can be very useful for recording your screen’s activity. They are also great for sharing with others who are using your computer. However, it can be challenging to figure out how to make a screenshot on your laptop, especially if you’re not used to your keyboard shortcuts or your device’s own snipping tool.
The first step is to find the Print Screen button, which you’ll typically find in the top row of the keyboard. It will typically be abbreviated “prt sc” or “prt scn,” and it’ll copy the screen you’re viewing to the Clipboard, where you can paste (CTRL+V) into any program.
You can also use the PrtScn key on some laptops to take a screenshot of just the window you’re currently working in, as opposed to taking the entire screen. This method requires that you press the PrtScn button with the Function key, or “Fn.”
If you’re using a Mac, you can take a screenshot by opening up the built-in snipping tool called Snip & Sketch. This tool can be found by either clicking the Start menu or by typing Win + Shift + S on your keyboard.
Once you’re in the Snipping Tool, click on a button labeled “New” to start a new screenshot. This will open a new window with a cursor that lets you select the area of the screen that you want to capture. Once you’re done selecting the screen, press “Save” to save your screenshot as a file on your computer.
Next, open the image editing software of your choice and paste in the screenshot. You can then edit the screenshot, crop it, add a text box, or do whatever you want to do with the image before saving it.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party screen capture utility like Awesome Screenshot & Recorder to do the same thing. It’s free to download and works on all Windows systems.
It’s also a good idea to sync your screen shot folder on OneDrive if you’re using a Windows tablet or other laptop with the Touch Bar. This way, you can access all of your screens easily and quickly.
There are also some great snipping tools for the Mac, including the ‘Snip and Sketch’ utility from Microsoft. It’s a free, easy-to-use tool that lets you record your screen or a selection of it, along with two video-recording options and an ‘Option’ button.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac
If you’re running a MacBook, or other Apple laptop, you can easily take a screenshot with the built-in snipping tool. It includes a ‘Capture Entire Screen’ and a ‘Capture Selected Window’ button, as well as two video-recording options that let you record the whole screen or a selection of it. The ‘Option’ button lets you set a timer, among other things.
The snipping tool also features some handy annotation tools. You can resize the image, add a text box or highlighter to it, and draw on it using numerous ink colors. You can also share the screenshot via email or Facebook.