You are wondering how to take a screenshot on your laptop? In practice, it’s about taking a snapshot of what you see on the screen. It can be useful during work, learning, playing or online conversations. In this guide, I will show you 10 easy ways to take a screenshot – both on laptops with Windows and MacBooks.
1. Print Screen (PrtScn) button – classic way
* Press the PrtScn button on your keyboard.
* The entire screen content will be copied to the clipboard.
* Paste the image into Paint or Word (Ctrl + V).
This is the oldest and simplest way to take a screenshot.
2. Alt + Print Screen – only active window
* Press Alt + PrtScn.
* A picture of the currently open window will be created.
* You can paste it into any graphics editor.
3. Windows + Print Screen – automatic saving
* Press Windows + PrtScn at the same time.
* The screenshot will automatically save in the folder: Images > Screenshots.
* This is a great solution for people who often take screenshots.
4. Snipping Tool in Windows
* Open the Snipping Tool application.
* Click New and select the area of the screen you want to capture.
* You can immediately edit, highlight and save the image.
This method is convenient when you need to precisely control what part of the screen you want to screenshot.
5. Windows + Shift + S
* Press Windows + Shift + S at the same time.
* A tool for marking a fragment of the screen will appear.
* The capture will be sent to the clipboard, and you can paste it into a document or graphics editor.
6. Screenshots on MacBook – Cmd + Shift + 3
* On Apple laptops, it’s easy to take a screenshot:
* Press Command + Shift + 3 at the same time.
* A picture of the entire screen will be saved on the desktop in PNG format.
7. Cmd + Shift + 4 – select fragment on Mac
* Press Command + Shift + 4 at the same time.
* Use your mouse to select the area you want to capture.
* The image will immediately save on the desktop.
8. Cmd + Shift + 5 – additional options on macOS
* This shortcut opens a tool bar for:
+ Selecting a screen fragment,
+ Saving an entire window,
+ Recording video from the screen.
This method is more advanced and suitable if you use a MacBook.
9. Applications for screenshots (Lightshot, Greenshot)
* Sometimes built-in tools are not enough. Programs like Lightshot or Greenshot allow:
+ Quickly editing the screenshot,
+ Adding arrows, text, frames,
+ Sharing images online.
10. Functional keys on some laptops
* On certain models (especially with compact keyboards), you need to use combinations such as Fn + PrtScn or Fn + Windows + PrtScn.
How to take a screenshot in the form of a selfie?
It’s worth noting that “screenshot” can also mean taking a photo with the laptop’s webcam. In this case:
* Open the Camera application in Windows.
* Click on the camera icon – the image will be saved in the folder Images > Camera.
Summary
Now you know how to take a screenshot on your laptop – regardless of whether you have Windows or a MacBook. You can use the classic Print Screen button, keyboard shortcuts, Snipping Tool, or additional programs. If you want to take a selfie with your laptop – just open the Camera application.
