How to make screenshots

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 119602
  • Created:
  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: updated as a "how to contribute" article
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: AliceWyman
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: No
Revision Source
Revision Content

Create a screenshot on Windows

Once you have the screen presented the way you want for the screenshot:

  1. Press the Print Screen or Prnt Scrn or prt sc or PrtSc key (depending on your keyboard). This key is usually found in the upper right section of your keyboard. To capture only the active window, hold down the Alt key, before you press the Print Screen or Prnt Scrn or prt sc or PrtSc key.
  2. Go to the Windows Start menu and open up the Microsoft Paint program from the Programs list (look under Accessories).
  3. Once Paint is open, click Paste and your screenshot will appear.
  4. Save your image as a PNG file, in an easy-to-find location such as your desktop.


Create a screenshot on Mac

Once you have the screen presented the way you want for the screenshot:

  • To capture the screen, hold down the command key, as well as the Shift key, as you press 3.
  • To capture a specific section, hold down the command key, as well as the Shift key, as you press 4; then select the area you want to copy.
  • To capture a specific window, hold down the command key, as well as the Shift key, as you press 4; then press the spacebar. You can then click on a window to capture it.

As a result, there will be a PNG file on your desktop, called Picture 1.

Create a screenshot on Linux

Once you have the screen presented the way you want for the screenshot:

  • On Ubuntu Linux, click the Applications menu, go to the Accessories folder, and select Take Screenshot.
  • In other cases, depending on your desktop manager, you can use KSnapshot or Gnome-screenshot (or use the Print Screen or Prnt Scrn or prt sc or PrtSc key, depending on your keyboard, to capture your screenshot.

iPhone screenshots

  1. Open the app on your iphone that you want to capture.
  2. Click and hold the Sleep/Wake button. Immediately press and release the Home button. The screen flashes.
  3. Find the screenshot in the Photos app.
  4. Send the screenshot to your computerr, if you want, to edit the screenshot in your preferred image-editing software.

Android screenshots

  1. Open the app on your Android device that you want to capture.
  2. Press and hold the Sleep/wake button and the volume-down button simultaneously. The screen flashes.
  3. Find the screenshot in the Gallery app.
  4. Send the screenshot to your computer. If you want, edit the screenshot in an image editing software such as Paint or Preview.
Not all Android devices work the same. If step two did not work and your device has a home button, press and hold the home button and the power button simultaneously until the screen flashes.

Tools