How to Screenshot on Chromebook
Every Chromebook screenshot method. Keyboard shortcuts, the Screen Capture toolbar, and where your screenshots are saved.
Chromebook keyboards do not have a Print Screen key. They also do not have the same shortcuts as Mac or Windows. The first time you need a screenshot on a Chromebook, you end up searching for it. Every time.
Chrome OS has its own set of shortcuts and a built-in Screen Capture tool that handles screenshots and screen recordings. Once you learn the main shortcut, it becomes second nature. But getting there requires knowing that the key labeled with a rectangle and two lines is the Show Windows key, and that it replaces Print Screen in Chromebook land.
This guide covers every method, from quick keyboard shortcuts to the full Screen Capture toolbar.
Full screen capture with Ctrl + Show Windows
Press Ctrl and the Show Windows key simultaneously. The Show Windows key is the rectangular icon with two vertical lines to its right, located in the top row of your keyboard where F5 would be on a standard keyboard. This captures your entire screen instantly. A notification appears in the bottom right corner confirming the capture, with a thumbnail preview. Click the notification to open the screenshot for editing or sharing. The file saves automatically to your Downloads folder as a PNG.
Partial screen capture with Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows
Press Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows to enter selection mode. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the exact area you want to capture. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen offering additional options. Release the mouse button to capture the selected area. The screenshot saves to Downloads and a notification confirms the capture. This is the most useful shortcut for capturing specific content without including the entire screen.
Good to know: If you use an external keyboard that does not have the Show Windows key, press Ctrl+F5 for full screen capture or Ctrl+Shift+F5 for partial capture. The F5 key maps to Show Windows on external keyboards.
Use the Screen Capture toolbar for all options
Press Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows to open the Screen Capture toolbar at the bottom of the screen. This toolbar gives you three capture modes (full screen, partial screen, specific window) and two capture types (screenshot or screen recording). Click the camera icon for screenshots or the video icon for recordings. Select your capture mode, then click Capture or start recording. The toolbar also has a gear icon for settings, where you can change the save location, enable microphone audio for recordings, and set a countdown timer.
Capture a specific window
From the Screen Capture toolbar, select the window capture mode (the icon showing a single window). Your cursor changes to a highlight tool. Hover over any open window and it highlights with a blue border. Click the window to capture it. This captures just that window without the desktop background or other windows. It works for browser windows, apps, and system dialogs.
Copy to clipboard instead of saving
By default, Chromebook screenshots save as files. If you want to paste a screenshot directly into a document, email, or chat without saving a file, use the Clipboard feature. After taking a screenshot, it is automatically added to your clipboard history. Press the Search key + V (or Launcher + V) to open the clipboard manager, which shows your recent screenshots and copied text. You can also hold Ctrl while capturing to copy to clipboard without saving a file, though this behavior depends on your Chrome OS version.
Find, edit, and share your screenshots
Screenshots save to the Downloads folder as PNG files by default. Open the Files app to find them. Chrome OS includes a basic built-in image editor. Double-click a screenshot to open it in the Gallery app, where you can crop, rotate, adjust brightness, and annotate with drawing tools. To share, right-click the file and choose Share, or open it in the Gallery and use the share icon. You can also access recent screenshots from the Tote (the small shelf area in the bottom right of the taskbar) for quick access without opening the Files app.
The shortcut you will use most often is Ctrl+Show Windows for full screen and Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows for a selected area. Both are fast and require no setup. The Screen Capture toolbar (Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows, then use the toolbar) adds recording and timed captures when you need them. All screenshots save to the Downloads folder by default. If you take a lot of screenshots, create a dedicated folder and change the save location in the Screen Capture toolbar settings to keep things organized.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
It is in the top row of keys, typically the fifth or sixth key from the left, between the Full Screen key and the Brightness Down key. The icon looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines to its right. On some Chromebook models, the icon may look slightly different, but it is always in the same position. If your keyboard has standard function keys instead, use F5 as the equivalent.
Chrome OS does not have a built-in scrolling screenshot feature. For capturing long webpages, you have a few options. Use a browser extension like GoFullPage or Fireshot, which capture the entire scrollable content of a webpage. Alternatively, you can use the Chrome DevTools method by pressing Ctrl+Shift+I to open developer tools, then Ctrl+Shift+P and searching for "Capture full size screenshot." This captures the entire page as rendered.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows to open the Screen Capture toolbar. Click the video camera icon (instead of the camera icon) to switch to recording mode. Select whether to record the full screen, a partial area, or a specific window. Optionally enable microphone audio from the settings. Click Record. A countdown begins, then recording starts. A red stop button appears in the taskbar. Click it or press Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows again to stop. Recordings save as WebM files in your Downloads folder.
Yes. Open the Screen Capture toolbar (Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows), click the gear icon, and select a different save location. You can choose any folder in your local storage or Google Drive. Setting a dedicated Screenshots folder keeps them separate from other downloads.
When your Chromebook is in tablet mode (keyboard folded back or detached), press the Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously. This works the same as taking a screenshot on an Android phone. The screen flashes and the screenshot saves to your Downloads folder. You can also access the Screen Capture toolbar from the Quick Settings panel in the bottom right corner.
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