How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook

Using the Built-in Chromebook Keyboard Shortcut

Chromebooks have a built-in keyboard shortcut that makes it easy to take a screenshot of the entire screen. To take a screenshot using this method, simply press the following keys simultaneously:

Ctrl + Window Switcher Key

The Window Switcher key is usually located in the top row of the keyboard, to the right of the brightness and volume keys. It looks like a square with two lines on either side. When you press these keys together, you’ll hear a camera shutter sound, and a notification will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen, indicating that your screenshot has been taken.

By default, your Chromebook will save the screenshot to the Downloads folder, where you can access it later. If you want to view the screenshot immediately, you can click on the notification that appears after you take the screenshot. This will open the screenshot in a new window, where you can view it, crop it, or share it.

Capturing a Selected Area of the Screen

If you only need to capture a portion of the screen, you can use the built-in screenshot tool on your Chromebook to select a specific area. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the following keys simultaneously: Ctrl + Shift + Switch Window Key
2. Your cursor will change to a crosshair.
3. Click and drag the cursor to select the area you want to capture.
4. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.

Like the previous method, your Chromebook will save the screenshot to the Downloads folder by default. You can also click on the notification that appears after you take the screenshot to view, edit, or share it.

Note that when you use this method, your screenshot will only capture the area that you selected, rather than the entire screen. This can be useful when you only need to capture a specific portion of a webpage or document.

Taking a Screenshot with the Power and Volume Down Buttons

If you’re used to taking screenshots on other devices, you might prefer to use the physical buttons on your Chromebook. Luckily, you can use the Power and Volume Down buttons on your Chromebook to take a screenshot. Here’s how:

1. Locate the Power and Volume Down buttons on your Chromebook.
2. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously.
3. Hold the buttons down until you see an animation indicating that the screenshot has been taken.

Again, your Chromebook will save the screenshot to the Downloads folder by default. You can also click on the notification that appears to view, edit, or share the screenshot.

Note that this method will capture the entire screen, rather than a selected area. If you need to capture a specific portion of the screen, you’ll want to use the first or second method instead.

Using Chromebook’s Accessibility Menu for Screenshots

If you have difficulty using the keyboard or physical buttons on your Chromebook, you can use the Accessibility menu to take screenshots. Here’s how:

1. Click on the time in the bottom right corner of the screen to open the system tray.
2. Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Accessibility.”
4. Scroll down to the “Manage accessibility features” section and click on “Enable accessibility features.”
5. Turn on the “Take a screenshot” option.

Once you’ve enabled this feature, you can take a screenshot by clicking on the Accessibility icon in the system tray (it looks like a person in a wheelchair). From there, click on “Take a screenshot.” Your Chromebook will capture the entire screen and save the screenshot to the Downloads folder.

Note that this method also allows you to take a screenshot using a variety of other methods, including voice commands and the camera button on a connected device.

Saving and Editing Your Chromebook Screenshots

After you’ve taken a screenshot on your Chromebook, you’ll likely want to do something with it. Here’s how to save and edit your screenshots:

1. Click on the notification that appears after you take a screenshot. This will open the screenshot in a new window.
2. From here, you can view the screenshot, crop it, or share it.
3. To save the screenshot, click on the “Download” button in the bottom right corner of the screen.
4. Choose where you want to save the screenshot (e.g., the Downloads folder, Google Drive, etc.) and click “Save.”

If you want to edit the screenshot further, you can use the built-in image editor on your Chromebook. Here’s how:

1. Open the Files app on your Chromebook.
2. Navigate to the location where the screenshot is saved (e.g., the Downloads folder).
3. Click on the screenshot to open it.
4. Click on the “Edit” button in the top right corner of the screen.
5. From here, you can use the tools on the left side of the screen to edit the screenshot (e.g., crop it, add text, etc.).
6. When you’re done editing, click on the “Save” button in the top right corner of the screen to save your changes.