How to Take a Screenshot on Windows and Mac (Quick Guide for Beginners)

Whether you’re saving a funny meme, capturing a software bug, or documenting a tutorial, knowing how to take a screenshot is an essential skill for any computer user. Fortunately, both Windows and macOS offer multiple ways to capture your screen — and this guide will walk you through the easiest methods step-by-step.

If you’re new to computers or just looking for a faster way to grab your screen, this quick guide is for you.

🖥️ How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

Windows offers several built-in tools and shortcuts to take screenshots. Here are the most popular and beginner-friendly methods:

1. Print Screen (PrtScn) Key

• Full Screen Capture: Press PrtScn to copy the entire screen to your clipboard.
• Paste into an App: Open Paint, Word, or any image editor and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.

2. Alt + PrtScn

• Captures only the active window.
• Paste it into an app using Ctrl + V.

3. Windows + Shift + S (Snip & Sketch)

• Opens a small overlay with options:
  • Rectangular snip
  • Freeform snip
  • Window snip
  • Fullscreen snip
• The screenshot is copied to your clipboard and can be saved via the Snip & Sketch app.

4. Windows + PrtScn

• Captures the entire screen and automatically saves it to:
  • Pictures > Screenshots folder

5. Snipping Tool

• Search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu.
• Choose the snip type and capture your screen.
• Save or annotate the image directly.

🍏 How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

macOS makes screenshotting intuitive with built-in shortcuts and a dedicated app.

1. Command + Shift + 3

• Captures the entire screen.
• Saved automatically to your desktop.

2. Command + Shift + 4

• Turns your cursor into a crosshair.
• Click and drag to select the area you want to capture.
• Release to save the screenshot to your desktop.

3. Command + Shift + 4 + Spacebar

• Captures a specific window.
• Hover over the window and click to capture.

4. Command + Shift + 5

• Opens the Screenshot Toolbar:
  • Capture entire screen
  • Capture selected window
  • Capture selected portion
  • Record screen (video)
• Includes options to choose save location and set a timer.

5. Touch Bar Screenshot (MacBook Pro only)

• Press Command + Shift + 6 to capture the Touch Bar.

🧰 Bonus Tips for Both Platforms

✏️ Editing Screenshots

• Windows: Use Paint, Snip & Sketch, or third-party apps like Greenshot or Lightshot.
• Mac: Use Preview or the built-in Markup tool to annotate, crop, or highlight.

📂 Changing Save Location

• Mac: Use the Screenshot Toolbar (Command + Shift + 5) to change where screenshots are saved.
• Windows: Manually move screenshots from the default folder or use third-party tools to customize.

☁️ Cloud Sync

• Screenshots can be synced to OneDrive (Windows) or iCloud (Mac) for easy access across devices.

🧑‍💻 Best Screenshot Tools for Beginners

If you want more control or advanced features, here are some beginner-friendly apps:

Tool	Platform	Features
Snip & Sketch	Windows	Annotation, delay timer, sharing
Lightshot	Both	Easy editing, cloud upload
Greenshot	Windows	Region capture, hotkeys, export
CleanShot X	Mac	All-in-one capture and editing
Skitch	Mac	Annotate and share screenshots