Taking screenshots on a Chromebook is one of those essential skills that comes in handy more often than you might think. Whether you're capturing an error message for troubleshooting, saving important information for later reference, or sharing something interesting with colleagues or friends, knowing the quick keyboard shortcuts can save you valuable time.
Unlike traditional Windows or Mac computers, Chromebooks have their own unique approach to capturing screen content. Chrome OS offers several built-in methods to take screenshots, each designed for different scenarios. You can capture your entire screen, just a specific window, or a custom portion of your display—all without installing any additional software.
Video Guide
Follow along with our step-by-step video guide below, where we walk you through each method of taking screenshots on your Chromebook:
Screenshot Methods on Chromebook
Chrome OS provides multiple ways to capture your screen, depending on what you need:
Full Screen Screenshot
To capture everything visible on your screen, simply press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key is typically in the top row, showing a rectangle with two lines next to it). On some Chromebook models, you may need to press Ctrl + F5 instead if your keyboard doesn't have a dedicated Show Windows key.
Partial Screenshot
When you only need to capture a specific area of your screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows (or Ctrl + Shift + F5). Your cursor will change to a crosshair, allowing you to click and drag to select exactly what you want to capture. This is particularly useful when you want to focus on a specific portion of a webpage, document, or application without including unnecessary elements.
Window Screenshot
Some newer Chromebooks running more recent versions of Chrome OS also support capturing individual windows. After pressing the partial screenshot shortcut, you can switch modes to capture a specific window by clicking on the window mode icon in the toolbar that appears at the bottom of your screen.
Where Screenshots Are Saved
All screenshots taken on your Chromebook are automatically saved to your Downloads folder by default. You can access them by opening the Files app and navigating to the Downloads section. The files are saved in PNG format with a timestamp in the filename, making it easy to identify when each screenshot was taken.
If you need to organize your screenshots better, consider creating a dedicated folder within your Files app. You can also enable Google Drive sync for your Downloads folder to automatically back up your screenshots to the cloud.
Using the Screen Capture Tool
Chrome OS also includes a more advanced screen capture tool that you can access from the Quick Settings panel (click the time in the bottom-right corner). Look for the screen capture icon, which gives you access to additional options and allows you to annotate or edit your screenshot immediately after capturing it. This feature is especially helpful for creating tutorials, documentation, or when you need to highlight specific elements in your screenshot.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your keyboard shortcuts aren't working, first verify that you're using the correct key combination for your specific Chromebook model. Some external keyboards connected to Chromebooks may require different shortcuts. Additionally, if you're in certain modes like Developer Mode or running Linux applications, some shortcuts might behave differently.
If you're having trouble finding your screenshots, remember they're stored locally in the Downloads folder. If your storage is full, screenshots may fail to save, so it's worth checking your available space in the Files app.
Additional Resources
If you have any questions or run into any issues with taking screenshots on your Chromebook, please feel free to reach out via a YouTube comment and we'd be happy to help you troubleshoot!
For those considering purchasing a new Chromebook or comparing different models, have a look at our Chromebook comparison and Buyers Guide. You can also join our mailing list to be notified about all major Chromebook sales and special offers.
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