# How to take a screenshot

Shortcuts for capturing the whole screen, the active window or a selected area, on both Windows and Mac.

## On Windows

### Capture the Entire Screen

1.  Press the **Print Screen (PrtScn)** key.
    
2.  The screenshot is copied to your **clipboard**.
    
3.  Open an app such as **Paint**, **Word**, or **email**.
    
4.  Press **Ctrl + V** to paste the screenshot.
    

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### Capture the Active Window

1.  Press **Alt + Print Screen**.
    
2.  The active window screenshot is copied to your **clipboard**.
    
3.  Paste it using **Ctrl + V**.
    

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### Capture a Selected Area (Snipping Tool)

1.  Press **Windows + Shift + S**.
    
2.  Choose the type of capture:
    
    -   Rectangular snip
        
    -   Freeform snip
        
    -   Window snip
        
    -   Full-screen snip
        
3.  Select the area you want to capture.
    

The screenshot will be copied to your **clipboard**, and a preview will appear where you can save or edit it.

## On a Mac

### Capture the Entire Screen

1.  Press **Command (⌘) + Shift + 3**.
    
2.  The screenshot will automatically be saved to your **desktop**.
    

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### Capture a Selected Area

1.  Press **Command (⌘) + Shift + 4**.
    
2.  Your cursor will change to a crosshair.
    
3.  **Click and drag** to select the area you want to capture.
    
4.  Release the mouse to take the screenshot.
    

The screenshot will be saved to your **desktop**.

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### Capture a Specific Window

1.  Press **Command (⌘) + Shift + 4**.
    
2.  Press the **Spacebar**.
    
3.  Click the window you want to capture.
    

The screenshot will be saved to your **desktop**.

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### Open the Screenshot Tool

Mac also provides a screenshot tool with more options.

1.  Press **Command (⌘) + Shift + 5**.
    
2.  Choose whether to capture:
    
    -   The entire screen
        
    -   A selected window
        
    -   A selected portion
        
3.  Click **Capture**.