How to Take a Screenshot on Chromebook: A Comprehensive Guide for Users

Introduction

Chromebooks have become increasingly popular among computer users because of their speed, affordability, and ease of use. One of the most important features of any device is the ability to take screenshots. Taking a screenshot is a quick and easy way to capture important information on your screen without the need for external tools. In this article, we’ll show you several ways to take screenshots on your Chromebook, so you can capture and save important information with ease.

How to Take a Screenshot on Chromebook

There are several ways to take a screenshot on a Chromebook. Each method provides you with the ability to capture different types of information, so you can choose the method that works best for you.

A. Using the “Show windows” key and Shift key

This method is the simplest and most commonly used way to take a screenshot on a Chromebook. You can use a combination of the “Show windows” key and the Shift key to capture the entire screen.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Press the “Show windows” key (the key with a rectangle with two lines on the right) and the Shift key at the same time.
2. Your Chromebook will take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to your Downloads folder. You can find your Downloads folder in the Files app or by clicking the “Launcher” in the bottom left corner of your screen and selecting the “Downloads” icon.

B. Using the Ctrl + Show Windows key combination

This method is similar to the first method, but it allows you to capture a specific area of the screen instead of the entire screen.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Press the Ctrl key and the “Show windows” key at the same time.
2. Your cursor will change to a crosshair.
3. Click and drag the crosshair over the area you want to capture.
4. Release your mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

C. Using the built-in “Screenshot” app

Chrome OS has a built-in app called “Screenshot” that allows you to take a screenshot of your entire screen, a specific window, or a custom area. This method gives you more control over what you capture.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Click the time in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Select the “Screenshot” icon, which looks like a camera.
3. Choose to capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a custom area using the options at the top of the screen.
4. Click “Capture” to take the screenshot.
5. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

D. Using Chrome’s built-in screenshot tool

Chrome also has a built-in screenshot tool that allows you to take a screenshot of the entire page, not just what’s visible on your screen. This feature is particularly useful if you need to capture long web pages or documents.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Open the page you want to capture in Chrome.
2. Press the Ctrl + Shift + P keys on your keyboard.
3. Type “Screenshot” in the search box, select the “Capture full screen” option, and click the “Capture” button.
4. Your Chromebook will take a screenshot of the entire page and save it to your Downloads folder.

E. Using the Google Pen

If you have a Chromebook with a touchscreen, you can use the Google Pen to take screenshots.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Press and hold the button on the Google Pen.
2. Tap the screen to take a screenshot.
3. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

F. Using an external keyboard

If you prefer using an external keyboard, you can still take screenshots using the methods above.

G. Using Chrome extensions like Lightshot or Awesome Screenshot

Chrome extensions like Lightshot or Awesome Screenshot allow you to capture screenshots and edit them within Chrome.

Step-by-Step Guide for Each Method

Here’s a step-by-step guide for each method listed above, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

A. Using the “Show windows” key and Shift key

1. Press the “Show windows” key and the Shift key at the same time.
2. Chromebook will take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to your Downloads folder.

B. Using the Ctrl + Show Windows key combination

1. Press the Ctrl key and the “Show windows” key at the same time.
2. Your cursor will change to a crosshair.
3. Click and drag the crosshair over the area you want to capture.
4. Release your mouse or trackpad button to take the screenshot. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

C. Using the built-in “Screenshot” app

1. Click the time in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Select the “Screenshot” icon, which looks like a camera.
3. Choose to capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a custom area using the options at the top of the screen.
4. Click “Capture” to take the screenshot.
5. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

D. Using Chrome’s built-in screenshot tool

1. Open the page you want to capture in Chrome.
2. Press the Ctrl + Shift + P keys on your keyboard.
3. Type “Screenshot” in the search box, select the “Capture full screen” option, and click the “Capture” button.
4. Your Chromebook will take a screenshot of the entire page and save it to your Downloads folder.

E. Using the Google Pen

1. Press and hold the button on the Google Pen.
2. Tap the screen to take a screenshot.
3. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

F. Using an external keyboard

1. Use the keyboard shortcut for the method you want to use (see methods above).
2. Your Chromebook will save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.

G. Using Chrome extensions like Lightshot or Awesome Screenshot

1. Install the Lightshot or Awesome Screenshot extension.
2. Follow the prompts to enable the extension.
3. Take screenshots using the extension.
4. Edit and save your screenshots as needed.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks you can use when taking screenshots on your Chromebook:

A. Adjusting the resolution for higher-quality screenshots

If you want higher-quality screenshots, you can adjust the resolution in the settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the time in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Select the “Settings” icon, which looks like a gear.
3. Scroll down and select “Device”.
4. Select “Displays”.
5. Select the “Resolution” option and choose a higher resolution.

B. Using keyboard shortcuts to save or copy screenshots

If you want to quickly save or copy your screenshot, use the following keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Shift + S: Save the screenshot to your Downloads folder.
• Ctrl + Shift + V: Copy the screenshot to your clipboard.

C. Editing screenshots with built-in or third-party tools

If you want to edit your screenshots, you can use built-in tools like the “Screenshot” app or third-party tools like Canva or Adobe Photoshop.

Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is a simple and useful skill to have. By following the methods and tips outlined in this article, you can easily take screenshots of your entire screen, specific windows, custom areas, and even long web pages. The best part is that you don’t need any external tools to do so.