Steps for taking a screenshot
When you take a photograph of your current screen on a smartphone, computer or laptop, that file is called a screenshot. Taking screenshots is a helpful tool for both personal and professional purposes. But depending on your device, the way you take a screenshot varies.
Read this helpful guide to learn how to take a screenshot on any device and to learn the various occasions on which screenshots may prove useful.
Screenshot basics
When do I need to take a screenshot?
Screenshots are used in a variety of instances, ranging from professional to personal. Here are some common uses of a screenshot:
Business transactions: Companies routinely send important data through image or video captures. Communications departments rely on these files to understand each other’s needs and brainstorm solutions.
Tutorials/demonstrations: Just like businesses need screenshots to share on-screen information, sales and customer support teams also rely on screenshots to guide the customer. Some companies create detailed tutorials explaining how to use their product. Such guides often include multiple screenshots to explain the concept clearly.
Bug reporting: Customers may screenshot the error screen when they’re facing a problem on a website. These screenshots are then sent to customer service teams for bug reporting and guidance.
Intimate chats: Long-distance couples can screenshot each other’s messages and photos to save as a memory. Social media apps like Snapchat (and now Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) all have “fleeting” messages and nudge users to screenshot data to prevent it from being lost.
Saving information: If you’re browsing a website and need to save information to access later, a screenshot can be helpful. You can save the page with a click of a button, and it’s ready to reference whenever the need arises.
Proof of receipt: Some organizations demand a screenshot as proof of transaction or documentation. These may include confirmation forms, emails or thank you messages. Some apps may require an OTP verification file that can be recorded with a screenshot.
How to take a screenshot
How to take a screenshot on an Android smartphone
Most Android devices, like the Google Pixel 5, can record a screenshot if you press the volume and power button simultaneously. You can find these on either side of the screen. Some phones also have a specific screenshot button available in the quick access toolbar at the top of the screen.
If you’ve enabled a voice assistant on your phone, you can take a screenshot by saying “take a screenshot.” Some phones also enable gesture-controlled screenshots where you can swipe your hand across the screen to capture an image. To enable this, go to Settings and open Advanced Features. Here you will see an option that says something like “palm swipe to capture” or “enable hand gestures.”
How to take a screenshot on iPhone or iPad
If your Apple device has a home button, you can press it while simultaneously holding the power button for an instant screenshot. When you do this, you’ll hear a camera sound and see the image flash onto your screen. The screenshot will automatically be saved in your photos.
If your Apple device doesn’t have a home button, you can press the power button while simultaneously holding the volume up button.
If you have an Apple Pencil, you can use the drawing tool to take a screenshot — just swipe up from the bottom corner. When you do this, you’ll be given an option to choose whether you want to screenshot the whole page or only the content currently visible on your screen.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac
If you use Mac OS, you can capture a screenshot by pressing Command+Shift+5. Another option is to visit the Launchpad option, select Other and click on Screenshot.
If you want to screenshot the entire page, press Command+Shift+3. If you only want to screenshot part of the screen, press Command+Shift+4. This will allow you to select any part of the open page that you want to screenshot.
How to take a screenshot in Windows
If you’re using Windows, use the Print Screen button to capture a screenshot. This button is typically found in the upper right corner of most keyboards. Unlike Apple, the screenshot in Windows doesn’t immediately appear on the screen; you manually need to paste it in an appropriate application like a word processor or Paint.
The downside to this method is that it screenshots your entire screen, including the toolbar at the bottom and other popups that you might want to omit in your image. To solve this problem, you can paste the screenshot in Paint and crop out what you don’t want.
If you’re using Windows 10, you can use the Snip & Sketch feature to take a screenshot. You can open this by simultaneously pressing down Shift+Windows Key+S. Once this tool opens, you can choose which area of the page you’d like to capture. This is helpful for people who only want to save a part of their screen, rather than the whole page.
How to take a screenshot in a web browser
If you’re using any web browser like Google, Safari, Firefox, Brave or DuckDuckGo, you can use external tools to screenshot the page. These tools are called browser extensions and they help you capture, save and share the data on your screen. Some common screenshot extension tools are Lightshot, Nimbus Screen Screenshot and Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder.
Sakshi Udavant is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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