300 Seconds: How to take a screenshot.

So you want a refresher on how to take a screenshot and save it as an image? Here are some easy instructions to do so on your PC, Mac, or smart phone.

If you have a PC: Click the window you want to capture. Press Alt+Print Screen by holding down the Alt key and then pressing the Print Screen key. The Print Screen key is near the upper-right corner of your keyboard. The image is now saved to your clipboard and you can paste it (ctrl+V) where you need it.

If you have a Mac: To capture the entire screen, press command (⌘)+shift+3. This will save the screenshot in an image file on your desktop. If you’d rather have the image saved to the clipboard rather than to a file, add the control button to the sequence… control+command (⌘)+shift+3.

To take a screenshot of a partial screen on a Mac, press command (⌘)+shift+4, and then drag the crosshair pointer to select the area. Hold shift, option, or the space bar while you drag to resize the selection area. To cancel, press Escape (esc) before you release the mouse button.

On an iPhone or iPad: simultaneously press the sleep/wake button and the home button at the same time. You’ll hear a camera “shutter” sound, and the image will be on your camera roll.

On Android devices, the capture method is similar. Press the home button and the lock key at the same time. Some Galaxy devices support capturing a screen image by swiping your open palm across the screen from right to left. With either method, you’ll now be able to see the screenshot in the Gallery app, or in Samsung’s built-in “My Files” file browser.

If we haven’t included your device here, send me a note and I’ll help find it. Or simply Google, “How do I capture a screenshot on my ______?”

 

Beth Golay

Beth is a reader, writer, marketer and Books & Whatnot founder. Even though she knows better, she's a sucker for a good book cover and will positively swoon if a book is set in appropriate type. @BethGolay