- Chromebook screenshot keys
- Capture the full screen
- Grab just one area
- No Show windows key? Use the menu
- Chromebook tablets and touchscreens
- Screenshot a single window
- Share or edit what you just captured
- Where screenshots are saved
- Record your Chromebook screen instead
- Little things that cause problems
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To screenshot on a Chromebook, press Ctrl and the Show windows key, the one that looks like a rectangle with two lines. For part of the screen, press Shift, Ctrl and Show windows, then drag. Screenshots save to your Downloads folder and are copied to the clipboard.
Chromebooks don't have a Print Screen key, which is why so many people search for this. The key you want is Show windows, usually in the top row above the 6, with an icon of a box and two lines beside it. Once you've found it, every screenshot trick on a Chromebook builds on it.
Chromebook screenshot keys
| What you want | Press |
|---|---|
| The whole screen | Ctrl + Show windows |
| Part of the screen | Shift + Ctrl + Show windows, then drag |
| All capture options, including video | Ctrl + Shift + Show windows, then pick from the toolbar |
| Screenshot on a tablet | Power + Volume down |
Capture the full screen
Press Ctrl and Show windows together. You'll see a small preview in the corner. That's it. The image is saved and also copied, so you can paste it straight into Gmail, Google Docs or a chat with Ctrl and V.
Grab just one area
- Press Shift, Ctrl and Show windows.
- Click and drag over the part you want.
- Let go, then select Capture if it asks.
Google's help adds two keyboard tips worth knowing. Press the space bar to change which section you're capturing, and press Tab until one of the corner circles is highlighted to resize the box with the arrow keys. That's handy if a trackpad isn't precise enough.
No Show windows key? Use the menu
If your keyboard is missing the key, or you just prefer clicking, select the time in the bottom right corner and choose Screen capture. The same toolbar appears with options for full screen, partial screen or a single window.
Using a Windows or Mac keyboard plugged into your Chromebook? Google says to press the Windows key or the Command key wherever a shortcut uses the Search or Launcher key. You can see every shortcut on your own machine by pressing Ctrl, Search and S.
Chromebook tablets and touchscreens
On a tablet, or a Chromebook folded into tablet mode, press Power and Volume down at the same time, just like an Android phone. For more choices, press and hold the Power button and select Screen capture.
Screenshot a single window
When you only want one app in the picture, without your tabs, shelf and wallpaper, use the toolbar. Press Ctrl, Shift and Show windows, choose the screenshot option rather than video, then pick the window mode and click the window you want. It's tidier than a full-screen shot and saves you cropping afterwards, especially on a large external monitor where the window might be a small part of the display.
Share or edit what you just captured
Straight after a capture, a small preview pops up in the corner. Select it to open the image, where you can delete it if it's not right, or copy it again. Because the image is already on the clipboard, the fastest route is often to paste it straight into the chat, document or email you're working on. If you need to crop, open the file from Downloads in the Gallery app.
Where screenshots are saved
Every screenshot goes into the Downloads folder in the Files app, and a copy sits on the clipboard ready to paste. If Downloads is already a mess, change it: press Shift, Ctrl and Show windows, select the Settings cog on the toolbar, then Select folder and choose somewhere else, such as a folder in Google Drive so your screenshots back up.
Record your Chromebook screen instead
The same toolbar records video. Press Shift, Ctrl and Show windows, select Screen record, then choose full screen, part of the screen or one window. Before you start, the Settings cog lets you add your front camera, choose device audio, your microphone or both, and show your clicks and keys on screen.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
For a partial recording you can pick a normal video, saved as a .webm file, or a GIF. GIFs don't include any sound, so use video for anything with narration. To stop, select the stop button in the shelf or press Search, Shift and X.
Little things that cause problems
- On a school or work Chromebook, an administrator may have turned screenshots off.
- Protected video, such as some streaming services, can come out black.
- If the clipboard paste doesn't work, open the file from Downloads instead.
- A .webm recording may not play on every device; upload it to Google Drive or YouTube to share it.
Need to show something live rather than send a picture? My guide to screen sharing on Discord works on a Chromebook through the browser, and it's often quicker than a stack of screenshots.
My verdict
Learn Shift, Ctrl and Show windows. It opens the full toolbar, it does partial shots and it records video, so it's the only shortcut you really need. Then change the save folder once, so screenshots stop piling up in Downloads. If you're moving between a Chromebook and a laptop, see which apps work on a laptop browser for the same kind of workaround thinking.
Frequently asked questions
How do you screenshot on a Chromebook?
Press Ctrl and Show windows for the whole screen, or Shift, Ctrl and Show windows to select an area.
Where do Chromebook screenshots go?
They save to the Downloads folder and are copied to the clipboard.
What if my Chromebook has no Show windows key?
Select the time in the bottom right corner, then Screen capture.
How do you screenshot on a Chromebook tablet?
Press the Power and Volume down buttons together.
Can I record my screen on a Chromebook?
Yes. Press Shift, Ctrl and Show windows and choose Screen record.
Do Chromebook GIF recordings have sound?
No. GIFs don't capture audio, so record a video if you need sound.
