How to take a Screenshot on a Chromebook?
Screenshots are known to be useful ways to save information, share what you are seeing on your screen, and capture visuals. You may be wondering how to take a screenshot on Chromebook, and you have come to the correct place to get your answer.
This is a pretty simple process and you can easily take a snap on your Chromebook of your entire screen or just a part of it - depending on your requirements. In this guide, you are going to discover everything about this topic.
Capturing the Entire Screen
Sometimes, there may be a need to get a snap of the whole display, especially if you trying to save a document, web page, or even a specific moment on your device. Here is how you can get it done with ease.
1. Press 'Ctrl' + 'Window Switcher' Keys Together
For this, you will need to press down on the ‘Ctrl’ key along with the ‘Window Switcher’ key which is usually located on the top row of the keyboard of your Chromebooks. It resembles a small rectangle with two lines right next to it. Once you find them, click them and your device is going to capture everything on the screen.
2. Find Your Screenshot in the 'Downloads' Folder
After you are done capturing it, this image is going to be saved automatically as a .png file. You can find it in a folder labeled ‘downloads’.
Capturing Part of the Screen
Sometimes, you only have the requirement of capturing a part of the display. For example, you need to get a specific section of the webpage, a photo, or even some sort of text.
1. Press 'Ctrl' + 'Shift' + 'Window Switcher' Keys Together
You can press the combo of the above-mentioned keys at the same time to get the device to capture the partial capture here.
2. Select the Area You Want to Capture
For this, your cursor is going to take on the role of a crosshair symbol. You have to click and drag the part of the display that you want a shot of. When you have completed doing so, you can release the touchpad or mouse.
3. Find it in Your 'Downloads' Folder
Just like the first one, this one is also going to be saved in the Downloads folder and a .png format.
This feature is pretty handy when you just want one section to be saved instead of the entire thing as it helps to keep things specific as well as neat.
Why Screenshots Are Useful
These are not just images, they are an efficient, easy, and quick way to get your information saved. Here are some of the reasons that these can be useful in your life:
● Share Information Quickly:
You can use these to show someone else exactly what you are seeing on your device. This is very important when you are giving or receiving instructions or when you are troubleshooting.
● Keep Records:
These allow you to document the changes in apps, web pages, or files. If you have to remember how a webpage looked like on a specific day, you can take a shot to remember it.
● Save Important Details:
You can also save snippets of important information, images, or text with the help of these. You can review it later on to understand or remember it.
With screenshots, you can capture exactly what you need in seconds.
No Windows Key? Here’s an Alternative
If your Chromebook does not have a Windows key present, you can still get this process done by following this method:
1. For a Full Screen:
You have to press 'Ctrl' and the 'Overview' key instead of the 'Window Switcher' key. This is going to capture the entire screen, and like the rest, you can easily find the file in your 'Downloads' folder.
2. For Part of the Screen:
You will have to use the 'Ctrl', 'Shift', and 'Overview' keys together. This will allow you to capture only part of your screen.
These options work just like the regular keyboard shortcuts, so you’ll get the same result even without a Windows key.
Where to Find Your Screenshots
As we already discussed, these screenshots go straight to your Downloads folder on the device. Here is how you can locate them.
1. Open the 'Files' App
You have to click on the ‘Launcher’ which is the circle that is present on the bottom left part of your screen. From there, make a selection of the apps named Files.
2. Go to 'Downloads'
Here, you can select the folder named Downloads. This will contain all the saved images with the time and date that you took them. For example, it might be named something like Screenshot 2024-10-29 at 10.33.22 AM.
3. Organize Them
You can sort these by date or even rename them so that they are easier to locate. You can also move them to some other folder if you want.
Editing and Cropping Them
Sometimes, you might need to crop or edit these screenshots in order to highlight some parts of it. Chromebooks come with a built-in image editor which can help in making this easy.
1. Open it in the Image Editor
Find your image in the ‘Downloads’ folder, and double-click on it in order to open it. The Image Editor is going to open in an automatic manner.
2. Use the Crop Tool
You have to click and drag to make a selection of the part that you want to keep and then press on the option named ‘Crop’ which is going on the top of the screen. This is going to trim the picture to the selected area.
3. Save Your Edited Screenshot
Once you’re done editing, save the changes, and the file will be updated in the 'Downloads' folder.
Conclusion
These are a powerful tool for saving, sharing, and organizing information on your device. With a few easy steps, you can screenshot whatever you need, and also edit and store it for later on.
Whether you’re taking a screenshot of the entire area, selecting a small area, or even cropping to focus on the details, your device makes it easy to keep everything you need right at your fingertips.
