How to Screenshot on a Chromebook (Complete Guide)

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is fast and simple once you know the shortcuts. Whether you want to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or just part of your display, Chrome OS gives you multiple built-in options—no apps required.

This guide walks you through every way to screenshot on a Chromebook, where your screenshots are saved, and a few pro tips most users miss.

How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook

Screenshot the Entire Screen

To capture everything on your screen:

Press:

Ctrl + Show windows

The Show windows key looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines and is usually located at the top of the keyboard.

Once pressed, your screen will briefly flash, confirming the screenshot was taken.

Best for: full pages, system errors, receipts, or dashboards.

Screenshot Part of the Screen

If you only need a specific area:

Press:

Ctrl + Shift + Show windows

Then:

1. Your cursor turns into a crosshair

2. Click and drag to select the area

3. Release to capture

Best for: tutorials, cropped images, focused content.

Screenshot a Specific Window

To capture just one open window:

Press:

Ctrl + Alt + Show windows

Then click the window you want to capture.

Best for: browser tabs, settings panels, apps.

Use the Screenshot Toolbar (Recommended)

Chrome OS includes a built-in screen capture toolbar that makes screenshots even easier.

Open it by pressing:

Ctrl + Shift + Show windows

From the toolbar, you can:

• Capture full screen

• Capture part of the screen

• Capture a window

• Record your screen (video)

This is the easiest option if you don’t want to memorize shortcuts.

How to Screenshot on a Chromebook in Tablet Mode

If your Chromebook has a touchscreen and is in tablet mode:

Press:

Power button + Volume Down

This works the same way as taking a screenshot on Android devices.

Where Chromebook Screenshots Are Saved

By default, all screenshots are saved in:

Files → Downloads

They are automatically named with the date and time, making them easy to find.

You can:

• Move them to Google Drive

• Rename them

• Share them directly from the Files app

Copy a Screenshot Without Saving a File

If you want to paste a screenshot directly into an email, document, or chat:

1. Open the screenshot toolbar

2. Choose Copy to clipboard

This lets you paste the screenshot instantly without creating a file.

How to Change the Screenshot Save Location

You’re not limited to the Downloads folder.

To change where screenshots are saved:

1. Open the screenshot toolbar

2. Click Settings (⚙️)

3. Choose a different folder, including Google Drive

This is useful if you take screenshots often for work or school.

Edit Screenshots Instantly

After taking a screenshot:

• A small preview appears in the corner

• Click it to open the editor

You can:

• Crop

• Draw

• Highlight

• Annotate text

No extra software needed.

Record Your Screen on a Chromebook

The same toolbar also lets you record your screen.

You can record:

• The full screen

• A window

• A selected area

This is ideal for:

• Tutorials

• Bug reports

• Presentations

• Walkthroughs

Chromebook Screenshot Shortcut Cheat Sheet

Action	Shortcut
Full screen screenshot	Ctrl + Show windows
Partial screenshot	Ctrl + Shift + Show windows
Window screenshot	Ctrl + Alt + Show windows
Screenshot toolbar	Ctrl + Shift + Show windows
Tablet mode screenshot	Power + Volume Down

Common Screenshot Problems (And Fixes)

Nothing happens when you press the shortcut

• Make sure you’re using the Show windows key, not the F5 key

• Try opening the screenshot toolbar instead

Screenshot not saving

• Check the Downloads folder

• Make sure storage isn’t full

Screenshot too large

• Use partial capture instead of full screen

Final Tips for Chromebook Users

• Learn one shortcut: Ctrl + Show windows

• Use the toolbar if you forget shortcuts

• Save screenshots directly to Google Drive if you share often

• Edit screenshots immediately to save time

Final Thoughts

Chrome OS makes screenshots simple because it’s built directly into the system. You don’t need extensions, apps, or third-party tools—just the right shortcut.

Once you get used to the screenshot toolbar, capturing and sharing your screen on a Chromebook becomes second nature.