Asking ‘how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook’ either signifies that you have recently switched to Google’s very-own invention, or have forgotten what you once learned was the way to do so.
It doesn’t matter what the reason is, this guide makes one thing for sure, and that is you will learn what you have come for – “how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook”. Now, like Windows, ChromeOS has two or three ways of taking a screenshot, which we will cover in this guide, and tell if the Chromebooks are capable of replacing your Windows PC.
On a lighter note, they are not! But we will only be comparing them in the screenshot mania. With that said, let’s meet you with the part that interests you the most.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are fast, handy, thin, and powered by ChromeOS, which is way smoother and lighter than Windows or iOS. It is obvious that you will be opting for such a device for swift operations and flexible accessibility, which indeed will have you counter the need to take screenshots from time to time.
Now, Chromebooks, in late 2021, got an update from Google, where they were introduced with a more modified version of the screenshot tool, which is now called the ‘Screen capture tool.’ It is the only method of taking a screenshot, but the ways of accessing this toolbar vary.
You can either open the toolbar with a keyboard shortcut or opt for the tile placed in quick settings, which you can access from the right side of your Chromebook screen. Let’s look at both ways and learn how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook Using a Keyboard Shortcut?
The keyboard shortcut to open the Screen capture toolbar is a combination of three keys. Two of them are Ctrl and Shift, while the last of them is Show Windows. It makes the following combination: Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows.
Now, if you don’t know where to find the show windows button, let us do the honors. In the topmost row of the keyboard, there is a button that looks like 3 or 4 windows combined, or you may also take it as a projector button, that is, in short, the show windows button.
As you press all three of them together, there will open a screen capture toolbar, which will look something like this:
Now, this screen capture tool is a full-service package that sure lets you take screenshots, along with the videos. That’s right! You can also record shorter or longer videos with this tool, or use it exclusively for taking the screenshots, it is up to you.
As you see the toggle on the left side of the toolbar, you will know it lets you switch between taking screenshots and recording videos. It only requires you to toggle the functionality, and you can attain the respective action without any hassle.
On the right side, there are options for taking a partial, a full, and a window screenshot, just like Windows. You only need to select one from the option, and it will let you do the necessary right away.
Are you wondering what that settings cog on the far right does? Well, it lets you switch on the microphone and also adjusts the toolbar settings accordingly.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook Using Quick Settings?
Well, you have already learned how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook, it will be how to access the Screen capture tool the other way, which makes more sense. Anyways, there is no rocket science to do so. Like in Windows, in the bottom-right corner, when you click the notification center, it also slides in the quick tiles.
The same is the case with Chromebooks, from the quick tiles panel in the bottom-right corner, you can access the shortcut settings and select screen capture from there.
This is best for the people who have a thing for shortcut keys, and prefer getting done everything from their screen. As you click on the shortcut in the quick settings, you will be able to access the screen capture tool and proceed with taking a screenshot or recording a video accordingly.
How to Take a Screenshot on a Chromebook (Convertible)?
A Chromebook equipped with convertible functionality will only convert into a tablet, and for that reason, it must have a volume rocker and a power key. It gives you the same functionality as taking a screenshot on a regular tablet.
Just press the volume down and power button at the same time, and you will capture a screenshot on your convertible Chromebook. There is another surprising option, the scrolling screenshot, which means that you can take a screenshot while you scroll on your screen and it will capture all of it. We are not sure if all the Chromebooks allow for it.
To do so, you will opt for a regular approach, i.e., pressing the volume down and power button altogether, but after you have pressed it, you would see an option beneath or with the thumbnail called ‘Scroll.’ As you tap on the option, it will enable you to scroll on the screen in the screenshot mode, once you are done, tap ‘Done’ and your scrolling or long screenshot will be saved to the files.
Shortcut Keys to Take All Toolbar Screenshots
- To capture a normal screenshot on your Chromebook, just press the combination of Ctrl + Show Window.
- To capture a partial screenshot on your Chromebook, just press the combination of Ctrl + Shift + Show Window.
- To capture a screenshot of a window on your Chromebook, just press the combination of Ctrl + Alt + Show Window.
Where Can You Find the Screenshots on Your Chromebook?
At first, the screenshots that you will capture will be copied to your clipboard, and you can access them with the traditional way of accessibility, i.e., Ctrl + V—a shortcut to paste the copied items. As you press the shortcut key, there will appear the screenshot you have just taken, or if you have taken multiple of them, you can access them all in the Files application.
Just hop on to the Files application and there will be a folder named after the screenshots themselves. Under that folder, there will be stored all the screenshots you have taken till that time, which gives you full access to the library.
Conclusion
Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook doesn’t require breaking stones by hand. All you need to is access the screen capture tool, which you can either access by a keyboard shortcut or through the shortcut placed in quick settings. All of that described finely in this guide.
