Effortlessly Record Your Computer Display Using Print Screen on PC or Mac
The Print Screen (PrtScn) key on your keyboard enables you to swiftly capture either your entire screen or specific sections of it. Depending on your device, the key combination for activating Print Screen may vary. Typically, simultaneously pressing the Windows logo key and Print Screen facilitates quick screenshot capture on PCs. Conversely, Mac users can take screenshots without the need for a dedicated Print Screen key. This guide will demonstrate how to capture your screen's contents on both Windows and Mac systems.
Key Points to Note
- To capture the entire screen on a Mac, use 'Command + Shift + 3'; for specific portions, employ 'Command + Shift + 4'.
- For Windows users, press the Windows key along with 'Print Screen' to capture the screen. Alternatively, press 'Print Screen' and then paste the screenshot into Microsoft Paint.
- Mac screenshots are automatically saved to the desktop, while PC screenshots are stored in either the 'Screenshots' or 'Pictures' directory.
Procedure
Utilizing Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows)

Prepare your screen for screenshot capture. Utilizing Print Screen allows you to save either the entire screen or a specific portion of it.
- To capture only an active window, simply click on it.
- This method requires compatible hardware. Otherwise, refer to the subsequent method.

Take the screenshot. Simultaneously press the Windows logo key + Print Screen (PrtScn).
- To capture a specific area, press Windows logo key + Alt + Print Screen(PrtScn) simultaneously.
- If your device lacks a PrtScn button, use Function(Fn) + Windows logo key + Space Bar.

Locate your screenshot. Access the File Explorer and navigate to the Pictures folder. Your screenshots are stored in the Screenshots directory.
- If the Screenshots folder is absent, resort to the subsequent method for saving your Print Screen.
Pasting a Print Screen (Windows)

Find the screen you wish to capture. Open the desired page or screen you intend to preserve as an image file.
- If you only want to capture an active window, simply click on it.

Press the 'Print Screen (PrtScn)' key. To capture only the active window, press Alt + Print Screen (PrtScn).

Launch Microsoft Paint. Utilize Microsoft Paint for editing and saving your Print Screen image. Alternatively, you can use an Office program.
- Microsoft Paint is typically pre-installed on Windows devices. If not, it can be downloaded.

Paste the image into Paint. Press CTRL + V to paste. Your Print Screen image should now be visible within the application.
- If necessary, you can utilize Microsoft Paint to crop the image.

Save the image. Click on File in the top-left corner, then choose Save as. Provide a name for your Print Screen image. Adjust the file type by clicking on the field next to Save as type. Typically, JPEG or PNG formats are suitable for image files.
- Select a destination for saving, then click OK.
- You can also utilize the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S to save.

Access your Print Screen image. Double-click on the image in the designated saving location. It will open in your default image viewer.
Capturing Screenshots (Mac)

Find the screen to capture. Open a webpage or navigate to a screen you wish to save as an image file.
- You have the option to capture the entire screen or a portion of it.

Take the screenshot. Simultaneously press and hold Command + Shift + 3. This will capture your entire screen.
- To capture a specific area, press Command + Shift + 4. The cursor will change to a crosshair. Click, drag, and release to capture the desired portion of the screen.
- To capture a particular Mac window, press and hold Command + Shift + 4, then press Space. The crosshair cursor will transform into a camera icon. Hover over the desired window to highlight it, then click to capture the screenshot.

Locate your screenshot. Mac screenshots are automatically saved to your desktop in the format Screen Shot [date] at [time].png. Double-click the screenshot to open it.
Handy Tips
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If you're using a Mac with a Touch Bar, capture a screenshot of the Touch Bar's content by pressing ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+6.