Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook shouldn't feel like a tech tutorial from outer space. Whether you're a student capturing an assignment, a professional saving receipts, or just someone who wants to share a meme — knowing how to take screenshots on a Chromebook is an everyday digital skill.
Unlike traditional Windows or Mac devices, Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which uses a combination of keyboard shortcuts and built-in tools. But don’t worry — once you know where everything is, snapping a shot of your screen will be second nature.
๐ Mastering the Basics: The Key Combo That Does the Magic
To take a full-screen screenshot on Chromebook, press Ctrl + Show Windows.
The Show Windows key looks like a rectangle with two lines behind it — it’s usually in the top row near the F5 key.
What happens next? Your screenshot gets saved automatically in your “Downloads” folder, and a pop-up appears on the lower-right corner, giving you instant access.
If you're using an external keyboard, and there's no "Show Windows" key, use Ctrl + F5 instead.
๐ฏ Need Precision? Take Partial Screenshots Easily
Sometimes, you don’t want the whole screen — just a piece of it. To screenshot a portion of your Chromebook screen, press Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows.
Your cursor turns into a crosshair. Simply click and drag around the area you want to capture.
This is perfect for saving receipts, zooming in on important parts of a webpage, or just cutting the clutter.
๐ Annotating and Editing Screenshots on Chromebook: Go Beyond the Basics
Once your screenshot is captured, click on the preview thumbnail that pops up. From there, you can open it in the Gallery app and even use the markup tools to draw, highlight, or crop.
This means you don’t need third-party apps just to make basic edits. Chrome OS makes it streamlined and built-in.
๐ Where Do My Screenshots Go? Here's How to Find Them
After you take a screenshot on your Chromebook, it’s saved automatically to the Downloads folder.
To find it:
-
Click on the Launcher (the circle icon in the bottom-left corner).
-
Open Files, then click Downloads.
-
You’ll see your screenshots listed by the date they were taken.
Want to keep things organized? Move them to Google Drive or a specific folder inside Files. You can even rename them for clarity and future use.
๐ฑ Screenshots on Chromebook Tablets and Convertibles
If you’re using a Chromebook with a touchscreen, or a 2-in-1 Chromebook in tablet mode, you can take a screenshot by pressing the Power button + Volume Down button — just like on a smartphone.
This comes in handy when using apps, reading ebooks, or working in a more mobile-friendly interface. It also helps students and casual users stay productive without switching to keyboard mode.
๐ง Pro Tip: Use Screen Capture Tool for Even More Options
Chrome OS includes a Screen Capture Tool, which gives you options for:
-
Taking screenshots
-
Recording your screen
-
Choosing full, partial, or windowed screen captures
To access it:
-
Click on the Clock in the bottom-right corner.
-
Select Screen capture from the quick settings menu.
-
Choose the type of capture you want — no keyboard shortcut needed!
This tool is perfect for teachers, content creators, or anyone who wants more control without installing extensions.