How can you take a screenshot on a computer

A screenshot is an easy way to take a 'photo' of your computer screen. It's useful when saving a purchase confirmation, to document something for online banking, or just to send someone a funny picture. But how do you take a screenshot like that? We'll explain how it works on a laptop with a Windows operating system below.

1. Different types of screenshots
2. Take a screenshot with the Print Screen key
3. Take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool.

Different types of screenshots

First decide what your screenshot should look like. Do you want a screenshot of your entire screen? Do you need a screenshot of 1 window or program? Or do you want to select part of the screen yourself and take a screenshot of that?

Take a screenshot with the Print Screen key

Do you want to take a screenshot of the whole screen, or only a part of the window? Follow these 3 steps.

Step 1: look up the Print Screen key

On the keyboard, you can find a button which says PrtScn key (short for Print Screen), or Print Screen. That's often one of the keys above the arrow keys on the keyboard. You can simply take a screenshot of the screen by pressing the Print Screen key. Does the key say Print Screen in blue? Press the Fn key and Print Screen key at the same time. You won't see anything happening, but you just took a screenshot.

Step 2: use the screenshot in a text file

Do you want to use your screenshot in a text file? Open the file and click the location where the screenshot should appear. Press the Control key at the bottom left of your keyboard and then press the 'V' key. Your screenshot will now appear in your chosen file.

Step 3: save the screenshot

Do you want to save the screenshot on your hard drive? Open photo editing software like Paint first. After you open the program, press and hold the Control key at the bottom left of your keyboard, and also press the V key. You can then choose if you want to crop the photo or not. Are you happy with the image? Click 'File' and 'Save as' and choose a name and folder for your image. You have saved the photo to the chosen folder, so you can close Paint.

Take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool.

Do you want to quickly take a screenshot of a part of the screen? Use the Snipping Tool, which is installed on Windows by default.

Step 1: open the clipping program

Click the Windows start button at the bottom left of your screen. In the menu that pops us, there's a search bar at the bottom. Enter 'Snipping tool' in the search bar. Click the search result 'Snipping tool'. You can see the logo of that program in the image on the right.

Step 2: select the right part of your screen

Your cursor will change into a cross. You can use the cross to select the part of the screen that you want to take a screenshot of. Click the left mouse button and hold it while you move the mouse to select something. As soon as you left go of the left mouse button, the screenshot will be made.

Step 3: save the screenshot

Your screenshot will appear in a new window. You can save it by clicking the 'floppy disk' button. It's the purple icon like the one in the picture on the right. Name the screenshot and select where you want to save it.

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Article by:

David Laptop Expert.

How do I take a screenshot?

I guess it’s in the clipboard now. How can I paste it into a document or something?
hold down	Ctrl	and press	V	=	Windows pastes the screenshot (that is in the clipboard) into a document or image you are currently editing.
Where should I paste it? I just need a (graphics) file.
Start “Paint” Paste Save
Is there a dedicated program for taking screenshots? How can I find it?