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    How to screenshot on a Chromebook (updated)

    Kevin TofelBy Updated:9 Comments3 Mins Read

    Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook isn’t the most intuitive action to find but it’s a simple keyboard shortcut or button away. Or rather one of a few simple shortcuts, since this functionality has evolved over time in Chrome OS. Here I’ll cover each of the ways so you can pick the way how to screenshot and edit on a Chromebook that works best for you.

    How to screenshot on a Chromebook for the full screen

    To capture the full screen:

    1. Press the ctrl and switch window (typically above the number 5 or 6 key) keys on your keyboard at the same time. 
    2. You’ll find the screenshot will be saved as a .png file in the Files app of your Chromebook.
    3. Here’s an example of my full desktop on the Pixelbook using this method:
    Screenshot on a Chromebook

    How to screenshot on a Chromebook for part of the screen

    1. Press the ctrl, switch window (typically above the number 5 key), and the shift keys on your keyboard at the same time.
    2. You’ll see a little cross-hair style cursor, similar to a mouse cursor, on your screen. Click on your trackpad and move the cursor to dynamically select which section of the screen you want captured.
    3. Once you have the correctly sized outline of the partial screen, click inside the outline.
    4. You’ll find the screenshot will be saved as a .png file in the Files app of your Chromebook.

    Here’s an example of how the selection tool looks for a partial screenshot:

    How to partial screenshot a on Chromebook

    How to screenshot on a Chromebook using the screen capture button

    If you’d rather not use the keyboard shortcuts, recent versions of Chrome OS now have a Chromebook screenshot shortcut screen capture button to accomplish the same thing.

    1. Click the bottom right of the system tray (where the time appears) to see the Quick Settings menu.
    2. Click the Screen Capture button; it looks like a square with a small circle in it
    Screenshot on a Chromebook with screen capture button

    3. You’ll see on-screen options to select a full or partial screenshot, as well as a screen recording button. Choose your preference and your image will be saved in your Files app.

    How to edit a screenshot

    Once you have your screenshot captured, it’s easy to do basic edits by opening the image file from the Files app.

    Edit screenshot on Chromebook
    1. Double-click your image in the Files app.
    2. Use the options at the bottom of the screen, to crop, resize, adjust brightness and contrast, or rotate the image.
    3. Click the Save button and your edits will be saved to the image in the Files app.
    Share.

    After spending 15 years in IT at Fortune 100 companies, Kevin turned a hobby into a career and began covering mobile technology in 2003. He writes daily on the industry and has co-hosted the weekly MobileTechRoundup podcast since 2006. His writing has appeared in print (The New York Times, PC Magazine and PC World) and he has been featured on NBC News in Philadelphia.

    9 Comments

    1. Julie Granstrom on

      I can take a screen shot but I would like to see it and edit if I need to the right hand bottom of my screen does not come up any more after I have taken the shot I would like to be able to control size would like to trim and would like to see it before I post it!! help

      • Kevin C. Tofel on

        Julie, unless you have “Do not Disturb” enabled, which eliminates notifications at the bottom right of the screen, you should see a thumbnail of the screenshot briefly. And in any case, you can open the Files app and see the saved screenshot in your Downloads folder. At that point, double click the file to view it and/or edit it. Hope that helps!

    2. Bertrand DENELE on

      Hi Kevin, do you know how to edit a bit more than resizing, I mean like adding a red circle to focus on a word, or adding labels like 1, 2 , 3 for the action order in a procedure … things you can do with a screenpresso for example on windows ? For the moment, I do it pasting in slides but it’s quite a heavy process … Thanks!

    3. Caroline ffiske on

      September 7 and I’m having the same problem – the ability to eg underline part of a screenshot has disappeared! Screengrabs seem to have become read only???? Sitting here on a new Chrome – but I could do all this just a few weeks ago – have I slipped into a different mode or something?

    4. Marjorie Cahn on

      I need to know how to move the screenshot I captured to a file. NOTHING HERE states how to do that! I don’t need to edit it, I need to move it to a paper! NOT HELPFUL

    5. Steve on

      I can easily take screenshots and edit or file them. I’m having a problem with the cursor appearing in the shot. I’ve opted to us the arrow if it makes a difference. Thanks!

    6. Ken on

      How can I take a screenshot of a full website? The tool only captures what’s currently on the screen with no ability to scroll down.

    7. Curtis on

      Among many other cool Chromebook features, the screen capture is one of favorite tools! I use it constantly.