Have you ever needed to capture an image of what's on your Chromebook screen? Screenshots are a great way to save a picture of something you're working on or share something funny you found on the internet with friends. If you're wondering how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook, don't worry - it's easy! In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to take a screenshot on your Chromebook.

Note: A Chromebook is a type of laptop computer that runs on Google's Chrome OS operating system. There are several brands that offer Chromebooks, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, etc. The screenshotting methods are nearly the same.

Types of screenshots on Chromebook

You can capture different types of screenshots on your Chromebook. Here are the most common types:

Full-screen screenshot: This captures an image of your entire screen, including any open windows or apps.
Partial screenshot: This captures an image of a specific area of your screen.
Window screenshot: This captures an image of a specific window or app.
Scrolling screenshot: This captures an image of a long web page.

How to screenshot on Chromebook

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is easy, and there are different ways to do it. In this guide, we'll show you many ways on how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook step-by-step. Just pick the method that fits you the most!

How to screenshot on Chromebook using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder (capture all kinds of screenshots)

The most recommended way to take a screenshot on a Chromebook is using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder, as it offers advanced screenshot options to cover all your snapshot needs.

Awesome Screenshot & Recorder

One extension for all your screen recordings & screenshots

Record screen and capture screenshots easily
Edit videos/images quickly
Store videos/images to the cloud and share instantly

It offers browser extensions on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, allowing you to capture a specific area, visible part, and entire area of the screen, edit your screenshot, and share it with others. It also lets you grab screenshots from any active app windows. What makes it stand out is the ability to capture scrolling screenshots from a long webpage.

In addition, it also helps you record your screen with audio, edit the video, upload it to the cloud storage, and generate an instantly shareable link.

In a word, if you need an easy-to-use yet powerful screenshot tool, try it! Here is how to screenshot on Chromebook using Awesome Screenshot & Recorder.

Step 1. Download and install the Awesome Screenshot extension to your browser. Sign in to it or create an account.

Step 2. Click the Awesome Screenshot extension icon in the Chrome toolbar to launch the extension.

Step 3. Click the "Capture" tab, then select the area of the screen you want to capture. You can capture the visible part, an entire page, a custom area, a whole screen, or a specific window.

awesome screenshot and recorder extension capture main interface

Step 4. The captured image will be automatically opened in a new tab, where you can edit and annotate it.

awesome screenshot and recorder annotation tool

Step 5. When you are finished editing the image, click the "Done" button to upload it to the cloud. You will also have the option to download it locally, print it, copy it, or generate a shareable link.

awesome screenshot and recorder download options

How to screenshot on Chromebook using keyboard shortcuts (capture a full-screen and partial screenshot)

One of the easiest ways to take a screenshot on a Chromebook is by using keyboard shortcuts, which allow you to take screenshots of the entire screen or any selected area. Here's how to do it:

1. Capture the entire screen

Step 1. Press the "Ctrl" and "Show Windows" keys at the same time. The Show Window button is typically located in the top row of your keyboard and looks like a rectangle with two lines on the right side. (It’s the equivalent of the F5 key on a PC keyboard.)

chromebook keyboard ctrl show windows

Step 2. Your screenshot will be saved to your Downloads folder.

2. Capture a partial screenshot

Step 1. Press the "Ctrl", "Shift", and "Show Windows" keys together.

chromebook keyboard ctrol shift show windows

Step 2. Your cursor will become a crosshair. You can then click and drag to select the portion of the screen you want to capture. Once done, click “Capture”.

Step 3. Your screenshot will be saved to your Downloads folder.

Bonus tip: How to grab screenshots on Chromebook with an external keyboard (capture a full-screen and partial screenshot)

Suppose you're using an external keyboard that isn't specifically designed for Chrome OS. In that case, the keyboard shortcuts mentioned earlier may not work correctly because the layout of your keyboard, including the top row keys, may be different from Chrome's layout. However, there is a simple solution to this problem:

To capture a full screenshot, press the keys "Ctrl" and "F5" simultaneously.
To capture a partial screenshot, press the keys "Ctrl", "Shift", and "F5" simultaneously.

How to capture a screenshot on a Chromebook via the quick settings menu (capture full-screen, partial, and window screenshot)

Step 1. Locate the clock in the lower-right corner of your screen and click on it. This action will bring up your Quick Settings menu.

Step 2. Look for the Screen Capture icon, a circle inside a square, and click on it to launch the Screen Capture toolbar.

chrome quick settings screen capture

Step 3. In the Screen Capture toolbar, you can see the icons arranged from left to right, which include the following options:

Screenshot: This option is for capturing still images.
Screen record: This option is for recording videos.
Take full-screen screenshots: This option will capture the entire screen.
Take partial screenshots: This option lets you capture a specific screen portion. When you select this option, a crosshair icon will appear, which you can click and drag to choose the part of the screen you want to copy. Then, click on the Capture button in the center of your screenshot.
Take window screenshots: This option is for capturing a single window.
Settings: This option takes you to the settings menu to customize your audio input, determine whether your microphone should be active, and choose the folder where you wish to store your screenshots or recordings.

chromebook screen capture toolbar

Step 4. Choose a screenshot option and take the screenshot.

How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook in tablet mode (capture a full-screen screenshot)

If you're using your 2 in 1 device in tablet mode and don't have a readily available keyboard, there's still a quick way to take screenshots.

Step 1. Press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons on your Chromebook's side. You will see a notification telling you the screenshot has been taken.

Step 2. You can find your screenshot in the "Downloads" folder in the Files app.

Alternatively, you can use the following steps to take a screenshot using the on-screen toolbar:

Step 1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings panel.

Step 2. Tap the "Screenshot" button, which looks like a camera icon.

Step 3. The screen will flash to indicate that the screenshot has been taken, and you'll see a notification on the screen.

Step 4. You can find your screenshot in the "Downloads" folder in the Files app.

Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is a simple process, and there are different ways to do it. Whether you prefer using a keyboard shortcut, the built-in tool, or a Chrome extension, you can easily capture your screen and save it for later. By following this step-by-step guide, you'll easily take a screenshot on a Chromebook!

FAQs about how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook

1. Where can I find my screenshots on a Chromebook?

Your screenshots are saved to your Downloads folder by default.

2. Can I edit my screenshots on a Chromebook?

Yes, you can edit your screenshots using a built-in image editor or a third-party app.

3. How do I take a screenshot of a specific window?

Press the "Ctrl," "Shift," and "Switch Window" buttons at the same time, then click on the window you want to capture.

4. Can I take a screenshot on a Chromebook without a keyboard?

Yes, you can take a screenshot on a Chromebook without a keyboard by using the on-screen keyboard. To access the on-screen keyboard, click on the time in the bottom right corner of the screen, and then click on the keyboard icon.

5. How do you access screenshots in the downloads folder of a Chromebook?

To access screenshots on a Chromebook that have been saved in the Downloads folder, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the Launcher button in the screen's bottom left corner (it looks like a circle with a dot in the center).

Step 2. Click on the "Files" icon.

Step 3. In the left-hand pane, click on "Downloads".

Step 4. Look for the screenshot file you want to access. The file name should start with "Screenshot" followed by the date and time it was taken.

Step 5. Double-click on the file to open it.

Alternatively, you can access your screenshots by clicking on the "Downloads" button in the Chrome browser and selecting the screenshot you want to view.

How to Screenshot on Chromebook: A Step-by-Step Guide

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