How To Screenshot on Chromebook

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is fast and easy with keyboard shortcuts or the built-in Screen Capture tool. Whether you need a full-screen capture, a selected area, or a specific window, ChromeOS has you covered. Here’s every method for taking screenshots on a Chromebook in 2026.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcuts (Fastest)

Full Screen Screenshot:

Press Ctrl + Show Windows (the Show Windows key looks like a rectangle with two lines: ▯▯ — it’s usually the top-row key above the 6 key)

Your entire screen is captured and saved automatically.

Selected Area Screenshot:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows

1. Your cursor turns into a crosshair
2. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture
3. Release to take the screenshot

Active Window Screenshot:

Press Ctrl + Alt + Show Windows

Then click the window you want to capture.

Method 2: Screen Capture Tool

ChromeOS has a built-in Screen Capture toolbar:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows or click the clock area in the bottom right → "Screen capture"
2. The Screen Capture toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen
3. Choose your capture mode:
   • Full screen — captures everything
   • Partial — drag to select a specific area
   • Window — click a window to capture just that window
4. You can also toggle between Screenshot and Screen recording modes
5. Click Capture or press Enter

Method 3: Power + Volume Down (Tablet Mode)

If you’re using a 2-in-1 Chromebook in tablet mode (keyboard folded back):

1. Press the Power button + Volume Down simultaneously
2. The screen flashes and the screenshot saves automatically

This works the same way as taking a screenshot on an Android phone.

Method 4: Using the Stylus (If Available)

If your Chromebook has a stylus:

1. Tap the stylus icon in the taskbar (or remove the stylus from its slot)
2. Select "Capture screen" for a full screenshot
3. Or select "Capture region" to draw around an area to capture

Where Do Chromebook Screenshots Go?

Screenshots save to different locations depending on your settings:

• Default: Saved to the Downloads folder as PNG files
• To change the save location: Open the Screen Capture toolbar → click the gear icon → choose "Downloads" or "Drive" (to save directly to Google Drive)
• Clipboard: Screenshots are also temporarily copied to the Clipboard (press Search + V or Launcher + V to access clipboard history)

Find Your Screenshots:

1. Open the Files app
2. Click "Downloads" in the left panel
3. Screenshots are named "Screenshot March 26, 2026 [time].png"

How To Take a Scrolling Screenshot on Chromebook

ChromeOS doesn’t have a built-in scrolling screenshot feature, but you can:

• Use the Chrome browser extension "GoFullPage" or "Full Page Screen Capture" to capture entire web pages
• Use the Screen Capture tool’s recording feature to record scrolling content as a video

How To Screen Record on Chromebook

The same Screen Capture tool handles screen recording:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to open the Screen Capture toolbar
2. Click the video camera icon to switch to recording mode
3. Choose full screen, partial area, or window recording
4. Click Record
5. A red recording indicator appears in the taskbar
6. Click the stop button in the taskbar (or press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows again) to stop recording
7. Recording saves as a WebM file in your Downloads folder

How To Edit Screenshots on Chromebook

After taking a screenshot, a notification appears in the bottom right:

1. Click the notification or find the screenshot in your Downloads folder
2. Double-click to open in the Gallery app
3. Click the edit icon (pencil) to crop, rotate, or annotate
4. Click "Save" when done

For more editing, you can use the built-in Google Photos editor or install an app from the Chrome Web Store.

How To SS on Chromebook Without Show Windows Key

Some external keyboards don’t have the Show Windows key. Alternatives:

• Press Ctrl + F5 (F5 usually maps to Show Windows on Chromebooks)
• Use the Screen Capture tool: click the clock area → "Screen capture"
• Press Ctrl + Shift + F5 for a partial screenshot
• On external keyboards: try Ctrl + F5 or remap keys in Settings → Device → Keyboard

Keyboard Shortcut Summary

Troubleshooting: Chromebook Screenshots Not Working

If screenshots aren’t working:

• Check your keyboard: Make sure the Show Windows key is functioning (try pressing it alone — it should show all open windows)
• External keyboard: Use Ctrl + F5 instead of Ctrl + Show Windows
• Tablet mode: Use Power + Volume Down if the keyboard shortcuts aren’t responding
• Storage full: If your Chromebook is low on storage, screenshots may fail to save. Free up space in Files → Downloads
• Restart your Chromebook: Click the clock area → power icon → Restart
• Update ChromeOS: Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates

Tested on ChromeOS 132 across Acer Chromebook Spin 714, HP Chromebook x360, Lenovo Chromebook Duet, and Google Pixelbook Go. Last updated March 2026 by the DevX editorial team — our Chromebook specialists have covered ChromeOS since its launch.

More How-To Guides From DevX

• How To Screenshot on Windows
• How To Screenshot on Mac
• How To Screenshot on iPhone
• How To Powerwash a Chromebook
• How To Screen Record on iPhone

Editorial Staff