How to take a print on your PC, notebook or smartphone? Although it is a simple task, There are several ways to capture what appears on your computer, notebook or cell phone screen.. It’s no surprise that each operating system offers its own shortcuts and tools to easily “print” the screen.
While most devices offer native options for capturing what appears on your screen, there are also apps with similar features for iOS, Android, computers, and even browser extensions.
What is a screenshot?
Screen capture, also called “print screen” or simply “print”, is basically an image that records exactly what was being displayed on the screen from a computer, smartphone or tablet.
The English term “print screen” originally comes from the keyboard key used to perform this function on computers, and that is why it ended up becoming popular as a synonym for capturing the screen. In other words, it is a digital “instant image” of the screen.
When taking a capture, the device generates an image file that can be saved in the folder you want. Normally, The file formats are JPG or PNG.
The feature can be used for a variety of purposes: from saving a payment receipt displayed in the browser, saving a post or simply sharing with someone exactly what is appearing on the screen.
How to take a print on a Windows PC or notebook
Windows offers several native methods for taking a printout in . You can use everything from keyboard shortcuts to system tools, in addition to specific resources.
Check out the main options:
- Print Screen na tecla PrtScn: Press the print screen key to capture the entire screen. On some notebooks, you may need to press Fn + Print Screen. The image will be copied, so just press Ctrl + V to paste the capture;
- Alt + Print Screen: press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the window that is currently in use;
- Windows + Print Screen: Use the Windows + Print Screen shortcut to capture the entire screen and save the image automatically. Windows will save the screenshot as a PNG file in the “Screenshots” folder within the “Pictures” folder;
- Windows + Shift + S: Hold Windows + Shift + S to select just a specific part of the screen. In this option, you can delimit the area of the screen you want to capture;
- Snipping Tool: Search for “Snipping Tool” in the Windows “Start” menu and open the program. Then click “New” and choose the type of cropping you want: freeform, rectangle, window or full screen. With this option, you can annotate the image, copy it to the clipboard or save the file wherever you prefer.
How to take a screenshot on Mac
Taking a screenshot on Mac is also simple, and the offers several native shortcuts for this.
Below are the main methods for taking a screenshot on Mac:
- Full screen: simultaneously press the Shift + Command + 3 keys to capture the entire screen;
- Part of the screen: Click Shift + Command + 4 to capture just a part of the screen. The cursor will turn into a crosshair, so click and drag to select the desired area and release the mouse to take the print;
- Specific window: To capture a specific window, press Shift + Command + 4, then press Spacebar. Now, click on the window or menu you want to capture;
- macOS Snipping Tool: In newer versions of the system (macOS Mojave 10.14 or higher), select Shift + Command + 5 to open the screenshot bar. With this feature, you have several options to capture the screen: the entire screen, part of the screen or another option such as recording the screen.
How to take a screenshot on Android
taking a screenshot is a native function available on most models. The most common method uses the device’s physical buttons.
Check out the options on how to take a screenshot on Android:
- Standard method with buttons: Almost all Android smartphones allow you to capture by pressing the on/off and volume down buttons at the same time. Keep pressed for a moment and release. Ready, your capture has been taken and automatically saved in the gallery;
- Voice command: You can also use voice command by saying “Hey Google, take screenshot”, if Google Assistant is enabled. If it’s another assistant, just make the same request;
- Accessibility menu: On some models, when activating the accessibility menu in the smartphone’s “Settings”, you can take a screenshot through a menu that is constantly on the smartphone’s screen. Just click on “Screenshot” and that’s it;
- Gestures: Many brands include screenshot-specific gestures. For example, on some Samsung smartphones, you can slide the side of your hand across the screen to capture the image. This feature can be activated in “Movements and gestures” in the “Settings” menu.
How to take a screenshot on iPhone (iOS)
On iPhone (iOS), you can take a quick capture using the device’s own buttons. In addition to physical buttons, iOS also offers accessibility features to take screenshots without pressing any buttons.
Check out the main methods:
- Models with Face ID (without Home button): on iPhones X, 11, 12, 13, 14 and later (which do not have a physical Home button), select the side button (on/off) and the volume up button at the same time.
- Models with Home button: on iPhones that have a Home button (such as iPhone 8, SE or previous models), the procedure is to press the Home button (front) and the device’s on/off button at the same time;
- Accessibility menu: AssistiveTouch is one of the options that allows you to capture the screen without pressing physical buttons. To activate, go to “Settings”, click on “Accessibility”, search for “AssistiveTouch” and activate it. Now, click on “One Tap” and select “Screenshot”. Thus, a virtual button will appear on the screen, now just click on it to take the capture.
