How to Screenshot on a Chromebook: Keyboard Shortcuts, Screen Capture Tool and Tablet Buttons

A Chromebook has a screenshot shortcut of its own, and it is not the Windows one. Hold Ctrl and press the Show Windows key, the one in the top row that looks like a small rectangle with two vertical lines, to capture the entire screen. For a selected region, add Shift. Tablet-style Chromebooks use the power and volume down buttons instead. Captures normally land in the Downloads folder, and a pop-up lets you copy or edit the image straight away. The sections below cover each method and the recording tool built into Chrome OS.

Find the Show Windows key first

Chromebook keyboards have no Print Screen key, so every shortcut revolves around the Show Windows key. It sits in the top row, usually between the full-screen key and the brightness keys, and it is printed as a rectangle followed by two lines. Some keyboards label it as an overview key. On Chrome OS it is technically mapped to F5, which is useful to know if you plug in an external keyboard.

With a standard external keyboard that has function keys, Ctrl+F5 generally takes a full-screen capture, and Shift+Ctrl+F5 opens the Screen capture tool. Some keyboards need an extra Fn press or have a different mapping, so check the Chromebook keyboard settings if the shortcut does not respond. You can view the list of active shortcuts by pressing Ctrl+Alt+? on most Chrome OS versions.

Take a full-screen screenshot

1. Open the page, app or game window you want to capture.
2. Press Ctrl and the Show Windows key at the same time.
3. Look for the notification in the lower-right corner. It shows a thumbnail with buttons such as Copy to clipboard and Edit.
4. Open the Files app, then Downloads, to find the saved PNG.

The file name usually includes the word Screenshot and a date and time, so captures sort naturally by date. If you take several in a row, each gets its own file. The notification disappears after a few seconds, but the file stays in place.

Capture only part of the screen

Press Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows. The screen dims and a toolbar appears near the bottom with several options: screenshot or screen record, then full screen, partial or window. Choose the partial option, then drag a rectangle over the area you want. You can adjust the edges before confirming by clicking the Capture button.

The window option lets you click one specific app and capture only that. It is the cleanest choice for a tutorial because it removes the shelf and any unrelated tabs. If you change your mind, press Esc to close the toolbar without capturing anything.

The same toolbar has a settings icon. There you can choose where the files go, and in recent versions you may also see a microphone option for recordings. Settings can differ slightly between Chrome OS versions, so look for the nearest equivalent if your menu is arranged differently.

Screenshot in tablet mode with buttons

If a 2-in-1 Chromebook has been folded into tablet mode, or you simply do not have the keyboard attached, hold the power button and the volume down button together for a second, then let go. The screen flashes or a notification appears, and the capture is saved like any other.

Two things trip people up. First, pressing the buttons one after the other instead of together may lower the volume or open the power menu. Second, on some models the volume buttons sit on opposite sides to the power button, making them awkward to hold. If this happens, use the Quick Settings panel instead: tap the clock area, then choose Screen capture and pick the mode you want.

Shortcut summary

Where the files go and how to find them

Chromebooks keep captures in the Downloads folder unless you change the destination. Open the Launcher, search for Files, and select Downloads. The Recent section at the top of the sidebar shows newly created images, videos and documents together, which saves hunting if you forget the folder.

If you signed in with a Google account, you can also move files to Google Drive for backup or sharing. Drag the image into the Drive section of the Files app, or use the Share option from the right-click menu. Remember that storage on many Chromebooks is limited, so periodically clear old captures, particularly videos.

The clipboard route is different. If you click Copy to clipboard in the pop-up, the image can be pasted into a document, chat or email with Ctrl+V. The clipboard holds it only until you copy something else, so use it for quick sharing rather than keeping a record.

Recording your screen on a Chromebook

The same Screen capture tool handles video. Press Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows, then switch the toggle from the camera icon to the video icon. Choose full screen, partial or window, then press Record. A countdown appears, and a stop button shows near the shelf while the recording runs. Click it, or repeat the shortcut, to end the recording.

Audio depends on your version and settings. Recent releases include a microphone switch in the tool’s settings, and many allow capturing system sound only in certain situations. Test a short clip first to confirm that you hear what you expect. Recordings are saved in the chosen folder, generally Downloads, and can be played in the Gallery or Media Player app.

As a rough guide, longer recordings use more storage, so a ten-minute clip at full resolution can be a considerable file. Check the free space shown in the Files app before starting a long session. Most Chromebooks have storage that cannot be upgraded, so move finished clips to Drive or an external drive.

What can go wrong

• The shortcut does nothing: Confirm you are pressing the Show Windows key and not Full screen next to it. Update Chrome OS from Settings, then restart.
• Captures are disabled: Managed devices at schools or companies can block screenshots through administrator policy. Ask the administrator rather than trying workarounds.
• Black or missing content: Protected video and some secure exam pages intentionally prevent capture.
• Android app windows look wrong: Apps from the Play Store may behave differently. Try the full screen or partial option instead of window.
• No space left: A full drive can stop files saving. Clear downloads or move files to Drive.
• External keyboard mismatch: Check keyboard mapping in Settings, or use the Quick Settings route.

A quick example: capturing a tutorial in three shots

Imagine you want to show a relative how to turn on a setting. Assume a Chromebook with a standard keyboard and a recent version of Chrome OS. Open Settings and navigate to the relevant page. Press Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows, choose Window, and click the Settings window. Repeat for the next two screens. In the Files app, the three images sit together under Recent. Select all three, right-click, and choose Share or drag them into an email. Total time is about a minute, and you avoid including any other open tabs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut to screenshot on a Chromebook?

Press Ctrl plus the Show Windows key, which looks like a rectangle with two lines beside it and sits in the top row. That captures the whole screen. For a selected area, press Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows and drag. On external keyboards without that key, Ctrl+F5 is commonly the equivalent, though it can vary by keyboard.

Where do Chromebook screenshots get saved?

By default they are saved in the Downloads folder, and a notification appears with options to copy the image to the clipboard or edit it. The Screen capture tool usually lets you choose another save location. Open the Files app to find recent captures, or use the Recent view to see the newest items at the top.

How do I screenshot on a Chromebook tablet or 2-in-1 in tablet mode?

Press and hold the power button and the volume down button together for a moment, then release. This works without a keyboard. The captured image is saved the same way as keyboard captures, and a notification lets you open or share it. You can also open the Screen capture tool from the Quick Settings panel.

Can a Chromebook record the screen as well?

Yes. Open the Screen capture tool with Shift+Ctrl+Show Windows, switch from screenshot to the screen record option, choose full screen, partial or window, and start. Many recent versions also offer a microphone toggle. The finished video is typically saved to the Downloads folder as a WebM file, though newer versions may use a different format.

Why is my Chromebook screenshot shortcut not working?

Check that you are pressing the correct key, since the Show Windows key can look like an unlabeled icon. Make sure Chrome OS is up to date, and that an administrator at a school or workplace has not turned captures off. Some secure exam pages and protected videos also block captures. Restarting the device clears many keyboard glitches.