To take screenshot on Chromebook, there is no “Print Screen” key available. All we have a minimal keyboard which comes in handy with the Chrome OS device. Then how is it possible to capture the Chrome screen? Especially, if you are a user of Windows or Mac operating systems that come with a “PrtScn” key, you might have this doubt in your mind. But, it is extremely easy to print screen of the Chromebook as well. Before we continue, have a look at our previous screenshot articles such as grabbing a screenshot on Windows and capturing screen on Mac. It will help you to get a basic idea about the steps.
You might have many questions like how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook Acer or other brands. To tell the truth, there is not much difference based on the brands. It is all about the OS which is running inside the machine.
Like many other operating systems, Chrome OS also comes with a built-in screenshot tool right in the OS itself. There are no extra applications needed for taking a picture of a full-screen or a region at any point in the operating system. In this article, we are going to explore the methods to take screenshots on Chromebook. Have a look.
Comparison of the Screenshot Methods on Chromebook
If you do not have the time to read the entire article, here is a quick overview of the contents –
| Screenshot Method | Full Screen Capture | Region Capture | Accessibility | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Capture Button | Yes | Yes | Beginner-friendly | NA |
| Shortcut (Full Screen) | Yes | No | Beginner-friendly | Ctrl + Switch Screen Button |
| Shortcut (Region) | No | Yes | Beginner-friendly | Ctrl + Shift + Switch Screen Button |
| External Keyboard | Yes | Yes | Advanced users | Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + F5 |
| Extensions | Yes | Yes | Advanced users | Chrome OS extensions |
Methods to capture screenshots on Chromebook
Follow the given methods based on your requirements. We will be listing the official methods which are recommended by Google as well as some extra tricks for having the screenshots in Chrome OS. Let’s explore more.
Method 1. Using the Screen Capture feature
Chromebooks, by default, come with a simple button that can be clicked to capture or record your screen. You can access it by clicking on the Time Section on your taskbar > and then clicking on the Screen Capture option.
Using this method, you will be able to take almost any type of screenshot – including full screen, specific areas, or windows. This is the easiest way to take a simple screenshot on your Chromebook.
Method 2. Take a full screenshot of the Chromebook
- Set up the screen as you want it in your screenshot.
- Press Ctrl+Switch Screen Button.
- You will get a notification saying your screenshot has been successfully saved.
Method 3. To print a region of the screen on Chrome OS
- Set up the screen.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Switch Screen Button.
- Click and drag your cursor to select the portion to capture.
- That’s it.
Method 4. Using external keyboards for printing screen on Chromebook
There may be situations where you are using an external standard keyboard instead of the default Chromebook keys. In such situations, there will be no Switch window key or others available on the keyboard. But nothing to worry about it, Google has implemented an alternative way to solve this issue. Simply follow the steps given below for taking screenshots in case you are operating the OS with an external keyboard.
To take full-screen screenshot in Chrome OS using an external keyboard
- Set up the screen that you wanted to take the screenshot of.
- Press Ctrl + F5.
- And that’s it.
To capture a region in Chromebook using external keyboard
- Set up the monitor for capturing.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+F5.
- Now, select the region that you wanted to capture.
Method 5. External applications you can use
In addition to the default Chrome screenshot tool, there are plenty of third-party apps and extensions available for the purpose. We listed a few of them below.
- FireShot: A handy extension for taking the image of an entire page.
- Clipular: This will not only capture the screenshots but also let you edit them.
- File System for Dropbox: A Dropbox-friendly application for directly taking screenshots to Dropbox.
- Awesome Screenshot Minus: A tool that supports direct annotation.
- Pixlr: One of the most popular tools on the internet for taking and editing screens.
How to copy Chromebook screenshot to the Clipboard
If you want to save the taken screenshot to the clipboard for further pasting in some image editors, you have to take a normal screenshot first. Keep an eye on the notification that appears after taking the screenshot. You will see a link saying “Copy to Clipboard” under the notification. Just click on it and the screenshot will be copied to the Chrome OS clipboard.
Be sure to be quick on the process and remember, you got just around 3 seconds before the notification fades away.
How to Record Chromebook Screen with Narration
You may record your screen for someone else and add narration if you want to demonstrate anything that needs to be done step by step. You could even add a video of yourself while recording or even a selfie. Just keep in mind that this only applies to screen recordings, not screenshots.
- Press the Shift, Ctrl, and Show Windows keys.
- Choose the video icon from the pop-up menu at the bottom.
- Then select how you want to record: record the complete screen, a section of the screen, or a specific window,
- Click on the Task button (cog icon).
- To record audio as well while recording your screen, choose Microphone under the Audio input category.
- Select Front Camera if you also wish to record a video of yourself speaking.
- As soon as you do this, a circular window will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Frequently asked Questions on taking screenshot on Chromebook
Here are some of the most asked and searched queries on printing screen on Chromebook. Checking it out may help you to solve your own doubts regarding the same.
We’ve mentioned the “Switch Window button” or the “Window switcher key” on the Chromebook keyboard in many steps. If you don’t know which button it refers to, here is an image of it. The placement of the button may or may not vary according to the keyboard manufacturer, but the symbol will be identical in all of them.
Pasting screenshot on Chromebook is nothing different from other OS. You could use the same Ctrl+V buttons for pasting the screenshot on the clipboard on any text or image editor. To completely understand this, you should have a look at the above section where we described capturing the screenshot to the clipboard for further actions using it.
As already mentioned, there will be not much difference in the process for different manufacturers. All the Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba, brands have the same process. It is completely based on the OS version that you are running on the Chromebook.
If you don’t know the most used keyboard layout of a good Chromebook system, here is an image for you.
As you can see, it is very simple and elegant.
The search button on the Chromebook may be confusing to the newbies using the Chromebooks. As you can see in the above image, it is located in the same place as the caps lock button on normal keyboards.
If the keyboard shortcuts are not working for taking screenshots on the Chromebooks, you might have to double-check the functionality of your keyboard and buttons. Make sure that the buttons are not jammed and are working perfectly. Next, try restarting your device to clear any temporary problems with the OS. If anything doesn’t seem to be working, you should better consult a Chromebook technician to help you.
Your screenshots will be saved to the Downloads folder as high-quality .png files. You could easily retrieve it from there for further editing and exporting purpose.
Now, that’s the answer to your question, “How to screenshot on Chromebook.” If you have any more questions or doubts regarding the process, feel free to leave a message to us on the contact form.