On Windows 11, press Windows logo key + Shift + S to capture part of the screen. On a Mac, press Shift-Command-4 for a selection or Shift-Command-3 for the whole screen. On a Face ID iPhone, press the side button and volume up button together, and on most Android phones, press Power and Volume down together. Each device saves the image in a different place, covered below.
This guide is for anyone who needs to capture an error message, a receipt, a chat or a web page and then find the file again. By the end you will know the fastest shortcut for each device, how to capture a single window or a scrolling page, where screenshots are saved and what to try when nothing happens. The steps come from Microsoft, Apple and Google support pages, read on October 29, 2026. Menus change between versions, so if your screen looks different, check your device's own help.
Windows 11
Microsoft's Snipping Tool documentation lists these shortcuts.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | Opens the snip overlay to capture a still image |
| Print Screen (PrtSc) | Copies a snapshot of the full screen to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + PrtSc | Captures an open menu |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R | Opens the overlay to record a video clip |
| Alt + D | Delays the capture by 1 to 5 seconds |
| Alt + M | Chooses the snipping mode |
| Alt + N | Creates a new snip in the last mode used |
| Ctrl + C / Ctrl + S | Copies or saves the snip |
Take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears.
- Choose a mode: Rectangle (drag to select an area), Window (select a window such as a dialog box), Full screen (captures the whole screen immediately) or Freeform (draw a shape around the area).
- Capture the area. The snip is copied to the clipboard, so you can paste it straight into an email or document with Ctrl + V.
- To edit or save it, open the Snipping Tool app and use Save as, or press Ctrl + S.
You can also open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu, select Mode, choose a type, and select New.
Where Windows saves snips
Microsoft says snips save automatically to the Screenshots folder, and you can change this in Settings under See more. Use Save as to keep an extra copy elsewhere, and See more then Share to send a snip.
Delay a capture to include a menu
Menus often close when you click away. Press Alt + D in the Snipping Tool to delay the capture by 1 to 5 seconds, open the menu during the countdown and let the snip run.
Record a short video
Select Record, then New, or press Windows logo key + Shift + R. Select the area, choose Start, and select Stop when finished. You can save the recording or select Edit in Clipchamp.
Mac
Apple's support page lists these shortcuts for macOS.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shift-Command-3 | Captures the entire screen |
| Shift-Command-4 | Captures a portion you drag to select |
| Shift-Command-4, then Space bar | Captures a window or menu |
| Shift-Command-5 | Opens the Screenshot app with options |
| Control added to a shortcut | Copies to the clipboard instead of saving |
Capture a selection
Press Shift-Command-4, drag to select an area and release to capture. Press Esc to cancel. Holding the Space bar while dragging moves the selection.
Capture a window or menu
Open the window or menu, press Shift-Command-4, then press the Space bar. Click the window to capture it. Hold Option while clicking to leave out the window's shadow.
Use the Screenshot app
Press Shift-Command-5, or find the app in the Utilities folder. Its Options menu lets you set a timer, choose where to save, show or hide the thumbnail and the mouse pointer. On supported Macs with macOS Tahoe 26 or later, you can also pick SDR (PNG) or HDR (HEIF) format.
Where the Mac saves screenshots
By default, screenshots go to the desktop with names like "Screen Shot" followed by the date and time. Click the thumbnail in the corner to edit it before it saves, or drag it to another location. Apple notes that some apps, such as the Apple TV app, may block screenshots of their windows.
iPhone
Apple's iPhone screenshot guide gives steps by model.
| iPhone type | Buttons |
|---|---|
| Face ID | Side button + volume up button, then release both quickly |
| Touch ID with side button | Side button + Home button, then release both quickly |
| Touch ID with top button | Top button + Home button, then release both quickly |
What happens after the capture
Apple describes two behaviors. On iOS 26 the screenshot appears with quick tools: you can draw with Markup, crop, share to apps or contacts, or tap the save button to choose where to save it. On iOS 18 and earlier, a thumbnail briefly appears in the lower-left corner. Tap it to open the screenshot, or swipe left to dismiss it.
Where iPhone screenshots are saved
Open Photos, go to Collections, tap Media Types, then tap Screenshots.
Full-page screenshots
Apple's screenshot page only links to a separate guide for full-page screenshots, so check Apple Support for your iOS version if you need one.
Android
Google's Android help page describes the basic method.
- Press the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time.
- If that does not work, press and hold Power for a few seconds, then tap Screenshot.
- If neither works, check your phone manufacturer's support site.
A preview appears at the bottom left. On some phones, a screenshot capture icon appears at the top of the screen.
Scrolling screenshots
Google says scrolling screenshots work on Android 12 and up, on most scrollable screens. Press Power and Volume down together, tap Capture more at the bottom, then use the crop guidelines to select the content you want.
Where Android screenshots are saved
Open the Photos app, tap Collections at the bottom, then tap On this device and Screenshots. From there you can share or edit the image. If you do not have Photos, use the Gallery app's Album view and open the Screenshots folder. Phone makers can change button combinations and menus, so Samsung, Motorola and others may differ from the Google instructions.
Which method for which job
| Goal | Windows 11 | Mac | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole screen | PrtSc or Full screen mode | Shift-Command-3 | Button combo | Power + Volume down |
| Part of the screen | Win + Shift + S, Rectangle | Shift-Command-4 | Crop in the editor | Crop after capture |
| One window | Win + Shift + S, Window | Shift-Command-4, Space | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Straight to clipboard | Win + Shift + S or PrtSc | Control + shortcut | Share from preview | Share from preview |
| With a delay | Alt + D in Snipping Tool | Timer in Screenshot app | Not covered here | Not covered here |
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens on Windows. Try Win + Shift + S, then open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- The screenshot is blank or black. Some apps block capture. Apple notes this for the Apple TV app on Mac, and many video and banking apps do the same on phones.
- Cannot find the file on a Mac. Press Shift-Command-5 and check Options for the save location. If you used Control in the shortcut, the image went to the clipboard, not a file.
- iPhone buttons do nothing. Confirm the combination for your model. Face ID models use the side button and volume up button, and Apple says to release both quickly.
- Android shortcut does nothing. Press and hold Power, then tap Screenshot. If that is missing, check the manufacturer's help.
- The screenshot is in the clipboard only. Paste it into a document or image editor, then save it.
Tidy up and protect private information
Screenshots of banking pages, IDs, one-time codes and private chats stay in your Photos app or Screenshots folder until you delete them. They may also back up to cloud photo storage. Delete sensitive screenshots after use, and crop out account numbers before sharing an image. See how to back up an iPhone or Android backup to a Google account to understand what gets backed up with your photos.
Checklist
- Windows 11: Windows logo key + Shift + S, then find files in the Screenshots folder.
- Mac: Shift-Command-3, 4 or 5, then check the desktop or your chosen location.
- iPhone: side button + volume up (Face ID), then Photos, Collections, Media Types, Screenshots.
- Android: Power + Volume down, then Photos, Collections, On this device, Screenshots.
- Delete sensitive screenshots when you are done.
Comments
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