How to Take Screenshots on Chromebook

Chromebooks come with most of the basic tools built in out of the box. This makes them very useful to general users. Especially, if you want to take screenshots on a Chromebook, you can easily do it with the shortcut keys. You also don’t need any third-party app for taking screenshots. Chromebooks have a native option for it.

You can easily take full-screen, window, and partial snaps. Still, we have tried a third-party app that provides you with a complete toolkit with features like annotation and screen recording. Here we have explained multiple methods for taking screenshots on a Chromebook. Let’s check them out one by one.

SEE ALSO: Snipping Tool not working in Windows 11? Here is the Fix.

Take Screenshots on a Chromebook

In this article, we are going to cover the following methods for taking screenshots on Chromebooks.

  • Using Buttons in Tablet Mode
  • Take Screenshots using Keyboard
  • Taking Screenshots with Stylus
  • Taking Screenshots with an External Keyboard
  • Using Chrome Extensions

A) Take Screenshots using Buttons in Tablet Mode

If you are using a Chromebook in tablet or tent mode, you can take screenshots on the Chromebook just like you do on an Android phone. Press the power and either of the volume buttons together. Press and release the buttons, no need to press and hold them. This will capture a full-screen screenshot immediately.

Shortcut: Power + Either of the Volume buttons

Use Power and Volume Buttons to take screenshots in Chromebook tablet mode
Use Power and Volume Buttons to take screenshots

B) Take Screenshots on Chromebook using the Keyboard

1. Full-screen Screenshot

The easiest way to take screenshots on a Chromebook is to press the Ctrl + Overview button together. This will instantly take a screenshot of the whole screen.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Overview button (just above the 6 key)

Ctrl + Overview button shortcut
Ctrl + Overview button shortcut Chromebook

You can access the screenshot in the Files app under the “Downloads” folder.

Screenshots saved to Downloads folder
Screenshots saved to the Downloads folder

2. Window Screenshot

To take the current window’s screenshot on Chromebook, press Ctrl + Alt + Overview buttons together. Then select the target window on your screen. You can simply press Enter to take a screenshot of the active window or use the mouse to select the desired window.

 Shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + Overview button (just above the 6 key)

3. Partial Screenshot

To take a partial screenshot on your Chromebook, press Ctrl + Shift + Overview button. The screen will dim and now you can select the desired area on your Chromebook screen.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Overview button (just above the 6 key)


SEE ALSO: How to Install and Use Linux on Chromebook?

C) Take Screenshots with Stylus on Chromebook

1. Full-screen Screenshot

For this method, you need to connect a stylus to your Chromebook. With the stylus connected, a “Stylus” menu will appear on the bottom right. Click this menu and select “Capture Screen“. And it will take full-screen screenshots on your Chromebook.

2. Partial Screenshot

To take a partial screenshot, click on the “Stylus” menu and select “Capture Region“. Using your stylus, touch-and-hold, you can select an area on your Chromebook screen. Finally, release the stylus and a screenshot will be captured.


D) Take Screenshots on Chromebook Using an External Keyboard

1. Full-screen Screenshot

After you have connected an external keyboard to your Chromebook, you can take a screenshot by pressing Ctrl and F5 simultaneously. It is quite similar to the native Chromebook shortcut. But you need to replace the Overview button with the F5 button.

2. Window Screenshot

Similarly, for a window screenshot using an external keyboard, press Ctrl + Alt + F5. It will instantly take a screenshot of the current window.

3. Partial Screenshot

Finally, press the Ctrl + Shift + F5 buttons together to take partial screenshots on your Chromebook. The screen will dim automatically and then you can select a region.


E) Take Screenshots using Chrome Extensions

The methods explained above were native methods to take screenshots supported by Chromebooks. If you want a more versatile and powerful option, check out the Nimbus Chrome extension (Free). Nimbus extension allows you to take all types of screenshots plus it offers screen recording and on-screen annotations.

Use Nimbus extension to take screenshots
Use the Nimbus extension to take screenshots on the Chromebook

Few Quick Tips

  • All screenshots are saved in the “Downloads” folder. You can open the “Files” app and move to the “Downloads” folder and there you can find the screenshots. You can also change the screenshot location, by going to Settings > Advanced > Downloads > Change.
  • Function key F5 on a Chromebook is the Overview key which is generally located above the number 6 key. You can press it with the Ctrl key to take a screenshot on your Chromebook.
  • The Switch key is again the same as the overview key in Chromebook. You can use it to switch open windows on a Chromebook. That is why it’s called the Switch key.

SEE ALSO: How to turn on Developer Mode in Chromebook?


Taking Screenshots on a Chromebook Easily

The above article explained several methods for taking screenshots on a Chromebook. This tutorial explained native as well as third-party extension methods for taking screenshots.

While the built-in shortcuts are quite enough for fulfilling screenshot requirements, the third-party extension will give you a full package.

We hope you liked the tutorial. Feel free to share your queries and suggestions in the comment section below.

Editorial Staff

Hi there, we are the editorial staff at WINDOSPC (former HELLPC). We are a team of funny and technical people. Feel free to get in touch with us via Contact-Us page.

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