How to Take a Screenshot on Any Device

You can take a screenshot on most modern electronic devices. This article explains how to take a screenshot on Android devices, Apple devices, Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, and gaming consoles.

How to Take a Screenshot on Android

With multiple hardware manufacturers and slow adoption of operating system updates, taking a screenshot on an Android varies from device to device. Taking a screengrab on a Google Pixel smartphone is different from taking a screenshot on Samsung smartphones and tablets. You can also take screenshots on Wear watches.

Take a Screenshot on Samsung Devices

Taking a screenshot on Samsung smartphones and tablets is different from stock Android devices due to button placement and other factors.

Take a Screenshot on Google Pixel Smartphones

On Pixels running Android 11 and up, press and hold the Power button and Volume Down simultaneously. 

You can quickly take a screengrab on a Google Pixel smartphone running Android 10 or older using the side button and selecting screenshot from the options.

The screenshots save to your default photo gallery app, and you can edit them using built-in tools or third-party apps.

Take a Screenshot on Wear

Open the Wear app on your smartphone and tap the three-dot menu icon. Select Take wearable screenshot. You'll get a notification on your phone; tap it to share the screenshot to a compatible app. You can also edit the screenshot on your phone.

How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone

Taking a screenshot on an iPhone is more consistent from device to device than Android, but there are some differences since some iPhones have home buttons and others don't. The version of iOS you're running can also complicate things.

See our primer on iPhone screenshots to instructions for all models. Got an iPhone 12? We have separate instructions for that iPhone model.

The screenshots save to the Photos app, where you can edit them using built-in tools.

How to Take a Screenshot on iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Air

It's easy to take a screenshot on an iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Air. The process is different depending on if your tablet has a home button or not. You can share and edit them from the Photos app.

How to Take a Screenshot on Apple Watch

To take screenshots on an Apple Watch, you have to enable that option in settings first. Then, press the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time.

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

You can capture screenshots on Windows in a few different ways, including a keyboard shortcut and built-in software. PC screenshots are automatically saved to a Screenshots folder, where you can rename and move the files as needed. We also have instructions for taking a screenshot on an HP laptop and capturing screens on a Lenovo laptop. And we didn't forget about screenshotting on Dell laptops.

How to Take a Screenshot on Surface Devices

Microsoft Surface devices, including the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, run Windows, so the process is similar to any other PC. However, some Surface devices don't have buttons, and you can use the Surface Pen to take screenshots, so there are some differences. Depending on the model, you have at least three ways to screenshot on a Surface.

How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

Mac users can take screenshots using a few different keyboard shortcuts and built-in software. Screenshots can include all or part of the screen.

Mac screenshots are saved to your desktop by default, but you can change that to a different folder.

How to Take a Screenshot on Chromebook

As of Chrome OS 89, it’s easier than ever to take a Chromebook screenshot. Go to Quick Settings and select the Screen Capture tool; you’ll see a toolbar appear from which you can opt to take a screenshot or capture an on-screen video. Choose to capture the whole screen or just a portion. This tool is ideal for educators or anyone who needs screen captures for presentations.

You can still use traditional Chromebook keyboard shortcuts to grab screenshots on a Chromebook, and there are also many third-party screenshot apps to consider.

How to Take Screenshots on Gaming Consoles

Want to share your gameplay or save an error message on your PlayStation or Xbox? The Xbox Series X|S has a Share button that makes screen captures easy. The process for screenshotting on the Xbox One series is a bit different but almost as easy.

Xbox screenshots save to a Recent captures folder, and you can share them with your activity feeds, a messaging app, Twitter, and cloud storage services. 

The PS4 also has a share button for taking screenshots. Hold the button down to open the share menu.