Photos & files
Take a screenshot
A screenshot is a quick photo of your screen. It is so helpful when you have a problem to show. You can send it to a friend for help. It saves you from typing out what you see. You can do this. It is easier than it looks.
~4 min Always free
A screenshot copies your whole screen as a picture. Let us learn the button trick for your device.
Find your device below, then follow those steps. The buttons may look a little different on yours, that is okay.
On an iPhone
- Open the screen you want to save.
- Find the side button. It is the long button on the right edge.
- Find the volume-up button. It is on the left edge.
- Press both buttons at the same time.
- Let go right away. A quick press is all you need.
- If a power-off slider shows up, do not worry.
- Just tap the screen or wait. It will go away.
- The screen flashes white for a moment. That means it worked.
- A small picture also slides into the bottom corner.
- On an older iPhone, use the round Home button instead.
- Press the side button and the Home button together.
- Your picture is saved in the Photos app.
- Open Photos later to find it and share it.
On an Android phone
- Open the screen you want to save.
- Find the power button. It is usually on the right edge.
- Find the volume-down button. It is the lower volume key.
- Press both buttons at the same time.
- Let go right away. A quick, gentle press works best.
- If a menu pops up, do not worry.
- Just tap an empty part of the screen. It will close.
- You may hear a click or see a flash. That means it worked.
- Your picture is saved in your photos.
- Look for a folder called Screenshots.
- It is in the Photos app or the Gallery app.
- Buttons may look a little different on each phone. Keep trying.
On a Windows computer
- Open the screen you want to save.
- Find the Windows key on your keyboard.
- It has a small window picture on it.
- Find the Print Screen key. It may say PrtScn or PrtSc.
- Do not worry. This key does not print on paper.
- You need no printer for this.
- Press the Windows key and Print Screen at the same time.
- The screen may dim for a second. That means it worked.
- Your picture is saved in a folder called Screenshots.
- That folder sits inside the Pictures folder.
- If that does not work, search for Snipping Tool.
- Open Snipping Tool and click New.
- Drag a box around what you want to save.
On a Mac
- Open the screen you want to save.
- Find three keys: Shift, Command, and the number 3.
- Command sits next to the space bar. It may say cmd.
- Press Shift, Command, and 3 at the same time.
- Let go of all three keys.
- A small picture shows up in the bottom corner. That means it worked.
- If your sound is on, you may hear a camera click.
- Your picture is saved on the Desktop.
- The Desktop is the main screen behind your windows.
- Look for a file whose name starts with Screenshot.
Buddy’s tip
If it does not work the first time, do not worry. Pressing both buttons at the very same moment takes practice.
A screenshot is just a photo of your screen.