How to Screenshot on a Laptop: A Guide for Dell, Lenovo, Mac

Welcome to the world of screenshots! Whether it’s for saving important information, sharing a funny conversation, or simply demonstrating a technical issue, taking screenshots on a laptop is an incredibly useful tool. But, what do you do when you’re not sure how to screenshot your specific laptop brand? No problem! In this article, we’re going to dive into the subject of ‘How to Screenshot on a Laptop’ with a focus on Dell, Lenovo, and Mac laptops. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer, grab your laptop, and let’s get ready to learn the ins and outs of taking the perfect screenshot!

Requirements

For this task, bring your laptop and have basic image editing software ready, if necessary. The duration should be under 2 minutes, depending on the chosen method and operating system.

Screenshotting on Windows-based laptops

The method of capturing screenshots on laptops may differ slightly from one device to another. However, the most significant contrast can be observed between Windows-based laptops from brands such as Dell, Lenovo, and others, and Apple laptops that run on MacOS. To start, let’s focus on the process for Windows-based laptops.

1. The Old-Fashioned Way

Use your Print Screen key

Capturing your entire screen has never been easier with Windows’ built-in hotkey – the Print Screen Key. However, since laptop keyboards can vary, the key might not be in the usual spot. Typically, it can be found near the top right corner, just like on a full-sized keyboard. But, it might also be located on the bottom, like on the Lenovo keyboard.

No need to stress, finding the key is simple. Look for a key marked Prt, PrtSc, Print Scr, or something similar. Once you’ve found it, just give it a quick tap. Don’t be alarmed if it seems like nothing happened. Windows doesn’t always indicate it well, but you’ve actually just copied an image of your screen.

Don’t worry, the button could be anywhere, just keep an eye out for something that resembles the picture shown in the legend.

Paste your screenshot

Capturing your display is easy, but the best way to edit and save it is by using an image editing app. If you have Photoshop, that will work, but for those without access to such professional software, don’t worry! Microsoft Paint is a simple, free option that is included in Windows.

To use Microsoft Paint, simply open the app and either press Ctrl + V or click on the clipboard button in the top left corner and select Paste. Your captured display will then be pasted into the document.

With Microsoft Paint, you can now easily edit your screenshot, adjust the size, crop it to your liking, and save it to your laptop. It’s that simple!

Let’s take a look at an instance of how a screenshot can be effortlessly inserted into the new and improved Microsoft Paint in Windows.

2: The Snipping Tool and Win+Shift+S

If you’re looking to capture a screenshot, you can either open the Snipping Tool or press the combination of Win+Shift+S on your keyboard.

Windows offers a convenient tool for taking screenshots and capturing specific windows or sections. The Snipping Tool can be easily accessed by typing “snip” in the start menu or by using the shortcut Win+Shift+S.

When you open the full Snipping Tool, you’ll see a simple menu with a + New button to start capturing the screen. You can choose to create a box or freeform shape, or capture your current window or the entire screen.

Using the Win+Shift+S shortcut will directly copy your capture to the clipboard and save it to a default location. However, if you’d like to access the full Snipping Tool interface, simply click the notification that appears on the bottom right of your screen. This will allow you to save the file elsewhere and have more control over your screenshots.

The Snipping Tool menu and its icon in the Windows 11 version have been given a basic makeover.

3. Screenshotting on Macs

On Macs, the process may not be as straightforward as using a hotkey, but it’s still convenient as it doesn’t require any additional software or the need for copying and pasting.

Capturing screenshots on your Mac is easy and convenient! Simply press Shift + Cmd + 3 to save a full screenshot as an image file directly on your desktop. The file will be labeled “Screen Shot [date] at [time].png” for easy identification. If you only want to capture a specific portion of your screen, simply press Shift + Cmd + 4 to activate the crosshair cursor. Simply click and drag to select the area you want to capture, and the screenshot will be saved. And if you want to capture the entire current window, just add the Space bar to your key combination (Shift + Cmd + 4 + Space bar). Happy screenshotting!

Taking a standard screenshot on a Mac is a simple process. All you need to do is press three keys simultaneously. Let’s take a look at what those keys are.

Short FAQs on How to Screenshot on a Laptop

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Q 1. What’s the quickest way to screenshot on a Windows laptop?

Use the Print Screen key. You can find it near the top right corner or at the bottom of your keyboard, marked as Prt, PrtSc, Print Scr, or similar.

Q 2. How can I edit and save my screenshot on a Windows laptop?

Use Microsoft Paint. Open the app, press Ctrl + V, or click the clipboard button in the top left corner and select Paste. Edit and save the screenshot as you like.

Q 3. How can I capture a specific area of the screen on a Windows laptop?

Use the Snipping Tool or the combination of Win + Shift + S. Open the tool from the Start menu, press the keyboard shortcut, or click the notification that appears on the bottom right of the screen.

Q 4. How do screenshots on a Mac laptop?

Press Shift + Cmd + 3 to save a full screenshot, Shift + Cmd + 4 to select an area, or Shift + Cmd + 4 + Space bar to capture the current window.