Google has made it easier than ever to take screenshots and record your screen as a video. Here’s how to do that and find the results on your Chromebook.
Taking a screenshot on your computer can be useful for many things. From showing someone a problem you quickly troubleshoot to getting ideas for your next big project to helping a friend or family member by showing you how to do something, the list is endless. However, taking the screenshot actually varies from device to device, and operating system to operating system. This includes Chromebooks and Chrome OS.
For a long time, the screenshot tool on Chromebooks was fairly basic and could only be launched using a keyboard shortcut and not a particularly obvious one at the time. As early as 2021, though, Google introduced a screenshot tool that lets you take both photos and videos of what’s on your Chromebook’s screen. Here are two ways to launch the Screen Capture tool, how to use the tool and where to find your screenshots once you’ve taken them.
Screenshot on a Chromebook using a keyboard shortcut
To launch the Screen Capture toolbar, you need to press a three-key shortcut: Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows. The Show Windows key is in the top row of the keyboard with an icon that looks like a window with two windows stacked behind it. Just tap on those three and the toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Also, if you simply want to take a quick snapshot of your entire screen, rather than a specific area or window, you can simply press Ctrl + Show Windows.
How to use the screenshot toolbar
Screen Capture toolbar not only allows you to take screenshots but it can also be used to capture screen recordings. At the far left on the toolbar is the toggle switch for switching from still images to video. To the right of this toggle, you have options to take a full screen screenshot, a partial screenshot with a specific area you select, or a screenshot of a specific window. These work for photos and video. Also, clicking the settings gear in the toolbar allows you to turn the microphone on or off while recording your screen, making it easy to add narration to your footage.
Where to save screenshots on your Chromebook
When you take a screenshot or recording, it’s instantly accessible from the Clipboard, which stores the last five things you’ve saved there. To view what’s available, simply press the everything button (also known as the search key) plus V.
The Chromebook also has a place on the shelf called the Tote. Where you will find your most recent screenshots. You can pin files to Tote as well, which means you can keep an important screenshot ready to open without searching for it.
Screenshots that are no longer saved to the Clipboard can be found in your files. Simply open the Files app on your Chromebook and you’ll find screenshots in the Pictures folder and Screen Recordings in the Videos folder.
Screenshot on a Chromebook from Quick Settings
I find it hard to remember hotkeys, so I am always looking for another option. Fortunately, Google has added a shortcut button to the quick settings panel for screenshots, so I’ll never think about the keys I need again. In Chrome’s Shelf, tap the time to display the quick settings menu that pops up. Simply click or tap on Screenshot and the toolbar will launch.