Screenshot Commands and Shortcuts for Every Platform

Need to take a screenshot? Here are the commands and shortcuts for every platform.

Windows

Full screen:

Windows + PrtScn

Saves to Pictures > Screenshots folder.

Active window only:

Alt + PrtScn

Copies to clipboard, paste into any app.

Snipping Tool (select area):

Windows + Shift + S

Select region, copies to clipboard.

Game Bar screenshot:

Windows + Alt + PrtScn

Saves to Videos > Captures folder.

Mac

Full screen:

Command + Shift + 3

Saves to Desktop as PNG.

Selected area:

Command + Shift + 4

Drag to select area, saves to Desktop.

Specific window:

Command + Shift + 4, then Space

Click window to capture, saves to Desktop.

Screenshot to clipboard (not file): Add Control to any command above.

Example: Command + Control + Shift + 3 copies full screen to clipboard.

Linux

Full screen (most distros):

PrtScn

Active window:

Alt + PrtScn

Select area:

Shift + PrtScn

Using GNOME Screenshot tool:

gnome-screenshot

Options:

• -w for window
• -a for area selection
• -d 5 for 5 second delay

Using scrot (command line):

scrot screenshot.png

Install if needed: sudo apt install scrot

iPhone

Models with Face ID: Press Volume Up + Side button simultaneously.

Models with Home button: Press Home + Top (or Side) button simultaneously.

Screenshot saves to Photos app.

Android

Most Android devices: Press Power + Volume Down simultaneously.

Samsung devices: Press Power + Volume Down OR swipe palm across screen (if enabled in settings).

Older devices: Press Power + Home button.

Screenshots save to Photos or Gallery app.

Command Line Screenshots

Windows PowerShell:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{PRTSC}")

Mac Terminal:

screencapture screenshot.png

Options:

• -x no sound
• -T 5 5 second delay
• -w capture window (click to select)

Linux with ImageMagick:

import screenshot.png

Click window or drag area. Install: sudo apt install imagemagick

Recording Screen Video

Windows:

Windows + G

Opens Game Bar, click Record.

Mac:

Command + Shift + 5

Opens screenshot toolbar with video recording option.

Linux:

simplescreenrecorder

Install: sudo apt install simplescreenrecorder

Where Screenshots Save

Windows: Pictures > Screenshots (or clipboard)

Mac: Desktop (or clipboard if Control key used)

Linux: Home directory or Pictures folder

iPhone/Android: Photos or Gallery app

Change Mac Screenshot Location

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/Documents
killall SystemUIServer

Replace ~/Documents with any folder path.

Change Mac Screenshot Format

Default is PNG. Change to JPG:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
killall SystemUIServer

Options: png, jpg, pdf, tiff

Third-Party Tools

Windows:

• ShareX (free, powerful)
• Greenshot (open source)
• Lightshot (simple)

Mac:

• CleanShot X (paid, feature-rich)
• Monosnap (free)

Linux:

• Flameshot (cross-platform)
• Shutter (feature-rich)

Cross-platform:

• OBS Studio (for recording)

Bottom Line

Quick shortcuts:

Windows: Windows + Shift + S (select area) Mac: Command + Shift + 4 (select area) Linux: Shift + PrtScn (select area) iPhone: Volume Up + Side button Android: Power + Volume Down

Screenshots save automatically. Most platforms copy to clipboard with additional key (Control/Command).

For recording video, use Windows Game Bar, Mac's built-in recorder, or OBS Studio.