A screenshot (abbreviated screen) is a snapshot of your current computer screen; a snapshot, a photo of your screen. It's a handy tool that is often used. At the same time, handling and creating screenshots is also one of the most frequently asked tech questions that users ask Google. In this blog post, we will therefore give you a few tips about screenshots and also explain how to take these screenshots on smartphones and tablets (Android and iOS).
How to take screenshots on your Windows PCs
- All you have to do is press the Print Screen key.
- Then Windows will have taken a picture of your screen and saved this screen to the clipboard.
- Note: Taking a picture in this way only works on Microsoft, not on a Mac. On a Mac, you have to use a different key combination.
All you have to do then is open the program where you want the image - e.g., your Word, PowerPoint, or a suitable graphics program. Using the key combination "Ctrl + V" or the "Paste" command, you retrieve it from the clipboard and insert the screenshot into the corresponding program.
Tip 1: Screenshots of a window
Using the Print Screen key, you always take a screenshot/picture of the current screen, as it currently looks, with all open windows. If you work with two or more monitors simultaneously, for example, you take a complete screenshot of all monitors.
You can control this using the key combination "Alt + Print Screen". Then you only take a screenshot of one window - no matter how many other programs you have simultaneously visible on your monitors. This key combination, or holding down "Alt" in addition, works on Microsoft Windows 10 as well as on earlier Windows versions.
Tip 2: Screenshots with the Windows Snipping Tool
The Windows Snipping Tool allows you to freely define the screen sections and the area you want to screenshot. To start the tool, click on the search field of the Start menu and simply type "Snipping Tool" here. Unfortunately, there is no key combination to open it. Once found, you can, of course, permanently pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar. The Snipping Tool is a function integrated into Windows operating systems. Since Windows Vista, it has been a standard tool, and it is, of course, also available in Windows 10.
When you open the Snipping Tool, your computer freezes, and you take a screenshot.
- A mouse pointer appears. With your mouse, you can now mark any section (text, image, etc.).
- As soon as you have selected an area and cut out the desired image or area, the screenshot is created, saved to the clipboard, and you see a preview.
- If the screenshot fits, you can save it as an image or a file (as PNG, GIF, JPG, or HTML) and then edit it in a graphics program.
- Using "New" you select the section again.
If you use Outlook, for example, you can also send the screenshot immediately by email - without having to save the file somewhere first and then find it. This function saves you time when working.
Tip 3: Screenshots of pages in the browser
In addition to the Windows Snipping Tool, there are many other tools and add-ons that help you create screenshots on the Internet. These can be integrated directly into your browser's toolbar. These tools are particularly important if you want to take screenshots of web pages where a lot of content is in the so-called scroll area. With the Snipping Tool and key combination, you would only get a screenshot of what you see, for example. With the help of the add-ons, you get a screenshot of the entire page - including the scroll area.
How to take screenshots on your smartphone
Taking screenshots on Android smartphones
For Android, the exact key combination depends on your device's manufacturer. However, it is usually pressing the "Power" and "Volume Down" buttons simultaneously. A typical camera sound will occur, and an info message will directly inform you that you have taken and saved a screenshot.
Taking screenshots on Apple smartphones (iOS operating systems)
On Apple, you press the "Home" and "Power" buttons. Your screen will then flicker once, and the screenshot is taken. If the iPhone does not have a home button, the key combination is also "Power" and "Volume Up". The photo with the current screen automatically lands in the Photos folder. Each manufacturer has its own mode and settings for recording, cropping, and selecting images from the current screen.
