Chromebooks skip the Windows key, so the screenshot shortcut is different from what you’re used to. Press Ctrl + Show Windows for a full-screen capture, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to grab just part of the screen. Below is where the files land, plus a mouse-only option if you’d rather skip the keyboard entirely.
Why Chromebooks Have No Windows Key Screenshot Shortcut
Chrome OS keyboards are built around the browser, not desktop software. There’s no Windows key, no dedicated Print Screen key, and the top row swaps F-keys for back, forward, refresh, and brightness controls.
The key that handles screenshots is Show Windows, usually shaped like a small rectangle with two lines, sitting above the 6 or 7. If you’re coming from a Windows laptop and used to tweaking background apps for speed, our guide to speeding up Windows 11 shows how differently the two systems manage that.
How to Capture the Full Screen on a Chromebook
Hold Ctrl and tap Show Windows. No screen flash, but a small preview pops up in the bottom-right corner for a few seconds.
Click that preview to open the image right away, or ignore it and the file still saves. Nothing gets lost if you’re too slow to click.
How to Screenshot Just Part of the Screen
Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows instead. Your cursor turns into a crosshair, and a small toolbar appears at the bottom with options for a rectangle selection, a specific window, or the full screen again.
Drag to draw a box around the area you need, then release. This is the fastest way to grab an error message or a single chat bubble without cropping afterward.
Where Chromebook Screenshots Save
Every capture lands as a PNG file in your Downloads folder. Open the Files app and look under Downloads, or click the notification right after you capture to jump straight there.
Screen recordings taken the same way save as WebM video files in that same folder. If you switch between a Chromebook and other devices often, our screenshot guide for every device covers the matching steps for Windows, Mac, and phones.
Skip the Keyboard: Use the Quick Settings Screen Capture Tool
Click the clock in the bottom-right corner to open Quick Settings, the same panel that holds volume, brightness, and Wi-Fi. Tap the screen capture icon and the identical toolbar from the keyboard shortcut appears, no key combo required.
This is the easier route if your muscle memory still reaches for a Windows key that isn’t there. And since that panel also controls your Wi-Fi toggle, it’s worth bookmarking our fix for WiFi connected but no internet if your connection drops mid-task.
Chromebook Screenshot FAQ
Why doesn’t my Chromebook have a Print Screen key?
Chrome OS keyboards drop the traditional F-key row and Print Screen key for browser controls. The Show Windows key takes over screenshot duty instead.
Can I screenshot just one window on a Chromebook?
Yes. Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows, then pick the window capture option from the toolbar that appears at the bottom of the screen instead of dragging a selection box.
How do I record my screen instead of taking a still screenshot?
Open the same Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows toolbar and select the screen record icon. Chrome OS saves the recording as a WebM file in Downloads, right next to your screenshots.
