Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows to screenshot part of the screen on a Chromebook. Your cursor turns into a crosshair, you drag a box around the area you need, and releasing the mouse or trackpad saves just that region as a PNG. No cropping afterward required.
Start the Partial Screenshot Tool
Hold Ctrl and Shift, then tap the Show Windows key, the one shaped like a small rectangle above the 6 or 7 on your keyboard. That combo is different from the full-screen shortcut, which skips Shift entirely.
If you want the complete rundown of every capture method and where files end up, the full Chromebook screenshot walkthrough covers full-screen capture step by step.
What Each Toolbar Option Actually Captures
Once the crosshair appears, a small toolbar shows up along the bottom edge of the screen. It gives you three ways to capture, not just one.
The rectangle icon is the partial-select mode described above, drag a box and release. A second icon switches to window capture. A third snaps the entire screen, the same result as the plain Ctrl + Show Windows shortcut.
Tap whichever icon matches what you actually need before you start dragging. Switching mid-drag just restarts the selection.
Capture One Window Only, No Dragging Required
Tap the window icon in that same toolbar, then click any open window on your screen. Chrome OS grabs the exact edges of that window automatically, borders and all, with nothing outside it.
This beats dragging a rectangle by hand when a window is small or oddly placed, since you cannot accidentally include part of the desktop or another app behind it.
Where the Crop Lands and How to Mark It Up
Every partial capture saves as a PNG in your Downloads folder, same as a full-screen shot. A thumbnail preview pops up in the bottom-right corner for a few seconds right after you release the drag.
Click that thumbnail before it fades and it opens directly in the built-in image viewer, where you can crop further, draw on it, or add text before you save or copy it anywhere. Ignore the thumbnail and the file is still sitting in Downloads, untouched.
Comparing methods across your other devices? The screenshot guide for iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac lines up the equivalent shortcut for each one.
Quick Settings Works the Same Way, Minus the Keyboard
Click the clock in the bottom-right corner to open Quick Settings, then tap the screen capture icon. The identical rectangle-versus-window toolbar appears, no key combo needed.
That panel is also home to your Wi-Fi toggle, so if your connection keeps dropping mid-capture, the WiFi connected but no internet fix is worth bookmarking too.
Chromebook Partial Screenshot FAQ
What is the shortcut to screenshot part of the screen on a Chromebook?
Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Drag a box around the area you want, then release to save it as a PNG.
Can I select just one window instead of dragging a box?
Yes. After the toolbar appears, tap the window icon instead of the rectangle icon, then click the window you want captured.
Where does a partial screenshot save on a Chromebook?
It lands in the Downloads folder as a PNG, right alongside full-screen captures. Open the Files app and check Downloads if the preview thumbnail already disappeared.
