How to Screenshot on Chromebook: Shortcuts and Tips

Switching to a Chromebook often means learning a new set of shortcuts, and taking screenshots is one of the first things you’ll want to master. Whether you’re capturing a full webpage or just a snippet for a quick note, ChromeOS gives you a few reliable keystrokes to get the job done.

Full screenshot shortcut: Ctrl + Show Windows ·
Partial screenshot shortcut: Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows ·
Screenshot key appearance: Rectangle with two vertical lines ·
Default save location: Downloads folder ·
Default file format: PNG

Five essential facts about Chromebook screenshots appear in the table below, all drawn from Google’s official documentation and hardware partners.

The pattern is consistent: every ChromeOS device uses the Show Windows key as the centrepiece of its screenshot shortcuts.

What is the shortcut for screenshot in Chrome?

Full-screen screenshot: Ctrl + Show Windows

• The primary full-screen shortcut is Ctrl + Show Windows (Google Help: Chromebook keyboard shortcuts).
• Press both keys simultaneously; the screen dims briefly and the screenshot is saved automatically to the Downloads folder.

Partial screenshot: Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows

• For a partial screenshot, use Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows (ASUS FAQ).
• A crosshair cursor appears; drag to select the area you want. The capture is saved as a PNG file.

Bottom line: Every Chromebook model uses Ctrl + Show Windows for full screenshots and Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows for partial captures. No other built-in shortcut exists.

How do I take a screenshot on a Chromebook without a Windows key?

Using the Show Windows key

• Chromebooks do not have a Windows key; use the Show Windows key instead (Lenovo: Chromebook glossary).
• The Show Windows key is located in the top row and usually looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines.

Using Ctrl + F5 as alternative

• If your keyboard lacks a Show Windows key, press Ctrl + F5 (Google Help: external keyboards).
• This combination works on external keyboards where the function row differs.

Using the screen capture tool from the status area

• Click the clock area (bottom-right), then select the screen capture icon (ASUS FAQ).
• This opens the same screenshot toolbar with full and partial options.

Bottom line: No Windows key? No problem. The Show Windows key works the same way. For external keyboards, Ctrl + F5 serves as the fallback.

What does the Chromebook screenshot key look like?

Identifying the Show Windows key

• The key is marked with a rectangle icon that has two vertical lines on the right side (Google Help).
• It is usually located in the top row of function keys, often between the full-screen and brightness keys.

Location on the keyboard

• On some models it may be labeled F5 or have a small camera icon (Lenovo: Chromebook glossary).
• The key sits in the top row; on compact keyboards it may be combined with another function.

The pattern: The Show Windows key is consistently marked with two vertical lines, distinguishing it from the full-screen key.

How do I take a screenshot in Chromebook?

Full-screen capture

• Full-screen: press Ctrl + Show Windows (Google Help).
• Screenshots are saved as PNG files in the Downloads folder (Google Help).

Partial area capture

• Partial: press Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows, then drag to select area (ASUS FAQ).
• The selection tool lets you capture a custom rectangle.

Using the stylus or touch screen

• On touchscreen Chromebooks, you can press the stylus button or use the on-screen capture tool (Google Help).
• Tablet mode uses Power + Volume down (Google Help).

Bottom line: The two keyboard shortcuts cover 95% of use cases. For tablet or stylus, the hardware-specific methods kick in.

Is it Ctrl+Shift+S to screenshot?

The correct shortcut for partial screenshots

• The official shortcut for a partial screenshot is Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows, not Ctrl+Shift+S (Google Help).
• Ctrl+Shift+S is a Windows shortcut (Snipping Tool) and is not standard on ChromeOS.

Common misconceptions

• Some third-party tools may remap Ctrl+Shift+S but it is not built-in (Lenovo).
• On school-managed Chromebooks, extensions may add custom shortcuts, but the OS defaults remain unchanged.

The implication: Users switching from Windows must unlearn the Ctrl+Shift+S habit.

Step-by-step: How to take a screenshot on Chromebook

1. Full screen: Press Ctrl + Show Windows simultaneously. The screen will flash; the image saves to Downloads as a PNG (Google Help).
2. Partial screen: Press Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows. Drag the crosshair to select a region, release the mouse. The capture saves automatically (ASUS FAQ).
3. Using the toolbar: Click the clock area, then the screen capture icon. Choose full-screen, partial, or window capture (Google Help).
4. Tablet mode: Press Power + Volume Down at the same time (Google Help).
5. External keyboard: If your keyboard lacks a Show Windows key, use Ctrl + F5 for full screen, and Ctrl + Shift + F5 for partial (Google Help: external keyboards).
6. Finding screenshots: Check the Downloads folder in the Files app. File names follow the pattern Screenshot_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.png.

The catch: School policies may override these shortcuts.

What we know and what isn’t clear

Confirmed facts

• Ctrl + Show Windows captures the full screen (Google Help).
• Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows captures a partial area (ASUS FAQ).
• Screenshots are saved as PNG files in the Downloads folder (Google Help).

What’s unclear

• Whether Ctrl+Shift+S works on some Chromebook models is not officially supported (Google Help).
• On school-managed devices, administrators can disable screenshot capabilities entirely; there is no standard visibility into those restrictions.
• The exact location of the Show Windows key varies by manufacturer and is not standardized (Lenovo: Chromebook glossary).
• The behavior of the screenshot key on external keyboards may differ depending on the keyboard’s firmware (Google Help: external keyboards).
• The exact behavior of the screenshot key on Chromebooks with a touchscreen may differ from the standard shortcuts (Google Help).

The pattern: The OS-level shortcuts are well-documented, but third-party and administrative variations are not.

What Chromebook users say

“The Chromebook screenshot process is straightforward and can be done with a few simple keystrokes, making it easy for anyone to capture what’s on their screen.”

— Lenovo: How to Screenshot on a Chromebook (Lenovo glossary)

“Chromebooks offer a handy feature to capture your screen using keyboard shortcuts or the screen capture tool.”

— ASUS Chromebook support (ASUS FAQ)

For students using school-managed Chromebooks, the key takeaway is: learn these shortcuts, or find out if your admin has enabled the screen capture tool. For everyone else, the Ctrl + Show Windows and Shift + Ctrl + Show Windows combos are all you need, and they have been consistent for years. The fastest way to become proficient is to memorize those two shortcuts — you’ll be capturing screens in seconds.

For a more comprehensive walkthrough, check out this detailed guide on Chromebook screenshots that covers all the latest shortcuts and tips.

Frequently asked questions