Don't panic!

Screenshot keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac

Which key takes which screenshot on Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac, and where does it end up? Here are all the combinations the system comes with. Plus how to put your own screenshot program on the Print Screen key.

Try it free for 28 days for Windows and Mac · no account · no cloud

Don't panic. It's only a key.

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Keys	What happens
`PrtSc`	The whole screen goes to the clipboard. In current versions of Windows 11 the key opens the Windows screenshot tool instead; you can switch this under Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard.
`Alt` + `PrtSc`	Only the active window goes to the clipboard.
`Win` + `PrtSc`	The whole screen is saved as a file, in the folder Pictures › Screenshots.
`Win` + `Shift` + `S`	Choose an area, a window or the whole screen; the image goes to the clipboard.
`Fn` + `PrtSc`	Needed on some laptops where Print Screen is a secondary function.

Mac

Keys	What happens
`⌘` + `⇧` + `3`	The whole screen is saved as a file on the desktop.
`⌘` + `⇧` + `4`	Drag out an area.
`⌘` + `⇧` + `4`, then `Space`	Click a window.
`⌘` + `⇧` + `5`	The screenshot toolbar with all options.
plus `⌃`	The image goes to the clipboard instead of onto the desktop as a file.

Putting Screenshot 42 on the Print Screen key

With Screenshot 42 you start a capture with a key of your choice, by default Ctrl + Alt + S. This is how to set it to Print Screen:

Click the Screenshot 42 icon in the notification area of the taskbar.
Under “Start”, click the button for the key and press Print Screen.
Done. From now on, Print Screen starts Screenshot 42.

If you like, Win + Shift + S also starts Screenshot 42 instead of the Windows tool while the program is running. It's a switch in the same window; switched off, everything is as before. On the Mac you choose your own combination, by default ⌃⌥S.

The real top toolbar of Screenshot 42: area, fixed size 800 × 600, window, full screen, scroll, hint, magnifier, cancel — After the key, this toolbar appears at the top: area, window, full screen, long page and magnifier, all usable with the mouse too.

Where are screenshots saved?

Windows: PrtSc, Alt + PrtSc and Win + Shift + S put the image on the clipboard. Win + PrtSc saves it in the folder Pictures › Screenshots.
Mac: on the desktop by default, on the clipboard with ⌃.
Screenshot 42: Enter puts the image on the clipboard. One click on the folder button saves it as a PNG in your own folders, by default Ideas, Important and Work in the Screenshot 42 folder under Pictures. Existing files are never overwritten.

Print Screen doesn't work?

On many laptops Print Screen is a secondary function; then press it together with Fn.
If another program already uses the key, the window at the Screenshot 42 icon tells you. Then choose a different key.
In windows running with administrator rights, a Win combination may not get through. The Windows tool starts there instead.

Try Screenshot 42

Free for 28 days, no sign-up, for Windows and Mac. Then buy once from €9, all updates of version 1 included.

No subscription.Pay once – done!

Try it free

More guides

Scrolling screenshot: the whole page in one imageWhole web pages, long emails and documents in one image.How it works → Edit a screenshot: arrow, circle and text, all editableArrow, circle, text and highlighter, all editable until Enter.How it works → Blur a screenshot: hide names and numbersHide names, addresses and numbers with the brush.How it works → Copy text from a screenshot and translate itGet text out of images, videos and error messages, and translate it.How it works → Paste a screenshot into a chat, with circle and arrowMark, circle, add an arrow and paste it into the chat with Ctrl + V.How it works →