How to Create and Edit Screenshots on macOS and Windows Computers

Capturing screenshots is a fundamental skill that can significantly enhance your productivity, whether you’re creating tutorials, documenting issues, or saving important information. This guide will walk you through the steps to take and edit screenshots on both macOS and Windows computers.

How to Take Screenshots on macOS

Using Keyboard Shortcuts on macOS

macOS provides several keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots:

1. Capture Entire Screen:
   • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 3.
   • The screenshot will be saved to your desktop by default.
     
2. Capture Selected Portion:
   • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4.
   • Drag the crosshair to select the area you want to capture.
   • Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.
     
3. Capture Specific Window:
   • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 4, then press the Spacebar.
   • Click on the window you want to capture.

Using the Screenshot App on macOS

macOS Mojave and later include the Screenshot app:

1. Open the Screenshot app by pressing Shift + Command (⌘) + 5.
2. Choose from the options to capture the entire screen, a selected portion, or a specific window.
3. Click “Capture” to take the screenshot.

How to Edit Screenshots on macOS

After taking a screenshot, macOS provides easy ways to edit them:

1. Using the Markup Tool:
   • Click on the thumbnail that appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen after taking a screenshot.
   • Use the Markup tools to add text, shapes, or signatures.
     
2. Using Preview:
   • Open the screenshot in the Preview app.
   • Use the annotation tools to edit your screenshot.
   • Save the changes by clicking File > Save.

How to Take Screenshots on Windows

Using Keyboard Shortcuts on Windows

Windows offers various shortcuts for taking screenshots:

1. Capture Entire Screen:
   • Press PrtScn (Print Screen).
   • The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard. Paste it into an image editor like Paint or Word.
     
2. Capture Active Window:
   • Press Alt + PrtScn.
   • The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard. Paste it into an image editor.
     
3. Capture Selected Portion:
   • Press Windows + Shift + S.
   • Drag to select the area you want to capture. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard.

Using the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch on Windows

Windows 10 and later include Snip & Sketch, a more advanced tool:

1. Open Snip & Sketch by pressing Windows + Shift + S.
2. Choose from the options to snip a rectangular area, freeform area, window, or full screen.
3. The screenshot is copied to the clipboard and a notification appears. Click on it to open Snip & Sketch and edit your screenshot.

How to Edit Screenshots on Windows

Windows provides several ways to edit screenshots:

1. Using Paint:
   • Open Paint and paste the screenshot (Ctrl + V).
   • Use the editing tools to modify your screenshot.
   • Save the changes by clicking File > Save As.
     
2. Using Snip & Sketch:
   • Open Snip & Sketch from the Start menu or after taking a screenshot.
   • Use the tools to annotate and edit your screenshot.
   • Save the edited screenshot by clicking the save icon or pressing Ctrl + S.

By following these steps, you can easily capture and edit screenshots on both macOS and Windows computers. Whether you’re documenting a process, capturing a bug, or saving information for later, mastering these tools will enhance your digital efficiency.