The internet is full of stuff you can share with your friends. Maybe you saw a video of a cat napping and wanted to share it on your group chat. But that website does not allow you to download that video.
Guess what? Your Chromebook can save screenshots and capture the video on your screen too. And it literally takes two button presses on your keyboard.
So, join me today, and I will show you the different ways to capture your screen on your Chrome OS device.
How to Screenshot on a Chromebook
There are two ways to take a screenshot on Chrome OS. Press the key shortcuts or use the Chrome OS Quick Settings toolbar. Both methods allow you to capture either a section of the screen or its entirety. And if you want to edit the screenshot, you can do that too.
Here are the methods to screenshot on your Chromebook:
1. Use the Keyboard Shortcut
Chromebooks have a different keyboard layout compared to Windows or Mac. The top rows of keys do not have the function keys as labeled on a PC. Instead, you get Chrome-specific tasks associated with each button.
Similarly, the keyboard shortcuts vary depending on what you are attempting to do on a Chrome OS device.
We will use the Show Windows key to take the screenshot on a Chromebook. It is basically the F5 key on a normal keyboard. It looks something like this.
In case the keyboard isn’t working on your Chromebook, refer to the embedded article.
Capture the Entire Screen on a Chromebook
To take a screenshot of the entire screen, press Ctrl + Show Windows. Upon pressing this key combination, you will see the screenshot near the bottom right of your screen. It is copied immediately to your clipboard so that you share this instantly. 
If you want to discard it, press the Delete button. Similarly, you can add funny texts and edit them to your heart’s content using the Photos app. Clicking the Edit button takes you there, and you are free to make any changes to the screenshot.
Furthermore, check out how to perform a right-click on your Chromebook.
Capture a Section of Your Screen on a Chromebook
To take a partial screenshot, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Now select the part of the screen using your cursor that changes into a crosshair. When you are done, press Capture and the screenshot is saved. It’s really that simple. 
There’s another method to save screenshots. Let’s look at that now.
2. Use the Quick Settings Bar
The Quick Settings bar is equivalent to the notification bar on an Android device. The stark similarities between the two are evident when you look at the icons here.
We will use the Screen Capture shortcut here to take a screenshot. This opens up a floating bar containing all the controls to save screenshots.
There are three ways to take a screenshot. Capture the full screen, save a cropped section of your screen, or snap any open windows.
Here’s how to do it.
Take a screenshot using a Quick Settings bar on a Chromebook using these steps:
- Click on the bottom right part of your screen on your Chromebook. It’s the spot that has the battery and Wi-Fi icons.
- Click on Screen Capture.
- Ensure that the Photo icon is selected.
- To capture an entire screen, press Take full screen screenshot. Your cursor changes to a camera icon. Now click anywhere on the screen, and your screenshot is recorded.
- To capture a part of the screen, press Take partial screenshot. Once you press it, your mouse cursor changes into a crosshair. Now, select the section of the screen you want to save. There is the option to resize and drag the selected window anywhere on your screen. Once done, click on Capture.
- To capture a different opened window, press the third icon.
- If you want to change the screenshot location, click the gear icon in the floating bar and set the desired location.
Your screenshot appears on top of the quick settings the moment you take it.
If you look carefully, the screenshot bar can also record videos. That’s how you can capture videos from any website. Pretty cool, right? That’s detailed right in the next section.
On a side note, follow our guide on how to do Split Screen on Chromebook.
(Bonus) How to Screen Record Your Chromebook
Similar to capturing screenshots, you can also record full screens, a portion of your screen, or any opened windows. Chrome OS utilizes the same floating bar that appears when you press Screen Capture. All you need to do is flip the video switch here, and you are set to record whatever that’s on your Chromebook’s screen.
Follow the steps to record your screen on your Chromebook:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Window. Or you can click on Quick Settings and Click Screen Capture.
- Click the Video icon.
- Now choose which portion of the screen you wish to record. Click on any one of the three icons. Resize by dragging the pointers at each end of the rectangular box. If you want to change its position, you can move this box too.
- Once you have set what to record, click on Capture. A timer appears, and the screen starts recording immediately afterward.
- To stop recording, press the stop icon near the bottom right of the screen.
Your recorded videos are saved to the Downloads folder in the default configuration. To open the captured video, click the pop-up that appears in the bottom right of your screen, and it should take you there.
FYI, Chromebook users can also download YouTube videos on their devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take a screenshot on a Chromebook without a mouse?
Press Ctrl and Show Windows keys on a Chromebook. This will take a full screenshot of your screen and save it automatically.
What are the key binds to screenshots on a Chromebook?
The key binding to save a full screenshot is Ctrl + Show Windows. If you want to save a part of the screen, press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows. Then drag and select the part of the screen you wish to save and press Capture.
How to take a screenshot of your Chromebook without a Windows key?
If you do not have the Show Windows key, use the Screen Capture button from the Quick Options menu. Just select the section on your screen and press the Capture button.
Final Words
While you can use any third-party screenshot tool from the Play Store, it means you have to install a separate app for this purpose. And that will consume the already diminutive storage space on your Chromebook.
That’s why I use the default screenshot app implemented by Google. It works and performs just fine. No complex setup or configurations are needed. And not to mention how easy it is to use.
I hope you learned something new and exciting about Chrome OS today. Until next time it’s goodbye.
