A screenshot is basically a snapshot of what is on your computer screen at the moment. Being able to take a screenshot is a valuable tool as it allows you to capture errors that may be difficult to replicate for a help desk technician.


For Mac, you can take a screenshot of your entire desktop, just a selection of the desktop, or a window on the desktop.   Before taking a screenshot, make sure all the windows you want to capture are fully visible.


To capture the entire desktop

  1. Press Command + Shift + 3 on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot will be saved as a file on your desktop named "Picture 1."


To capture a selection

  1. Press Command + Shift + 4 on your keyboard.
  2. The cursor will turn into a cross-hairs icon, and you can then click and drag the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the screenshot will be taken. It will appear on your desktop named "Picture 1."


To capture a window

  1. Press Command + Shift + 4 on your keyboard.  You can use your mouse to create a box around what you want to capture. You will hear a shutter sound and your image will appear on your desktop.
  2. Press the spacebar. The cross-hairs icon will turn into a camera.  Press the space bar again to undo.
  3. Move the camera icon onto a window or object on your screen. The window or object will turn green when selected.
  4. With the window highlighted, press the mouse button to capture the screenshot. It will appear on your desktop named "Picture 1."



For Windows, you can take a screenshot of your entire desktop or just the active window. This screenshot can be saved as an image file.

Before taking a screenshot, make sure all the windows you want to capture are fully visible.


To capture your entire desktop

  1. Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. (This button is usually located above and to the right of the function keys and may be labeled PrtSc.) Pressing this button saves the screenshot to the computer's memory.
  2. Now you need to open an application to paste the screenshot.  Open Word, Email, or some graphic application such as Paint.
  3. Press CTRL + V to paste the screenshot into the application window.


To capture just the active window

  1. Click on the window to bring it to the front (thus making it the active window).
  2. Hit ALT + PrtSc on your keyboard.

  3. Now you need to open an application to paste the screenshot. Open Word, Email, or some graphic application such as Paint.

  4. Press CTRL + V to paste the screenshot into the application window.