It isn’t obvious how this can be achieved on a Chromebook – as there’s no ‘Prt Scr’ button on the keyboard – but it’s very easy to take a screenshot. We show you a couple of different ways to take a screenshot on a Chromebook. For more information on what these handy devices have to offer, also read our Can you use a Chromebook as your only laptop? feature.
Can I use a keyboard shortcut to take a screenshot on a Chromebook?
Yes. The fastest way to capture an image of the screen is to use the shortcut key combination already present in ChromeOS. To do this you’ll need to hold down the ctrl key then simultaneously press the Overview key. The latter can be found in the centre of the top row and looks like a square with two vertical lines to its right.
After pressing this you should see a box appear in the bottom right on the screen which shows the image you’ve captured.
If you click on this you’ll be able to edit it, or you can select the Copy to Clipboard option if you want to immediately paste it into an email, message or document.
Are there screen capture apps for Chromebooks?
Yes there are. If you want more control over what parts of the screen you capture, the best route would be to visit the Chrome Web Store and download one of the many dedicated screenshot apps. Nimbus is a good option, as it not only allows you select a specific area of the screen you wish to capture, but there are also provisions for recording video of the screen as well. To use Nimbus, install the extension from the Chrome Store, then right click (or tap the touchpad with two fingers) on the N icon that should now appear in the upper right of your browser window.
A menu will appear from which you should select Nimbus Screenshot>Selected area. Now just highlight the part of the screen you want to capture, click the tick icon when you’re done, and you can save the image to your hard drive or Google Drive account.
It’s also worth experimenting with the various other features Nimbus offers, as it’s a useful little app. If you want to edit your screenshots, or any other images for that matter, then be sure to read How to edit photos on a Chromebook. Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.
