How to Screenshot and Screenrecord on Your Laptop

Capturing your screen is an essential skill, whether you need to save an important document, create a tutorial, or troubleshoot technical issues. Fortunately, taking a screenshot on a laptop or using screen recording tools is easier than you think. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best methods and software for screen capture and recording on both Windows and macOS devices.

Depending on your laptop’s operating system, there are multiple ways to capture your screen. Here’s a breakdown of the easiest methods:

Windows offers built-in tools for taking screenshots quickly:

Print Screen (PrtScn) Key: Pressing PrtScn copies the entire screen to the clipboard. Paste it (Ctrl + V) into Paint or another editing tool to save.

Windows + Shift + S: Opens Snip & Sketch, allowing you to capture a specific area and edit the screenshot.

Windows + PrtScn: Takes a full-screen screenshot and automatically saves it in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.

Snipping Tool: A built-in app that lets you capture freeform, rectangular, window, or full-screen snips with annotation options.

MacBooks have straightforward commands for screen capture:

Command + Shift + 3: Takes a full-screen screenshot and saves it to your desktop.

Command + Shift + 4: Lets you select a specific area to capture.

Command + Shift + 5: Opens the screen capture toolbar, offering options to screenshot or record the screen.

For Chromebook users, the process differs slightly. Check out our dedicated guide on [how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook] for step-by-step instructions tailored to ChromeOS.  

If you need more than just a screenshot, screen recording tools let you capture video footage of your screen, making them ideal for tutorials, presentations, or gameplay.

Xbox Game Bar (Built-in): Press Windows + G to open the Xbox Game Bar and start recording. Best for gaming and basic screen capture.

Snipping Tool (Windows 11 Update): Includes a screen recording feature in addition to screenshots.

PowerPoint: Go to Insert > Screen Recording to capture and embed recordings into slides.

QuickTime Player (Built-in): Open QuickTime, go to File > New Screen Recording, and choose to record your entire screen or a selected portion.

Command + Shift + 5: Opens the screen recording toolbar, where you can select recording options.

If built-in tools don’t meet your needs, consider these third-party screen capture and recording tools:

Advanced screenshot and recording features

Editing tools for annotations

Scrolling screenshot capture

Free and open-source

Best for high-quality screen recording and live streaming

Customizable settings for advanced users

Free and lightweight

Supports GIF creation and advanced screen capture

Includes annotation and editing tools

Ideal for team collaboration and remote work

Cloud-based screen recording with easy sharing

Basic free version available

Professional-grade video editing and screen recording

Best for creating tutorials and presentations

Includes built-in animations and effects

Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on a laptop or recording your screen is simple with built-in shortcuts and dedicated screen recording tools. Whether you use Windows or macOS, there are multiple ways to capture what’s on your screen efficiently. If you need more advanced features, third-party software like Snagit, OBS Studio, and Loom can enhance your experience.

By using these methods, you’ll always be prepared to capture and share important moments on your laptop.