How to take a screenshot on your phone or computer

Before you start

• Open the screen you want to capture, such as an error message or a page you want to keep.
• Close anything private that you don't want in the picture, such as messages or bank details.
• On a phone, find the buttons on the sides before you start, so you can press them at the same moment.

0 of 3 done. Ticking just helps you keep track; nothing is saved or sent.

Steps

On an iPhone or iPad

1. 1

   Press two buttons at the same time

   On an iPhone without a Home button, press the side button and the volume up button together, then let go straight away. On an iPhone with a Home button, press the side (or top) button and the Home button together.

2. 2

   Look for the small preview

   A thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner. Tap it to crop or mark up the screenshot, or swipe it away to save it as it is.

3. 3

   Find it in the Photos app

   Screenshots are saved in your photo library. You can also search Photos for "screenshots".

On an Android phone or tablet

1. 1

   Press the power and volume down buttons at the same time

   Let go as soon as the screen flashes or you hear a camera sound. On some phones you can also find a Screenshot button in the quick settings panel when you swipe down from the top.

2. 2

   Use the toolbar if you want to

   A small preview or toolbar appears for a few seconds, with options to edit or share.

3. 3

   Find it in your Photos or Gallery app

   It's usually in a Screenshots album or folder.

On a Windows 11 laptop or PC

1. 1

   Press the Windows key, Shift and S together

   The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top.

2. 2

   Choose what to capture

   Drag a box around the part you want, or pick the full screen option from the toolbar.

3. 3

   Find your screenshot

   It's copied so you can paste it into an email or document, and Windows 11 normally also saves it in your Pictures folder, inside Screenshots.

To capture the whole screen straight to that folder, press the Windows key and Print Screen together. On some laptops the Print Screen key is marked PrtSc and you may also need to hold the Fn key.

On a Mac

1. 1

   Press Shift, Command and 3 together for the whole screen

2. 2

   Or press Shift, Command and 4 to choose an area

   Drag across the part you want, then let go.

3. 3

   Find it on your desktop

   Screenshots are saved there by default, with names that start with Screenshot and include the date and time.

For more choices, press Shift, Command and 5 together to open the Screenshot toolbar. Its Options menu shows where screenshots are being saved.

Where your screenshot is saved

If this happens

• The phone locks, shows the power menu or starts Siri

  You held the buttons too long or pressed one first. Press both at exactly the same time and let go quickly.

• The volume changes instead

  Press the buttons together, not one after the other. It can take a couple of tries.

• You see a message that screenshots aren't allowed

  Some banking, payment and streaming apps block screenshots for security. This is normal.

• Your Windows keyboard has no Print Screen key

  Use the Windows key, Shift and S instead, or search the Start menu for Snipping Tool.

• You can't find a Mac screenshot

  Press Shift, Command and 5, then open Options to see the save location.

Things to be careful about

• Check a screenshot before you share it. Screenshots can show names, addresses, messages and account details you didn't mean to include. Crop them out first.

• Never send a screenshot of a security code. Nobody genuine will ask for a picture of a one-time code, password or card details.

• Tidy up old screenshots. They take up storage. On an iPhone, see how to free up storage on your iPhone.