Understanding the Keyboard Layout
Before we dive into how to take screenshots on your Chromebook, it’s important to understand the keyboard layout. The Chromebook keyboard looks similar to a traditional laptop keyboard you might be used to, but with some slight differences. One of the major differences is the iconography. Instead of a Windows key or Command key, you’ll see a search key. This key will take you to your Chromebook’s app launcher and is an important button to know when taking screenshots.
Another key difference is the placement of the Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys. Instead of being on the left side of the keyboard, they are placed on either side of the search key. The placement of these keys is important when taking screenshots, as you’ll need to use them to access the different screenshot shortcuts.
It’s also important to note that Chromebooks come in different sizes and with different keyboard layouts. Some models may have a smaller keyboard or a different placement of keys. Make sure to check your specific Chromebook model to understand its layout.
One helpful tip when using the Chromebook keyboard is to utilize the Chrome OS software keyboard. This keyboard can be accessed by clicking on the keyboard icon in the system tray or using the shortcut “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “Alt” + “k”. This can be especially helpful when trying to locate specific keys or symbols.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of the Chromebook keyboard layout, we can move onto the different methods for taking screenshots.
Capturing a Full-Screen Screenshot
If you want to capture everything on your Chromebook screen in one single shot, there is an easy way to do this with just a few keyboard clicks. Simply press the “Ctrl” and “Switch window” keys simultaneously. The “Switch window” key is located on the top row of the keyboard, just above the “6” and “7” keys. It’s a button that looks like a rectangle with two lines on the right side. When you press both keys, the entire screen will be captured and saved to your Chromebook’s Downloads folder.
If you want to make sure the screenshot was captured successfully, go to your Downloads folder by clicking on the Launcher icon in the bottom left corner of your screen, then clicking on the “Files” app. From there, you can scroll through your files to find the screenshot you just took. You can also rename the file, delete it, or share it with others as you would with any other file.
Keep in mind that this method will capture everything on your Chromebook screen, including any open windows or tabs you have. If you only want to capture a specific area of your screen, you can follow the steps in the next section to capture a partial screenshot.
Capturing a Partial Screenshot with Snipping Tool
If you want to capture a specific part of your screen, the Snipping Tool is your go-to tool. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Click on the Launcher in your Chromebook’s taskbar. Type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar.
Step 2: Click on the Snipping Tool app from the search results that appear.
Step 3: Once the tool opens, you’ll be asked to select the area of the screen you want to capture. To do that, click and drag your cursor to create a rectangle around the area you want the screenshot from.
Step 4: The image you selected will be displayed by the Snipping Tool, and you’ll have the option to annotate it, use a highlighter or a pen to circle or emphasize a specific detail, or crop it if needed.
Step 5: Click on the floppy disk icon in the upper left corner of the Snipping Tool window to save your snip to your computer, or you can click on the copy icon if you want to paste the selected part to another app, then paste it to a message, email, or any other document editor.
Keep in mind that you can also use keyboard shortcuts to take advantage of Snipping Tool, but before doing so, you need to enable it first. To do that, go to your Chromebook’s Settings page, click on the Devices tab, then select the Keyboard option, and finally, enable the “Use the Print Screen key to launch screen snipping” toggle. Once enabled, you can press the Ctrl + Alt + S keys to launch the Snipping Tool.
Changing the Destination Folder for Screenshots
By default, Chromebook saves all screenshots in the Downloads folder. However, if you want to keep your screenshots organized, you can easily change the destination folder for screenshots on your Chromebook. Here’s how:
1. First, open the Files app on your Chromebook. You can do this by clicking on the Launcher button at the bottom of the screen and then clicking on the Files app icon.
2. Next, click on the three lines icon at the top left corner of the app and then click on “Downloads”.
3. Once you are in the Downloads folder, click on the three dots icon at the top right corner of the app and then click on “Change folder”.
4. A pop-up window will appear asking you to select a new folder for your screenshots. Choose the folder where you want your screenshots to be saved and then click on “Open”.
5. That’s it! From now on, all of your screenshots will be saved in the folder you selected.
Changing the destination folder for screenshots on your Chromebook is a simple but useful feature that can help keep your screenshots organized and easily accessible. If you frequently take screenshots on your Chromebook, we recommend giving this feature a try!
Editing Screenshots with the Built-In Image Editor
If you’re looking to make some quick edits to your screenshots, you’ll be happy to know that Chromebook comes with a built-in image editor. Before editing, make sure to open the image you want to edit in the built-in image editor.
The image editor comes with a variety of useful tools to help you enhance your screenshots. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things you can do with it:
1. Cropping: The cropping tool allows you to remove unwanted parts of an image. Just click on the crop icon in the toolbar, and then drag the edges of the crop box to select the area you want to keep. Once you’re satisfied with your selection, click “crop” to save your changes.
2. Resizing: The resizing tool allows you to change the size of an image. To access this tool, click on the “resize” icon in the toolbar. You can then enter the new dimensions you want or use the slider to adjust the size. Once you’re done, click “resize” to save your changes.
3. Annotation: Annotation tools let you add text, shapes, lines, and arrows to your image. You can use these tools to highlight something on the image or add a caption to describe it. Click on the “annotate” icon in the toolbar to access these tools.
4. Color adjustments: With the color adjustment tools, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and other aspects of the image. These tools can help you make the image more vibrant or bring out more details. Click on the “adjust” icon in the toolbar to access these tools.
5. Filters: The image editor comes with several preset filters that let you change the mood or tone of your image. You can choose from a variety of options, such as black and white, sepia, and more. Click on the “filter” icon in the toolbar to access these filters.
Once you’ve made the desired edits, click on the “save” icon in the toolbar to apply the changes and save the image to your Chromebook. From there, you can share it or use it as needed.