5 ways to screenshot on PC, Windows, MacOS without any tools

A lot of people were confused on how to take a screenshot on the first time using their laptops and are there different ways to do it among laptop brands? ect. Ohosoft will guide you on how to master it without install any other tools. The following screenshot capture methods applies to all types of computers and laptops such as: Dell, HP, ASUS, Macbook, Lenovo, Acer, MSI.

Take screenshot and auto-save it as file

Pros: Fast operation, the image is automatically saved

Cons: Having to remember a combination of keys and impossible to customize after taking a screenshot (inserting texts, notes,ect.)

You probably don’t know that Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 are enable to capture a screenshot and automatically save it in a default file, specifically are:

  • Press Windows + PrtSc (Print Screen) if PrtSc key doesn’t have any letters or characters.
  • If don’t, press Windows + Fn + PrtSc.

To open the folder containing the screenshot, go to My Computer (This PC) > Pictures > Screenshots. All of your screenshots using this method will be saved here.

If you can’t find the PstSc key, it can be changed up a little bit depends on brands, details are shown below

Take screenshot and add text with Paint

Pros: 

  • This method can be applied on all versions of Windows starts from Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10.
  • Enable to Insert texts, images, cut and rotate image

Cons:

  • A litlle bit more complicated to do compared to the method above

At the screen you need to capture, press Print Screen, this key is usually in the top right corner and printed in short of different names such as: PrtScn, Prnt Scrn, Print Scr,…

Press Windows on the keyboard (the key with the window image) then enter Paint in the searching box and open it up.

At Paint display, press  Ctrl + V to paste the previous captured image.

If you just want to take a part of the image, choose Select, select an area on the image by clicking on it and drag. After that, choose the Cut symbol > Ctrl + S (or File > Save) to save the image.

Note: Besides pasting your sceenshots into Paint, this method can help you to directly paste them into any chat window (Messenger, Line, ect.) and you have to use Ctrl + V, of course.

Take screenshot with any window

Pros: 

Enable to capture any window without having to take a fullscreen shot

Cons:

A little bit more complicated to operate compared to the method above (capture the screen, open a screen capture software and save it up.

Press Alt + Print Screen then open Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste the image.

To save it you just have to select File > Save or  Ctrl + S

Take screenshot with Snipping Tool

Pros:  This tool is available on Windows, it’s able to capture any area on the screen (not depending to any size or framework

Cons: Somewhat complicated to operate

Just like Paint, Snipping Tool is installed into all Window versions and it’s fantastic and handy to have. It’s a great loss if you use Window without knowledging it.

Step 1: For Windows 7, Windows 10: open Start and type “Snipping Tool“.

On Windows 8/8.1, move the pointer to the upper right corner, click on the Search icon, type Snipping and click on the Snipping Tool in the results.

Step 2: 

On the display of Snipping Tool, click on the arrow on the right of Mode, you will see 4 options to take a screenshot, choose an option that you want:

  • Free-form Snip: take screenshot freely, the border is the line you choose on the screen
  • Rectangular Snip: Capture the image into a rectangular frame
  • Window Snip: Capture an opening window
  • Full-screen Snip: Capture the whole screen

Take screenshot on Macbook computer (MacOS)

  • Capture the whole screen
  • Press Shift + Command (⌘) + 3 and the image will be auto-save on the main screen
  • Capture a part of optional screen
  • Press Shift + Command + 4, the pointer will change into a cross
  • Move that cross to an area that you want to screenshot, drag it all the way to the wanted area. Meanwhile, hold Shift, Option or Space to change the it moves.
  • When finish choosing the area , release or trackpad. To cancel, press Esc before you release.
  • The image will be saved as a .png file on desktop (main screen)

Capture one menu

  • Click on a wanted menu
  • Press Shift + Command + 4, the pointer will change into a cross
  • Drag to select the menu
  • Release the mouse or trackpad to screenshot. You can also press Esc to cancel
  • Search the image as .png file  on desktop
  • If you just want to capture the content on the menu without the name of the menu, when the pointer change into a cross, press Space, the pointer will change into a camera, move the camera to the menu to highlight it then click or trackpad to capture the menu.