The default method for taking screenshots on Chromebooks is to use Ctrl + Show Windows for full-screen screenshots and Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows for partial screenshots. But what if the Show Windows key doesn’t work or you don’t want to use the keyboard to take screenshots? In this case, you can use alternative methods to take screenshots on Chromebooks without using the Windows key. Let’s see them.
Table of Contents
To take a screenshot on Chrome OS without the Windows key
1. use quick settings
All Chromebooks, whether they are from Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, etc. offer a screenshot button in the quick settings. Here’s how to use it.
- Click the time in the lower right corner of the Chromebook shelf.
- The quick settings menu appears. Click the up arrow to expand the menu. 3. Click the up arrow to expand the menu.
- The Screen Capture button appears. Click on it.
- The screenshot toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen. Press the screenshot button to select it. Alternatively, press the screen capture button if you want to capture the screen.
- When the screenshot button is selected, you can take the following three types of screenshots:
- Full Page Screenshot: Capture everything visible on the screen.
- Partial Screen: You can select an area to capture.
- Window Screenshot: Captures only the active window.
Select the desired option from the toolbar. The image is captured, copied to your clipboard, and saved to your Chromebook. 2. Select the desired option from the toolbar.
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2. use the physical buttons
If you have a convertible Chromebook, tablet, or 2-in-1, you can take a screenshot just like on a smartphone. In other words, press the Power + Volume Down keys simultaneously to take a screenshot in full-screen mode. Note that the volume key is different from the volume keys on your keyboard. The volume key is located on the right or left side of the Chromebook.
Also, you cannot take a partial screenshot with this method. You will need to edit and crop the screenshot later using an image editor.
3. using Chrome
If you want to take a screenshot of web pages, you can use Chrome’s built-in screenshot tool. The downside of this method is that you cannot use it to take screenshots outside the Chrome browser.
To use this method, do the following. 1. Open Chrome:
- Open Chrome and press the three dots icon at the top.
- go to More tools and then Take a screenshot.
The screen will go dark and a screenshot will be taken. You will receive a notification. The screenshot can be accessed from the clipboard.
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4. Using the pen
If your Chromebook supports a stylus, you can use it to take a screenshot without the Windows key.
Click the pencil icon on the Chromebook’s taskbar, also known as the tray. A menu will open. Click Capture Screen to take a full-page screenshot, or select Capture Area to capture a portion of the screen.
5. Using the external keyboard
The Chromebook keyboard is slightly different than a regular external keyboard. For example, you won’t find the Show Window button there. If you want to take a screenshot with an external keyboard that doesn’t come with Chrome OS, you should use the following key combinations:
- Ctrl + F5 for a full screenshot
- Ctrl + Shift + F5 for a partial screen dump
6. Using the Google Assistant
You can also ask Google Assistant to take a screenshot of your Chromebook. To do this, first, activate the Google Assistant on your Chromebook by saying Hey Google. Then say the command “Take a screenshot”. The notification of the captured screenshot will appear on the screen.
In order to be able to use this function, Google Assistant must be activated on your device. To do this, go to Chromebook Settings > Search & Assistant > Google Assistant. Toggle the switch next to Off to enable it. Also, select Always next to the Hey Google drop-down box. You may need to train your voice.
Note: The “Hey Google” feature only works when the Chromebook is charged.
Alternatively, you can activate Google Assistant by clicking the Assistant icon in the search bar when you open Chromebook search. Type or say Take a screenshot.
7. Use Chrome Extensions
If the above methods of taking a screenshot on your Chromebook without a Windows key aren’t enough, you can also resort to Chrome extensions. These can be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store.
Some easy-to-use free screenshot apps for Chromebook are:
- LightShot
- fire shot
- Nimbus screen
- Fantastic screenshot
Although these applications are designed for taking screenshots within the Chrome browser, some of them allow you to select any open window to take a screenshot. Besides, most of these extensions also allow you to take a screenshot while scrolling.
