Print Screen
How the Print Screen key works on Windows, its variations, and when to use dedicated screenshot tools instead.
Print Screen (often labeled PrtScn, PrtSc or Print) is a key on PC keyboards that captures the screen. The name comes from early PCs, where the key sent the text on screen to a printer. On modern Windows systems it captures an image instead.
Mac keyboards have no Print Screen key. macOS uses Shift+Command+3 for the full screen, Shift+Command+4 for a selected area and Shift+Command+5 for the screenshot toolbar. A PC keyboard connected to a Mac does not map Print Screen to any of these by default.
How Print Screen works
On Windows, pressing the key copies an image of every connected display to the clipboard. Nothing is saved to disk. The image can then be pasted into Paint, a document or a chat. Recent Windows versions can instead open the Snipping Tool when the key is pressed; this depends on a keyboard setting.
Print Screen variations
- Print Screen: copy all screens to the clipboard.
- Alt+Print Screen: copy only the active window.
- Windows logo key+Print Screen: save a full-screen PNG to the Screenshots folder in Pictures.
- Windows logo key+Shift+S: open the snipping bar to choose an area, window or screen.
- On many laptops the key shares space with another function and needs the Fn key.
Print Screen vs dedicated screenshot tools
Print Screen is fast for one image. It has no annotation, no delay, no automatic file naming and no way to capture a sequence. Dedicated tools add area selection, timers, editors, export formats and automation. The right choice depends on whether the task is one capture or many.
Common mistakes
- Pressing Print Screen and expecting a file, when the image only went to the clipboard.
- Copying something else before pasting, which replaces the screenshot.
- Capturing all monitors when only one window was needed.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot Auto Capture (Command+1) saves a screenshot, sends an optional key and waits the interval, then repeats. See automated capture.
Common questions
What is the Mac equivalent of Print Screen?
Shift+Command+3 saves the full screen. Add Control, as in Control+Shift+Command+3, to copy it to the clipboard like Print Screen on Windows.
Where do Print Screen captures go?
To the clipboard. With the Windows logo key added, a PNG file is also saved to the Screenshots folder.
Sources
Related resources
- Navigation and shortcuts: Temposhot keyboard shortcuts.
- Quick start: first automated capture on a Mac.
- Screenshot annotation tool: mark up a capture in the browser.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- Screenshot ShortcutCommon screenshot keyboard shortcuts across platforms and how to customize them.
- Snipping ToolHow Windows Snipping Tool works, snip types explained, and how it compares to third-party screenshot tools.
- Screenshot ClipboardHow screenshot clipboard capture works, when to use clipboard vs file save, and platform differences.
- Screen CaptureWhat screen capture means, the different capture methods, and how to choose the right one.