Everyday technology, one step at a time · Updated October 3, 2026
A screenshot is a picture of what is on your screen. It can help you show an error message, keep instructions, or explain what you are seeing without photographing the monitor.
Start with the device you are using. This guide covers Windows 11, iPhone, and Android; the controls differ.
The quick answer
On Windows, press Windows + Shift + S. On an iPhone with Face ID, briefly press the side button and volume up together. On most Android phones, press power and volume down together. Review the result before sending it.
Windows: capture just the useful area
- Open the window or message you want to show.
- Press Windows + Shift + S and choose the rectangle option.
- Drag around the useful area, including the complete error message.
- Open the capture in Snipping Tool to review it. Use Save as if you want an explicitly named copy in a folder you choose.
Current Snipping Tool versions can save automatically to a Screenshots folder; check the app settings rather than assuming where your copy went. You can also open Snipping Tool from Start and select New.
iPhone: use the buttons for your model
For Face ID models, press the side button and volume up at the same time, then release quickly. For models with a Home button, use Home plus the side or top button, depending on the model.
In iOS 26, the screenshot opens with editing and saving controls. Choose where to save it. Older versions may show a temporary corner thumbnail instead. Saved photo screenshots can be found in Photos under Screenshots.
Android: the usual shortcut and alternatives
Press power and volume down together. Open the preview to inspect or edit the picture. Look in Photos or your phone’s Gallery for the Screenshots collection.
If the shortcut does not work, check the manufacturer’s instructions. Some phones have a Screenshot option in a menu or gesture. Some screens deliberately block captures; a blank image does not necessarily mean the phone is broken.
Check what the picture reveals
Look for names, email addresses, private messages, account numbers, and verification codes. Crop them out when they are irrelevant. A translucent highlighter is not reliable redaction; use an opaque edit and inspect the exported image, or take a new screenshot without the sensitive detail.
Keep enough context to make the problem understandable. “It says error” is less useful than the full wording and the app name.
Send and verify the right file
Attach the saved image or use the sharing control, then check the recipient and preview. A screenshot does not copy a clickable link or preserve an editable document. If someone needs the original file, send that instead.
For practice, capture a harmless settings screen, save it with a recognizable name, and reopen it. That confirms the whole process before you need it during a problem.
Screenshot shortcuts at a glance
- Windows: Windows + Shift + S to choose an area.
- iPhone with Face ID: Side button + Volume Up.
- Most Android phones: Power + Volume Down.
If you need to copy words from a message rather than send a picture, try our beginner’s copy-and-paste guide.
Keep learning
Official references
Instructions checked against these official resources. Menus can vary with your device or app version.