Taking a screenshot is helpful in many situations. You can capture a screenshot of an issue you have to show to your friend or a support representative, capture a text you found on a website or a book, take a screenshot out of a video clip, etc.
If you’re using an HP computer, it’ll probably run Windows, but many HP laptops also have Chrome OS. Moreover, HP tablets run on either Windows or Android. Follow below to get the easiest methods for taking screenshot on HP device.
Top Methods To Take a Screenshot on an HP Computer Running Windows
- PrntScr (Keyboard Shortcut)
- Snipping Tool
- Snip & Sketch
- Game Bar
- Third-Party Screenshot Tools
1. PrntScr (Keyboard Shortcut)
This is the tried and tested method of taking screenshots on any version of Windows on HP computers and all other brands. Follow these steps to take screenshots with the PrntScr method:
- Go to the window/video you want to capture and press PrntScr (Print Screen key) on your keyboard. It’s located in the uppermost row on your keyboard. Mostly, the PrntScr key is in the center of the Insert and Delete keys. If only pressing the PrntScr doesn’t work, press the Function key + PrntScr or the Windows key + PrntScr. You can also try ALT + PrntScr to capture the active window.
- The screenshot is saved on the Pictures folder of the user account. If not, look for the Screenshots folder within the Pictures folder.
- Be advised that nothing appears on your screen when the screenshot is taken. So, if you’re new to this method, you may need to go to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots to confirm that the screenshot is captured.
Its benefit is that it instantly takes a screenshot of what’s on your computer’s screen when you press the keys. It takes a screenshot even when you’re in a full-screen mode, such as watching a video or playing a game.
Moreover, with PrntScr, the screenshot is instant. You don’t need to wait for an application to open that would allow you to capture a screen. So, it’s the preferred method for people who want to take screenshots instantly or who have to capture many screenshots in a short amount of time.
The only downside of the PrntScr method of taking screenshots is that it doesn’t allow you to select what to capture. It captures the screenshot of the whole screen when you press the keys.
If you want to select the screen area to capture, use Methods 2 and 3.
2. Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a native Windows application for taking screenshots.
- Open the Start menu, type ‘snipping tool,’ and open the app.
- A small application will open. You can click the ‘New’ button if you’re in a hurry. The default settings allow you to take screenshots in variations of a rectangle. The whole screen will get a white overlay. (But if you have time to explore options, click the ‘Mode’ button and choose the screenshot selection method).
- Click and drag your mouse to select the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse button, the selected area will be captured.
- You’ll get a window with the freshly taken screenshot and a few editing options.
- If you don’t want to edit anything, click the save button (floppy disk icon) in the toolbar, choose the location to save the screenshot, and click OK.
- But if you want to write something on it or erase something, use the Pen and Eraser tools in the toolbar. If you want to do more editing, you can click the colored balloon icon in the toolbar to edit it with Microsoft Paint 3D.
- The images are saved as PNG by default. If you want to change the format, you can click the drop-down menu to select the image format you desire when saving the screenshot. You have the options of JPG, PNG, GIF, and MHT. The most popular formats are JPG and PNG.
- You can open the saved file with image editing applications if you want more editing options.
An advantage of using the Snipping Tool is that it lets you choose the selection area and save the screenshot in your desired folder. This isn’t possible with the PrntScr method.
The Snipping Tool’s disadvantage for taking screenshots is that it can’t capture everything. It can’t take a screenshot of a full-screen game or video without going to the windowed mode.
Moreover, you can’t capture certain menus and options that disappear when you click elsewhere. For example, if you want to take a screenshot of your right-click menu on the desktop, you’ll right-click on the desktop to bring up the menu, but when you open Snipping Tool, the right-click menu will disappear. If you’re having this kind of trouble, use Method 1 and 3 for taking screenshots.
3. Snip & Sketch
This is currently the best screenshot tool Microsoft offers pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11. It’s a better version of Snipping Tool as it doesn’t have the flaws of Snipping Tool. But if you like Snipping Tool, it’s pre-installed on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
Here’s how to use Snip & Sketch:
- Open the Start menu, type ‘snip & sketch,’ and open the app.
- When the app opens, click the ‘New’ button at the top left corner to take a new snip. Alternatively, you can press the Windows logo key + SHIFT + S on your keyboard to get Snip & Sketch ready for taking a screenshot without even having first to open the Snip & Sketch app.
- For taking any screenshot, you’ll see the option to take a rectangular snip, free-form snip, window snip, or full-screen snip. If you don’t select any and directly select the area, it’ll use the rectangular screenshot, the most effective option.
- Click and drag the pointed cursor to take a screenshot. Release the mouse button when you have selected the screenshot area.
- The screenshot will be saved in the clipboard to access it from your notification area.
- The new screenshot will open in Snip & Sketch, where you can edit and save it.
- When saving, you can select the screenshot’s name, location (folder), and format (JPG, PNG).
Snip & Sketch has many advantages, and most HP users prefer it for taking screenshots:
- It lets you select the portion of your screen you want to capture.
- You can select the screenshot name, location, and format.
- Easy editing options for the screenshot.
- Snip & Sketch can take screenshots when you’re in full-screen mode. Just press the Windows key + SHIFT + S and take a screenshot while in full-screen mode.
- It lets you take screenshots of menus and options that disappear when you click elsewhere. This feature isn’t in Snipping Tool, but Snip & Sketch has it. For example, if you want to capture your right-click menu on the desktop, right-click to display the menu, press the Windows key + SHIFT + S, select the area for the screenshot, and save it.
4. Game Bar
Windows 10 and onwards have an interesting in-built screen-capturing tool – Game Bar. As the name suggests, it’s focused on screen recording for gaming, but anyone can use it as a screenshot tool.
Note: Game Bar is a resource-heavy app, so it might not work well if your laptop specifications are modest. But its screenshot option works on any laptop and desktop.
- Click the Start menu, type ‘
game bar‘, and open the app. - You’ll see the Game Bar widgets on your screen. Click the camera icon at the top-left widget to take a screenshot.
- You’ll get a notification that the screenshot is saved. By default, it’s saved on This PC > Videos > Captures.
The advantage of Game Bar is that it lets you quickly take a screenshot of any screen (but preferably a full-screen game while screen recording).
As it’s focused on gaming, you don’t get many great options that are in Snip & Sketch, such as:
- Game Bar doesn’t let you select the area to take a screenshot of.
- It doesn’t give any option to select your screenshot’s name, location, and format.
- You don’t get editing options after capturing the screen.
5. Third-Party Screenshot Tools
Capturing a screenshot is a simple process, so many free applications for Windows offer it. Some only offer screen capturing, while others also include screen recording.
Although the native screenshot apps on Windows are excellent, if you want more options or want to experiment, use these steps to get third-party screenshot tools on your HP laptop:
- Open your web browser.
- Search on Google ‘free screenshot tools for Windows’.
- Go through different options and install a few apps to find the correct one for you.
How To Take a Screenshot on an HP Chromebook (Chrome OS)?
- Screen Capture Tool
- Quickly Take Screenshot of the Whole Active Window
1. Screen Capture Tool
Google offers the native option, Screen Capture, to take screenshots easily on your Chromebook. It’s a screenshot tool similar to Snip & Sketch without the editing tools.
- Press CTRL + SHIFT + Show Windows keys on your keyboard to see the Screen Capture Tool appear on the screen to capture a screen.
- If you can’t remember the keyboard shortcut, click the time at the bottom right corner of the screen to open the menu and select ‘Screen Capture.’ Click the down-arrow near the settings icon to reveal more options if it isn’t visible.
- The screen will be dimmed, and you’ll see a floating Screen Capture tool.
- The toolbar offers the option to capture a screen or record a video. By default, it’s a screen capture. Moreover, you get options to do a full-screen capture, a user-defined rectangular capture, or active window capture.
- The default is the rectangular selection option. You can click and drag the crosshair cursor to select the screenshot area and release the mouse button.
- You’ll get a notification that the screenshot is saved.
- To open the screenshot, go to your Downloads folder.
The Screen Capture tool lets you choose the area you want to capture and automatically saves your screenshot. But it doesn’t offer editing options. Moreover, it also doesn’t provide the option to select the screenshot’s name, location, and format.
2. Quickly Take Screenshot of the Whole Active Window
If you like the PrntScr method on Windows and want to have something similar on your HP Chromebook, you have an easy shortcut.
- Press the CTRL + Show Windows keys on your keyboard to capture your window.
- It’ll be saved to your Downloads folder.
How To Capture a Screenshot on HP Tablets?
- Taking a Screenshot on an HP Tablet Running Windows
- Taking Screenshots on an Android-Powered HP Tablet
1. Taking a Screenshot on an HP Tablet Running Windows
If you’re using a tablet running Windows, it can take screenshots just as a Windows laptop or desktop does. So, you can use the methods discussed in the first section:
- Snipping Tool
- Snap & Sketch
- Game Bar
- Third-party apps
Moreover, you can also take a screenshot instantly by pressing the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time on your HP tablet. This method takes a screenshot of your entire screen.
2. Taking Screenshots on an Android-Powered HP Tablet
Capturing screenshots on an HP tablet running Android is similar to any Android smartphone.
2.1 Use the Power and Volume Buttons
If you want to capture the entire screen of your tablet, use this method:
- Press the Power and Volume Down buttons at once.
- A screenshot will be captured.
- Depending on your Android version, it’ll be directly saved in your Gallery, or you’ll get a pop-up where you can edit the image before saving it.
2.2 Capture Screen by Accessing the Screenshot Tool from the Notification Center
Some people don’t like the above method because pressing both buttons simultaneously is a hassle. If you’re one of them, follow these steps:
- Bring the screen you want to capture.
- Swipe down from the top and select the Screenshot button.
- It’ll take a screenshot of your screen. You may get a pop-up where you can edit the image before saving it.
2.3 Install Third-party Screenshot Apps
If you want more features like the option to select the portion of the screen to capture, you can look for screenshot apps on the Google Play Store:
- Open Google Play Store.
- Type ‘screenshot app’ and search.
- Install a few of them to select the right one. Then, uninstall all others.
Conclusion
Capturing screenshots on HP laptops, desktop computers, and tablets is the simplest of tasks. On Windows, you have multiple options, whereas on Chromebook, you have the default Screen Capture app.