For an Android device:
The method can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer and Android version, but the general steps are the same:
1. Go to the screen you want to capture.
2. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
3. Hold both buttons for about a second, and you should see a brief onscreen animation, or hear a capturing sound which indicates that the screenshot has been taken.
On some Android devices, you may need to use the Power button and the Home button instead. Some newer models (like Samsung devices) have a screenshot option in the quick settings panel, which you can access by swiping down from the top of the screen.
Also, some Android devices may support additional gestures to capture screenshots, such as palm swipe.
For an iPhone:
*If you have an iPhone with Face ID (like iPhone X, XS, 11, 12, 13 series, and so on)*
1. Go to the screen you want to capture.
2. Press and hold the Side button on the right side of the iPhone.
3. Immediately click the Volume Up button on the left side and then release the buttons.
*A quick press and release is enough. Don't hold them for long, as it could trigger other functions like the "Slide to power off" or the Emergency SOS.*
*If you have an iPhone with a Home button (like iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, 8 series)*
1. Go to the screen you want to capture.
2. Press and hold the Side (or Top) button.
3. Immediately click the Home button, then release the Side (or Top) button.
After taking the screenshot, you'll see a thumbnail image of the screenshot appear in the lower-left corner of your device. You can tap it to open and edit, or swipe it off the screen to save it.
**On Windows:**
1. **Print Screen Method:** Press the "PrtScn" button on your keyboard. This will take a screenshot of the entire screen and copy it to your clipboard. You can then paste it (Ctrl+V) into any application that can display images (like Microsoft Paint, Word, or an email).
2. **Snipping Tool:** Open the Snipping Tool (you can search for it in the Start menu). Click on "New" and select the area of the screen you want to capture. You can then save the image or copy it to your clipboard.
3. **Snip & Sketch Tool:** Press "Windows key + Shift + S" to open the snip & sketch tool. You can then select the area you want to capture. This will copy the image to your clipboard and you can paste it into an image or document editor.
4. **Windows Key + Print Screen:** If you want to take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it as a file on the hard drive, without using any other tools, then hit the "Windows key + PrtScn" key. Windows will capture the entire screen and save it as a file in the Screenshots folder (which is in your Pictures folder).
**On MacOS:**
1. **Full Screen Screenshot:** Press "Command + Shift + 3" to take a screenshot of the entire screen. The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
2. **Portion of the Screen Screenshot:** Press "Command + Shift + 4" and then drag the crosshair to select the area you wish to capture. Release your mouse or trackpad button to capture that area. The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
3. **Screenshot of a Window:** Press "Command + Shift + 4", and then press the "Spacebar". The cursor will turn into a camera, and you can move it around the screen. As you move the cursor over an application window, the window will be highlighted. The entire window does not need to be visible for you to capture it. Click your mouse or trackpad to capture the highlighted window. The screenshot will be saved to your desktop.
Note: On MacOS, you can control where your screenshots get saved by going to the screenshot app (Command + Shift + 5) and selecting "Options", then choosing a different folder.
Remember, the quickest way to access a screenshot after you capture it is to look at your desktop on MacOS, or to paste it into an application that can display images on Windows. You can also navigate to the folder where it was saved.