How to Capture Your Screen in Chrome
Visible Screen vs Full Page Screenshot
If you need to capture content below the fold, use full page screenshot mode instead, it automatically scrolls and stitches the entire page. For a specific region, try area capture.Try it now: one click, no sign-up required.
Add to Chrome3 Ways to Get It Done
Method 1: Capture Screen, Capture the Visible Area of the Page
The Capture Screen mode allows you to instantly take a screenshot of the currently visible area in your browser, exactly what you see on the screen at that moment. After capturing, the image automatically opens in the built-in editor. This is the fastest way to take a clean screenshot in Chrome without capturing browser toolbars. Unlike OS-level screenshots, Capture Screen targets only the webpage content, no address bar, bookmarks bar, or system taskbar. The capture happens at your display's native resolution, so Retina and HiDPI screens produce sharp, high-quality images. You can also trigger screen capture via a custom keyboard shortcut for even faster workflows.
- 1Install Capture Full Page from the Chrome Web Store.
- 2Navigate to the page or content you want to capture.
- 3Click the extension icon and select Capture Screen.
- 4The visible part of the page is captured instantly, no scrolling required.
- 5The screenshot opens in the editor, add arrows, text, highlights, step numbers, or other annotations.
- 6Save the image as PNG, export it as PDF, or copy it to the clipboard.
Method 2: Windows Snipping Tool or macOS Screenshot
Operating systems have built-in screen capture tools, but they capture the entire screen (including browser chrome, taskbar, etc.) and have no web-specific features. Unlike Capture Full Page, built-in tools do not include a built-in editor, annotation tools, or direct PDF export.
- 1On Windows: press Win+Shift+S to open Snipping Tool, or PrtScn for the full screen.
- 2On Mac: press Cmd+Shift+4 to select an area, or Cmd+Shift+3 for the full screen.
- 3The screenshot captures everything visible, including browser toolbars, OS taskbar, and other apps.
- 4Paste or save the image, then use a separate editor if you need annotations.
Method 3: Chrome DevTools Screenshot
Chrome DevTools can capture just the viewport without browser chrome, but requires navigating through developer tools.
- 1Press F12 to open DevTools, then Ctrl+Shift+P.
- 2Type "screenshot" and select "Capture screenshot" (not full size).
- 3The visible area is saved as a PNG, no editing or clipboard options.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Capture Full Page | Built-in Tools | Other Extensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture Area mode | Yes, select any region | No | Some |
| Captures web content only | Yes, no browser chrome | No, includes taskbar, toolbars | Some |
| One-click capture | Yes | Yes (keyboard shortcut) | Some |
| Built-in editor | Yes, full annotation suite | Basic (Snipping Tool) | Some (paid) |
| Copy to clipboard | Yes | Yes | Some |
| Export as PDF | Yes | No | Rarely |
| Full page scrolling capture | Yes, automatic | No | Some |
| Retina/HiDPI support | Yes, automatic | Yes | Varies |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Capture Area, Capture Screen, and Capture Full Page?
Can I take a screenshot of only the webpage without browser toolbars?
Can I save a screenshot as PDF in Chrome?
How do I annotate a screen capture in Chrome?
Does Capture Screen work on Retina and HiDPI displays?
Can I capture the screen and paste it directly into an email or chat?
Full Page & Screen Screenshot Chrome Extension
Capture any area, visible screen, or full webpage in one click. Annotate, export as PNG or PDF, or copy instantly.
Add to ChromeRelated Guides
Take a Screenshot in Chrome
Compare 3 ways to take a screenshot in Chrome, extension, DevTools, and OS tools.
Full Page Screenshot in Chrome
One-click full page capture with auto-scroll, sticky element handling, and built-in editor.
Capture Area in Chrome
Select any rectangular area on a web page and capture just that region with one click.
Scrolling Screenshot in Chrome
Capture entire long web pages with automatic scrolling, sticky element handling, and lazy-load support.
Screenshot Editor for Chrome
Built-in screenshot editor with arrows, text, shapes, highlighter, step numbering, and PDF export.
Save Screenshot as PDF
Export any screenshot as a PDF document directly from Chrome, with annotations included.