Learning how to screenshot on Samsung laptop models is easier than most people expect. Samsung’s Galaxy Book lineup runs Windows, so every built-in Windows capture method works here, and Samsung adds a few touches of its own through the Samsung Settings app. Whether you own a Galaxy Book3, Galaxy Book4, or an older Notebook 9, these seven methods cover full-screen captures, single-window shots, partial-area snips, and even scrolling screenshots.
One quirk trips up almost everyone first: on some Galaxy Book models you must hold the Fn key for the Print Screen key to work. This guide covers that and every other gotcha.
Method 1: PrtSc + Paint (Full Screen to Clipboard)
The Print Screen key is the fastest way to copy your entire screen. On most Samsung laptops it sits in the top row, labeled PrtSc, PrtScn, or PrtScrn. On models that share the key with the function row, hold Fn at the same time (Fn + PrtSc).
- Arrange the screen exactly the way you want to capture it.
- Press PrtSc (or Fn + PrtSc).
- Open Paint (press the Windows key, type “Paint”, and open it).
- Press Ctrl + V to paste, then save with Ctrl + S.
This copies the image to your clipboard without saving a file, which is ideal when you want to crop or annotate before saving.
Method 2: Windows + PrtSc (Auto-Save Full Screenshot)
If you take lots of screenshots and hate pasting into Paint every time, Windows + PrtSc is your best friend. It captures the full screen and saves it straight to a file. On some Samsung models, add the Fn key: Windows + Fn + PrtSc.
- Press Windows key + PrtSc (the screen flashes briefly to confirm).
- Open File Explorer and go to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots.
- Your screenshot is there, saved automatically as a PNG.
Samsung laptops name the files Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png, and so on, in the order you take them.
Method 3: Alt + PrtSc (Active Window Only)
When you only need one window, say a Chrome tab or an error dialog, Alt + PrtSc skips the rest of your desktop. It captures just the active window and copies it to the clipboard.
- Click the window you want to capture so it is in the foreground.
- Press Alt + PrtSc.
- Open Paint or Word, press Ctrl + V to paste, and save.
This is the method I reach for most often for tech support screenshots. It keeps your open tabs and taskbar clutter out of the image, which is nicer when you are sending the file to someone.
Method 4: Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + S)
The Snipping Tool is the most flexible built-in option. Press Windows + Shift + S and the screen dims, showing a toolbar with four capture modes:
- Rectangle snip: drag a box around the area you want.
- Freeform snip: draw any shape around what you need.
- Window snip: click a single open window.
- Full-screen snip: grab the whole display.
After you snip, the capture goes to your clipboard and a notification appears. Click it to open the image in the Snipping Tool, where you can crop, highlight, or draw on it before saving. For menus that vanish when you press keys, open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu and use the Delay option. The same shortcut works across brands, as our guide on how to screenshot on HP laptop shows.
Method 5: Xbox Game Bar (Screenshots in Games and Full-Screen Apps)
The Snipping Tool sometimes refuses to work inside full-screen games or video apps. That is where the Xbox Game Bar comes in. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay, then click the camera icon, or just use the shortcut Windows + Alt + PrtSc.
- Launch your game or full-screen app.
- Press Windows + Alt + PrtSc to capture the screen instantly.
- Find your screenshots in This PC > Videos > Captures.
This is handy on Galaxy Book models with discrete graphics, like the Galaxy Book3 Ultra. The Game Bar also records short clips with Windows + Alt + R, a bonus for capturing gameplay moments.
Method 6: Samsung Settings App
Samsung ships its own Settings app on Galaxy Book laptops with a few screen-related options. The layout varies by model year, but the general path is:
- Press the Windows key and type “Samsung Settings” to open the app.
- Look under Advanced features or Keyboard for screenshot and shortcut options.
- Check the function key behavior (Fn Lock), which directly affects whether PrtSc works with or without the Fn key.
If your Print Screen key never seems to do anything, open Samsung Settings first. Switching the Fn key behavior there is often the actual fix, and newer Galaxy Book laptops sync with Samsung’s ecosystem apps if you use a Galaxy phone or tablet alongside the laptop.
Method 7: Third-Party Screenshot Tools
Built-in tools cover most needs, but if you capture screens all day, a dedicated app saves real time. Three free options stand out:
- Greenshot: region, window, and full-screen capture with instant annotation and upload options. Lightweight and open source.
- Lightshot: press one hotkey, drag to select, and get a shareable link immediately. Great for quickly sending screenshots to colleagues.
- ShareX: the most powerful free option, with scrolling captures, screen recording, and custom workflows. Slightly more complex to set up.
A scrolling capture is the one thing Windows cannot do natively, so if you need to capture an entire long webpage in one image, ShareX is the easiest free route.
Where Do Screenshots Go on a Samsung Laptop?
- PrtSc or Alt + PrtSc: clipboard only. Paste into Paint, Word, or an image editor, then save.
- Windows + PrtSc: auto-saved to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots as a PNG. The folder is created after your first successful capture.
- Snipping Tool: clipboard, plus a notification that opens the snip for editing and saving.
- Xbox Game Bar: This PC > Videos > Captures.
If you took a screenshot with Windows + PrtSc and cannot find the Screenshots folder, take one more and check Pictures again. For more on save locations, see our how to screenshot on Lenovo laptop guide.
How to Screenshot on Samsung Laptop When PrtSc Is Not Working
PrtSc key does nothing. On many Galaxy Book models the function row defaults to media keys, so PrtSc only fires when you hold Fn. Try Fn + PrtSc, or change the Fn behavior permanently in Samsung Settings.
Screen dims but no file appears. The Screenshots folder path may have been moved. Search File Explorer for “Screenshot (” to find where the files actually land.
Windows + Shift + S does nothing. Another app may have grabbed that hotkey. Restarting the laptop usually clears the conflict. Make sure you are on Windows 10 or newer.
Screenshot looks black in games. Some games block standard capture at the driver level. Use the Xbox Game Bar (Windows + Alt + PrtSc) instead, or check the game’s settings for a dedicated screenshot key.
FAQ
How do you screenshot on a Samsung Galaxy Book?
Press Windows + PrtSc to auto-save a full-screen screenshot to Pictures > Screenshots. On some models you must hold Fn as well (Windows + Fn + PrtSc). For a custom area, press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool.
Where is the Print Screen key on a Samsung laptop?
It is in the top row of the keyboard, labeled PrtSc, PrtScn, or PrtScrn, usually near F12. On some Galaxy Book models it shares space with a function key, so press Fn + PrtSc.
How do you take a scrolling screenshot on a Samsung laptop?
Windows has no built-in scrolling capture. Install the free app ShareX, which adds scrolling capture, annotation, and automatic saving on any Samsung laptop running Windows 10 or 11.
Why is my screenshot not saving?
If you used PrtSc alone, nothing was saved to a file. The image went to your clipboard and needs to be pasted into Paint or Word. Only Windows + PrtSc auto-saves to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Do Samsung laptops have a built-in screenshot app?
Yes. Windows provides the Snipping Tool and Xbox Game Bar, and Samsung adds its own shortcut and keyboard options through the Samsung Settings app on Galaxy Book laptops.
Conclusion
Screenshotting on a Samsung laptop comes down to picking the right method for the moment. Windows + PrtSc handles quick full-screen captures, Alt + PrtSc grabs a single window, and the Snipping Tool covers everything partial. Remember the Fn key quirk on Galaxy Book keyboards, check Samsung Settings if PrtSc seems dead, and keep ShareX in mind for scrolling captures. Once you know how to screenshot on Samsung laptop models, capturing anything takes about two seconds.
If you work across multiple brands, you might also want our guides on how to screenshot on Acer laptop and how to screenshot on ASUS laptop.
