Linux Screenshot Guide
Linux offers several ways to take screenshots, depending on your desktop environment and preferences. Here are the most common methods.
1. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Most Linux distributions come with default screenshot shortcuts:
GNOME (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
- Full screen: PrtSc
- Current window: Alt + PrtSc
- Select area: Shift + PrtSc
KDE Plasma (Kubuntu, etc.)
- Full screen: PrtSc
- Current window: Alt + PrtSc
- Select area: Shift + PrtSc
2. Using GNOME Screenshot Tool
GNOME's built-in screenshot utility offers more options:
- Open the Activities overview (press Super key)
- Type "Screenshot" and open the application
- Choose between:
- Grab the whole screen
- Grab the current window
- Select area to grab
- Set a delay if needed
- Click "Take Screenshot"
3. Using KDE Spectacle
KDE's advanced screenshot tool (Spectacle):
- Press Meta + Shift + PrtSc
- Or open Spectacle from the application menu
- Choose capture mode:
- Full Screen
- Active Window
- Rectangular Region
- Window Under Cursor
- Configure options like delay, include mouse pointer, etc.
- Click "Take Screenshot"
4. Command Line Methods
Using GNOME Screenshot
gnome-screenshot
Options:
gnome-screenshot -w (current window)
gnome-screenshot -a (select area)
gnome-screenshot -d 5 (5 second delay)
Using ImageMagick (import)
import screenshot.png
Click and drag to select an area
import -window root fullscreen.png
Using scrot
scrot screenshot.png
scrot -u window.png (active window)
scrot -s area.png (select area)
Note: Some of these tools may need to be installed first. For example, on Ubuntu/Debian you can install scrot with:
sudo apt install scrot
Where Screenshots Are Saved
By default, screenshots are saved in your Pictures folder, unless you specify another location.