What is Print Screen Key?

Print Screen key is also called PRTSC, Prscr, Prt Scrn, PrtScrn, etc. Print Screen is a key available in most keyboards. this button is used because it can capture the screen and send it to the printer or the computer’s clipboard. In this article, we will understand How to Use the Printscreen Key, Where is the Printscreen key located, and more.

What is a Print Screen Key?

The printscreen key is used to copy and save the screenshot of the current screen to the clipboard which makes it a popular choice for people who need to print their screen and capture the screenshot daily. Printscreen keys can be used for different purposes and it has different combinations with a set of keys for capturing the screenshot of the current display for example, the Macintosh does not contain any print screen key instead, it uses a combination of keys to capture the screenshot.

Printscreen key was originally used in the command line-based operating systems for example, the MS-DOS to copy the content of the current text mode screen’s buffer memory to the printer port (LPT1). by pressing the CTRL key with a combination of the PrtSC or the printscreen key we can turn off the printer echo feature.

Where is the Print Screen Key Located?

Usually, the print screen or PrtSc button is located at the top right corner of the keyboard but depending on the type of the keyboard, manufacturer, and country of origin it can be available at different places as well.

Once you have successfully identified the printscreen key you can start using it without having to install any application or software if you are using Windows or other modern operating systems.

How to Use Print Screen Key in Windows?

Follow the steps to understand how to use the print screen key in Windows:-

Step 1: Find Printscreen Key on Keyboard. The first step is to find the printscreen key on your keyboard, if a user is using a simple keyboard and the keyboard is compatible with Windows then the printscreen key will be on top of the screen.

Step 2: Open the Software. To use the printscreen key in Windows first take a look at where the printscreen key is located then open the window or software that you want to take a screenshot.

Step 3: Capturing the Screen. Once you have opened the software click the printscreen key to capture the entire screen or use the Alt key with the combination of PrtSc to capture only the selected window.

How to Use Print Screen Key in macOS?

macOS computers and laptops do not have a print screen key which is why they use more than one key combination to duplicate the behavior of the printscreen key, following are the steps to printscreen key in macOS:

Step 1: Open the Software or Window. Open the software or display window that you want to take a screenshot of and move to the next step.

Step 2: Use Key Combination to Print. Use the combination of cmd + shift key to select the objects that are present on the screen. you can also use the ⌘ cmd + ⇧ shift + 3 to capture the complete screen without selecting any object.

Conclusion

The printscreen key can be used to print the complete screen or also print only a selected portion of the screen as we wish, it is popular because it allows us to print the screen without having to download any third-party software or application to download and install for printing the screen mainly because the new generation and modern computer operating systems support the feature to print screen only by using this key.

Frequently Asked Questions on Print Screen Key- FAQs

Where is printscreen key located in keyboard?

Printscreen is located in the upper right corner in most of the keyboards but its location can also vary from different layouts of keyboard.

Why printscreen key is used?

Printscreen key is used to print the current window or software screen and capture it as a screenshot just like the smartphones have the screenshot option.

Can printscreen key be used in any software?

Yes, the printscreen key can be used in any particular software such as Microsoft word, photoshop etc. the printscreen is denoted by PrtSc key.