How To Screenshot On Linux : Linux Print Screen Key Configuration

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Taking a screenshot in Linux can be done with a simple command in the terminal, but you don’t always need to open a black box to capture your screen. Many Linux users wonder how to screenshot on Linux without memorizing complex shortcuts. The answer depends on your desktop environment and what you want to capture. This guide covers every method, from built-in tools to third-party apps, so you can grab screenshots like a pro.

Whether you use Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch, Linux offers multiple ways to capture your screen. Some methods are pre-installed, while others require a quick install. Let’s break down each approach step by step.

How To Screenshot On Linux

Before diving into specific tools, understand the core idea. Most Linux distributions include a screenshot utility by default. The exact steps vary, but the goal is the same: capture your entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area. Below, we cover the most common desktop environments and their built-in shortcuts.

Using The Print Screen Key

The simplest method is pressing the PrtSc (Print Screen) key on your keyboard. This captures the entire screen and saves it as an image file. On many systems, the screenshot goes to your ~/Pictures folder. If nothing happens, your desktop environment might need a different combination.

  • Full screen: Press PrtSc
  • Active window: Press Alt + PrtSc
  • Selected area: Press Shift + PrtSc

These shortcuts work on GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce by default. If they don’t, check your system settings under “Keyboard” or “Shortcuts.”

GNOME Screenshot Tool

GNOME, the default desktop for Ubuntu and Fedora, has a built-in screenshot app. You can launch it from the Activities overview or by pressing Super + Print. The tool offers three modes: Selection, Screen, and Window. You can also set a delay, which is handy for capturing menus or tooltips.

  1. Press Super + Print to open the tool.
  2. Choose “Selection” to drag a rectangle around the area.
  3. Click the camera icon or press Enter to capture.
  4. The screenshot is saved automatically, or you can copy it to clipboard.

For quick edits, GNOME Screenshot includes basic annotation options in recent versions. If you need more, consider using Flameshot or Shutter.

KDE Plasma Spectacle

KDE Plasma comes with Spectacle, a powerful screenshot tool. You can launch it from the application menu or press Print directly. Spectacle lets you capture the entire screen, a rectangular region, or the active window. It also supports recording video in some versions.

  • Open Spectacle: Press Print or find it in the menu.
  • Capture region: Select “Rectangular Region” and drag your mouse.
  • Save or share: Click the floppy disk icon to save, or use the share button.

Spectacle includes an annotation editor, so you can draw arrows or add text before saving. This makes it a one-stop solution for most users.

Xfce Screenshot Utility

Xfce, a lightweight desktop, includes a simple screenshot tool. It’s less feature-rich than Spectacle but gets the job done. Press Print to capture the whole screen, or use the application menu to find “Screenshot.”

  1. Open the Screenshot app from the menu.
  2. Choose “Grab the whole screen” or “Select a region.”
  3. Set a delay if needed (e.g., 5 seconds).
  4. Click “Take Screenshot” to capture.

The tool saves images in PNG format by default. You can change the save location in the settings.

Command Line Methods

If you prefer the terminal, Linux offers several command-line tools for screenshots. The most common is scrot, but import (from ImageMagick) and gnome-screenshot also work. These are perfect for scripting or remote sessions.

Using Scrot

Scrot is a lightweight screenshot tool for the terminal. Install it with sudo apt install scrot (Ubuntu) or sudo dnf install scrot (Fedora). Basic usage:

  • scrot – captures the entire screen
  • scrot -s – lets you select a region
  • scrot -d 5 – adds a 5-second delay

Scrot saves files in the current directory with a timestamp. You can specify a filename: scrot myimage.png.

Using ImageMagick’s Import

ImageMagick is a powerful image suite. Its import command captures screenshots. Install it with sudo apt install imagemagick. Then run:

  1. import screenshot.png – click to capture a window
  2. import -window root screenshot.png – captures the entire screen
  3. import -delay 5 screenshot.png – adds a delay

This method is great for automation. You can combine it with cron jobs for timed captures.

Using Gnome-Screenshot CLI

GNOME’s screenshot tool also has a command-line interface. Use gnome-screenshot with options:

  • gnome-screenshot – captures the whole screen
  • gnome-screenshot -w – captures the active window
  • gnome-screenshot -a – selects an area
  • gnome-screenshot -d 5 – adds a delay

This is handy if you’re already in a GNOME session and want to avoid the GUI.

Third-Party Screenshot Tools

Built-in tools are fine, but sometimes you need more. Third-party apps like Flameshot, Shutter, and Kazam offer advanced features. Here’s a quick overview.

Flameshot

Flameshot is a feature-rich screenshot tool with a user-friendly interface. It allows you to annotate, blur, and share screenshots instantly. Install it with sudo apt install flameshot.

  • Capture region: Launch Flameshot and drag a rectangle.
  • Annotate: Use the toolbar to add arrows, text, or highlights.
  • Save or upload: Save locally or upload to Imgur.

Flameshot runs in the system tray, so you can access it quickly. It’s my personal favorite for daily use.

Shutter

Shutter is an older but still popular tool. It offers editing features like cropping and resizing. Install it from your package manager: sudo apt install shutter.

  1. Open Shutter from the menu.
  2. Click “Selection” to capture a region.
  3. Use the editor to add text or arrows.
  4. Export as PNG, JPEG, or other formats.

Shutter also supports plugins for uploading to image hosts. However, it’s less actively maintained than Flameshot.

Kazam

Kazam is primarily a screen recorder, but it also takes screenshots. Install it with sudo apt install kazam. Launch it and choose “Screenshot” mode.

  • Full screen: Select “Whole Screen” and click “Take Screenshot.”
  • Window: Choose “Window” and click the target window.
  • Area: Pick “Area” and drag a rectangle.

Kazam saves screenshots as PNG files. It’s a good choice if you also need video recording.

Taking Screenshots In Wayland

Wayland is replacing X11 on many Linux systems. Screenshot methods differ slightly because Wayland restricts screen access for security. GNOME and KDE work fine with their built-in tools, but third-party apps may need adjustments.

For Wayland, use grim and slurp for command-line captures. Install them with sudo apt install grim slurp. Then:

  • grim – captures the entire screen
  • grim -g "$(slurp)" – selects a region
  • grim -t jpeg screenshot.jpg – saves as JPEG

Flameshot works on Wayland if you run it with QT_QPA_PLATFORM=wayland flameshot. Otherwise, use the XWayland backend.

Automating Screenshots

Need to take screenshots at intervals? Use a script with scrot or import. For example, this bash script captures a screenshot every 10 seconds:

#!/bin/bash
while true; do
  scrot -d 10 "screenshot_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).png"
  sleep 10
done

Save it as autoscreenshot.sh, make it executable with chmod +x autoscreenshot.sh, and run it. This is useful for monitoring or time-lapse projects.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes screenshots don’t work as expected. Here are common problems and fixes.

  • Nothing happens when I press Print: Check your keyboard shortcuts in system settings. Some distros assign Print to a different action.
  • Screenshots are blank: This often happens on Wayland with older tools. Use Wayland-compatible apps like grim.
  • Can’t find the screenshot file: Look in ~/Pictures or the current directory. Some tools save to clipboard instead.
  • Tool crashes on launch: Update your system or reinstall the tool. Check for missing dependencies.

If all else fails, restart your session or try a different tool. The Linux community is helpful, so search for your specific error.

Editing Screenshots

After capturing, you might want to edit. GIMP is the go-to for advanced editing, but for quick annotations, use Flameshot or Spectacle. For batch processing, use ImageMagick:

  • convert input.png -resize 50% output.png – resizes
  • mogrify -format jpg *.png – converts all PNGs to JPEG
  • composite -gravity center logo.png screenshot.png result.png – adds a watermark

These commands are powerful for automating edits. Combine them with scripts for efficient workflows.

Sharing Screenshots

Once you have your screenshot, you may want to share it. Many tools offer direct upload to Imgur, Dropbox, or other services. Flameshot has a built-in upload button. For command-line sharing, use curl to upload to a file host:

curl -F "file=@screenshot.png" https://file.io

This returns a shareable link. You can also use scp to copy to a server.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Power Users

Customize your shortcuts for maximum efficiency. In GNOME, go to Settings > Keyboard > View and Customize Shortcuts > Screenshots. You can assign any combination. For example:

  • Ctrl + Print – capture to clipboard
  • Super + Shift + S – region capture (like Windows)
  • Alt + Print – active window only

In KDE, use System Settings > Shortcuts. You can even set global shortcuts for third-party apps like Flameshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I take a screenshot in Linux without the Print Screen key?
Use the terminal with scrot or gnome-screenshot. Alternatively, install Flameshot and assign a custom shortcut.

2. What is the best screenshot tool for Linux?
Flameshot is widely recommended for its balance of features and ease of use. For simplicity, the built-in GNOME tool works well.

3. Can I take a screenshot in Linux and save it to clipboard?
Yes. In GNOME, press Ctrl + Print. In KDE, Spectacle has a “Copy to clipboard” option. For terminal, use scrot -c.

4. How do I take a screenshot of a specific window in Linux?
Press Alt + Print to capture the active window. Or use Spectacle’s “Window” mode.

5. Why is my screenshot black on Linux?
This usually happens on Wayland with X11-based tools. Use Wayland-native tools like grim or Flameshot with the Wayland backend.

Now you know multiple ways to capture your screen on Linux. From simple keyboard shortcuts to powerful command-line tools, the choice is yours. Experiment with different methods to find what fits your workflow. Happy screenshotting!