We’ve all been there: you’re watching a video online and suddenly see a frame that you want to capture as a still image. You might see a funny face that you want to save to your collection of meme-able images or spot an interesting detail in the background that you want to share with friends or fellow fans of a streaming series. Regardless of your reason, you will need a snipping tool in order to take a screenshot of the video that you’re watching. But do you know how to screenshot a video?
The best screenshot tools for video will let you screenshot video on all popular video platforms, such as YouTube, Netflix, and HBO Max. They will also let you annotate screenshots so that you can caption scenes or highlight hidden objects. Finally, the best screenshot tools make it easy to share your video screenshots with others whether you’re on a desktop or mobile device.
Of course, before you can annotate a screenshot or send it to your friends, first you need to know how to screenshot a video! In this article, we will cover how to screenshot a video on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. We will go over the best screenshot tools for each device. Finally, we will discuss how to annotate and share your screenshot.
How to Screenshot a Video on Mac and Windows
On both Mac and Windows, you can use a screenshot app to take a screenshot of a video. There are screenshot tools that will work on both systems. There are also native snipping tools for both Mac and Windows. Here’s how to screenshot a video using each method.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
While watching a video on your Mac, you can take a screenshot using Mac’s keyboard shortcuts. You can press Shift + Command + 3 to take a full screenshot or Shift + Command 4 to take a partial screenshot. You get to drag the crosshairs to determine which section of the screen to capture. While watching a video on your Mac, you can use these keyboard shortcuts at any time to capture an image of the video. However, you can’t annotate screenshots using this method.
On Windows, you can open up Windows Snipping Tool, or Snip & Sketch on Windows 10, to take a screenshot. You can open either app by clicking on its shortcut or searching for it in your toolbar. Then, you can pick whether to take a full screenshot, partial screenshot, or free-form snip. You can open the app while you’re watching a video to quickly take a screenshot. After you’ve taken your shot, you can annotate it with a pen, pencil, highlighter, cropping tool, and more!
Windows Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch are both convenient tools for taking and editing video screenshots. However, they are a bit slower to use than keyboard shortcuts, so you have to take more time away from your video.
You can also download a third-party app to take a video screenshot on Mac or Windows. The best of these apps is the screenshot and screen recording tool Droplr. With Droplr, you can take a quick screenshot of a video using the app for Mac or Windows or the Chrome extension. The Droplr app will always be on your computer’s toolbar, so you can access it in seconds.
After you take a screenshot with Droplr, you can annotate it with text, shapes, a pencil, a highlighter, and more! Then, you can share your screenshot by pasting its associated short link. Whenever someone clicks on this link, they will be redirected to your screenshot’s location in the Droplr cloud. With Droplr, you can screenshot a video, annotate it, and share it with ease!
If you would like to check out other screenshot tools that you can use to take a video screenshot, then read our articles on How to Take a Screenshot on Windows and How to Take a Screenshot on Mac.
How to Screenshot a Video on iPhone and Android
Taking a screenshot on iPhone and Android is easier than on a desktop or laptop. All mobile devices have screenshot tools built into their system that are easily accessible and quick to use. On an iPhone, you can take a screenshot of a video by pressing the power button and volume button at the same time. Your screenshot will be saved to your Photos app, where you can then edit it and pick how to share it with others.
On most Android phones, you can also take a screenshot by pressing the power button and volume button at the same time. However, Android phones are not all made by the same manufacturer, so your phone’s screenshot tool may be different. Regardless, your Android device should have a Photos app that you can use to edit your video screenshot and share it with others.
The Best Apps for Video Screenshots
As demonstrated above, there are a variety of apps that you can use to screenshot a video on any device. If you need to quickly screenshot a video, you can do so with Mac’s keyboard shortcuts, Droplr for Mac and Windows, and iPhone and Android screenshot shortcuts. If you want to annotate your screenshot after you take it, you can use Droplr, Windows Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch, or your phone’s Photos app. When it’s time to share your screenshot, Droplr provides the easiest way to do so with link sharing. Nonetheless, most screenshot apps will let you share screenshots over email, on social media, or to a nearby device.
If you would like to get started with Droplr screenshots, you can sign up for a 3-day free trial. Let us show you how to screenshot a video today with our top-rated screenshot and screen recorder app.