(How to Screenshot on Linux: A Complete Guide) Capturing a screenshot on Linux is an easy job, but the approach varies with the desktop environment, distribution, and own preference. With the use of default tools, terminal commands, or third-party software, there are several ways you can effectively capture your screen shot.
This guide will take you through various means, from keyboard shortcuts, GUI applications, and command-line applications to take screenshots in Linux.
Using Built-in Screenshot Tools
Most Linux desktop environments come with built-in screenshot utilities that provide basic screen capture functionality.
GNOME Screenshot (Default in Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and Other GNOME-Based Distros)
GNOME Screenshot is the default tool in GNOME-based Linux distributions. It provides simple screen capture options with minimal configuration.
Keyboard Shortcuts for GNOME Screenshot
- PrtSc (Print Screen): Captures the entire screen and saves it to the “Pictures” folder.
- Shift + PrtSc: Captures a selected area.
- Alt + PrtSc: Captures the active window only.
- Ctrl + PrtSc: Captures the entire screen but copies it to the clipboard instead of saving it.
Using GNOME Screenshot from the Menu
- Open Activities and search for Screenshot.
- Choose between capturing the full screen, a window, or a selected area.
- Click Take Screenshot, then save the file.
KDE Spectacle (Default in KDE Plasma-Based Distros like Kubuntu, Manjaro KDE, and OpenSUSE)
KDE Plasma users get Spectacle, a feature-rich screenshot tool with an intuitive interface.
Using Spectacle:
- Press PrtSc or open Spectacle from the application menu.
Choose one of the available options - Full Screen
Active Window
Selected Area
Delay Timer (for delayed screenshots) - Click Save or Copy to Clipboard.
Taking Screenshots from the Terminal
For those who prefer working with the command line, Linux offers command-line tools to capture screenshots efficiently.
Using scrot (Lightweight Command-Line Screenshot Tool)
scrot is a simple yet effective command-line tool for taking screenshots. It’s lightweight, fast, and supports automation.
Installing scrot
To install scrot, run the following command based on your Linux distribution:
Basic scrot Commands:
Capture the entire screen and save it as a file:
Capture the screen after a delay:
(The -d flag specifies a delay in seconds before capturing the screenshot.)
Capture a selected area:
(After running this command, click and drag to select the area you want to capture.)
Using flameshot (Advanced Command-Line and GUI Tool)
Flameshot is one of the most popular screenshot tools on Linux. It offers an interactive GUI, annotation features, and command-line support.
Installing Flameshot
Using Flameshot via the Command Line
Launch the Flameshot GUI:
Capture a screenshot and save it to a specific folder:
Capture a full-screen screenshot without opening the GUI:
Third-Party GUI Screenshot Applications
If you need advanced features such as image editing, annotations, or direct sharing, third-party screenshot tools can be useful.
Shutter (Advanced Screenshot and Editing Tool)
Shutter is a feature-rich screenshot tool that provides built-in annotation and editing functionalities.
Installing Shutter
For Fedora, Arch, and other distros, you may need to install Shutter via Flatpak or AUR.
Using Shutter:
- Open Shutter from the application menu.
- Choose to capture the full screen, active window, or a custom-selected area.
- Edit or annotate the screenshot.
- Save the file or copy it to the clipboard.
Online and Cloud-Based Screenshot Tools
If you frequently share screenshots online, you may want to use cloud-based solutions.
Using Flameshot for Imgur Uploads
Flameshot allows direct uploading to Imgur, making it easy to share screenshots online.
To upload a screenshot directly to Imgur:
After taking the screenshot, Flameshot will generate an Imgur link for easy sharing.
ShareX via Wine (For Advanced Users)
If you need even more advanced screenshot functionalities, you can run ShareX, a powerful Windows screenshot tool, using Wine on Linux.
Installing ShareX on Linux
- Install Wine:
- Download the ShareX installer from the official website.
- Run the installer with Wine:
While ShareX isn’t a native Linux app, it offers cloud integration, OCR, and automation features that some Linux users may find useful.
Setting Up a Screenshot Shortcut in Linux
If you prefer using Flameshot or another tool instead of the default screenshot tool, you can set a custom shortcut.
For GNOME Users (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
- Open Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Click + Add Custom Shortcut.
- Name the shortcut (e.g., “Flameshot”).
- Set the command as:
Assign a key combination (e.g., Shift + PrtSc).
For KDE Plasma Users (Kubuntu, Manjaro KDE, etc.)
- Open System Settings > Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts.
- Click Add New > Global Shortcut > Command/URL.
- Set the command to
flameshot gui. - Assign a hotkey and save the settings.
Capturing a screenshot in Linux is easy and there are numerous options available at your disposal.
- For basic screenshots, there are some native alternatives like GNOME Screenshot and KDE Spectacle.
- For command-line users, flameshot and scrot are strong contenders.
- For users who need more features, GUI applications like Shutter provide editing and annotation tools.
- For sharing to the cloud, Flameshot has Imgur upload support, and Wine supports running ShareX on Linux.
