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To screenshot just one monitor, use a selection or current-window capture instead of full-screen capture. On Windows 10 or 11, press Windows+Shift+S, choose Rectangular snip, and drag across only the display you need. On a Mac, press Shift-Command-4 and drag around one screen. If you only need one application, capture its window rather than framing the monitor.
How to screenshot one monitor with multiple displays
A full-screen screenshot and a selected-area screenshot are different operations. Full-screen mode may include every attached display or capture a desktop-sized area. A rectangular selection lets you define exactly which monitor appears in the image. Window capture is usually cleaner when the target is a single app.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
Capture one entire monitor with Rectangular snip
- Press Windows+Shift+S. The Snipping Tool overlay appears.
- Select the Rectangular snip icon if it is not already selected.
- Move the pointer to a corner of the monitor you want.
- Click and drag to the opposite corner. Stop at the display edge; do not cross the gap onto another monitor.
- Release the mouse. The capture is copied to the clipboard and opens in Snipping Tool, where you can annotate, save, or share it.
Microsoft says captured snips are automatically saved in the Screenshots folder. Use Save as in Snipping Tool when you need a second copy or a different file name and format.
Capture only an application window
- Press Windows+Shift+S.
- Choose Window snip.
- Click the application window on the desired monitor.
This avoids manually tracing monitor borders and excludes unrelated desktop space. Use Full screen only when you intentionally want the entire desktop capture; that mode is not a monitor picker.
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What happens with Print Screen?
The Print Screen key takes a full-screen snapshot to the clipboard. It is useful for an all-screen capture, but it does not provide the same precise one-monitor selection as Rectangular snip. Use Windows+Shift+S when isolation matters.
macOS
Draw a rectangle around one display
- Press Shift-Command-4. The pointer changes to a crosshair.
- Click and drag from one corner of the target monitor to the opposite corner.
- Release to capture the selected area.
Apple describes this as selecting the area by holding the mouse or trackpad button while dragging the crosshair. Leave the selection entirely on the intended display, including its menu bar or Dock only if you want them visible.
Capture a window instead
- Press Shift-Command-4.
- Press Space to switch to window capture.
- Click the application window.
Window capture is preferable for documentation, bug reports, and tutorials because it avoids desktop clutter and monitor-boundary mistakes.
Use the Screenshot controls
Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot app on macOS Mojave 10.14 and later. Its controls let you choose a capture type, set a save location, add a timer, and decide whether the pointer is visible. Choose a selected portion for one monitor, or a window when the app itself is the subject.
Some protected applications, including Apple TV, can prevent screenshots of their windows. If a capture is black or unavailable only in one app, the restriction may be imposed by that application rather than by your display arrangement.
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Linux and cross-platform capture
There is no single Linux shortcut that behaves identically across every distribution and desktop environment. GNOME, KDE Plasma, X11, Wayland, and the xdg-desktop-portal backend can expose different capture modes and permissions.
Use ksnip for an explicit current-monitor mode
ksnip supports Linux, Windows, and macOS and documents a Current Screen mode. It captures the monitor where the mouse pointer is located, which is useful when displays have different resolutions or scaling. Its supported modes vary by platform and Linux backend, especially under X11, Plasma Wayland, GNOME Wayland, and portal-mediated sessions.
- Place the pointer on the monitor you want.
- Open ksnip and choose Current Screen (the exact menu wording can vary by version).
- Capture, annotate if needed, and save or copy the result.
Check ksnip’s support matrix for your exact desktop and backend before standardizing it in a script or team procedure. If Current Screen is unavailable, use a rectangular selection as a fallback.
Choosing the right capture mode
| Need | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everything visible on one monitor | Rectangular selection | You define the monitor boundaries manually. |
| One application or dialog | Window capture | Excludes other windows and desktop background. |
| Monitor under the pointer on Linux | ksnip Current Screen | Uses pointer location instead of a hand-drawn rectangle. |
| All attached displays | Full-screen capture | Intentionally includes the complete desktop area. |
Making the selection accurate
- Start and finish on the same display: dragging through the gap can include part of a neighboring monitor.
- Account for scaling: mixed 100%, 125%, 150%, or Retina scaling can make physical edges appear different from logical coordinates.
- Include or exclude system bars deliberately: select the menu bar, taskbar, or Dock only when it adds useful context.
- Move transient UI first: close notification banners, menus, tooltips, and cursor highlights before dragging.
- Check the result at 100%: text that looks sharp in the overlay can be clipped at a monitor edge.
Saving, copying, and sharing
Clipboard workflow
After capture, paste into an email, chat, document, or image editor. Clipboard output is convenient for one-off support messages but can be lost when another application overwrites the clipboard.
File workflow
Save a permanent file from Snipping Tool or macOS Screenshot controls. Use descriptive names such as monitor-left-settings-2026-09-29.png and select a location that is included in your backup routine.
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Annotations and redaction
Before sharing, cover passwords, API keys, personal notifications, and private browser tabs. Native tools provide basic markup; a separate editor may be needed for pixel-level redaction or callouts.
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Troubleshooting
The screenshot contains both monitors
You used full-screen capture or dragged past the display boundary. Repeat with Windows+Shift+S Rectangular snip or Shift-Command-4, and release before crossing the gap. For an app, switch to Window mode.
The capture is the wrong monitor
On ksnip, move the pointer onto the intended display before selecting Current Screen. In a manual selection, verify the starting corner and confirm the resulting image dimensions.
The shortcut does nothing
On Windows, open Snipping Tool from the Start menu and check that it is installed and permitted to run. On macOS, verify that Screenshot keyboard shortcuts are enabled in System Settings and try Shift-Command-5. Linux behavior depends on the desktop environment; launch the installed capture utility directly.
The image is black
Protected video and some secured applications intentionally block capture. Test another window to distinguish an app restriction from a system problem. Do not expect a screenshot utility to bypass digital-rights restrictions.
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Text looks blurry or the dimensions are unexpected
Mixed display scaling, Retina density, and remote-desktop sessions can change logical versus physical pixels. Capture at the native desktop scale, avoid resizing before saving, and inspect the file’s pixel dimensions in an image viewer.
Menus disappear before capture
Use a timer from macOS Screenshot controls, or open the menu first and use window/selection capture promptly. On Windows, the overlay may close transient menus; capture the app window or use a delayed workflow in an editor when necessary.
Performance, privacy, and reliability
Built-in capture tools are normally the fastest option because they do not upload the image or require a separate service. They are suitable for sensitive dashboards, credentials, and internal applications when your organization’s policies permit local screenshots.
For repeatable documentation, standardize the monitor arrangement, scaling, cursor visibility, file format, and naming convention. PNG preserves interface text and sharp edges; JPEG creates smaller files but can introduce compression artifacts. If a screenshot is evidence for a bug, record the operating system, display arrangement, application version, and time alongside the image.
Or skip the browser setup
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Can I capture only the monitor where my mouse is located?
Yes, ksnip documents a Current Screen mode that captures the monitor containing the pointer. Availability depends on your operating system and, on Linux, the display backend.
Does full-screen capture always mean one monitor?
No. Full-screen behavior depends on the operating system and capture tool. Use a rectangular selection or window capture when you must isolate one display.
Do I need a second monitor accessory or paid screenshot software?
No. Windows and macOS include the required selection and window tools, and Linux has desktop utilities such as ksnip. Hardware is not necessary.
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