Use pyautogui.screenshot() to capture the primary display. Pass a filename to save the image immediately, or pass region=(left, top, width, height) to capture a rectangle. The call returns a Pillow image object either way.
Install PyAutoGUI
Install PyAutoGUI into the same Python environment that will run your script. The official installation guide gives these commands:
- macOS or Linux:
python3 -m pip install pyautogui - Windows:
py -m pip install pyautogui
On Linux, PyAutoGUI’s installation documentation also identifies scrot, python3-tk, and python3-dev as packages to install. Its screenshot documentation says Pillow is required, calls out the built-in screencapture command on macOS, and calls out scrot on Linux. Package availability can vary by platform and environment, so consult the current documentation if a dependency is missing: PyAutoGUI installation guide and screenshot reference.
Capture and save the full screen
This runnable example saves a PNG in the current working directory and keeps the returned image available for further processing:
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import pyautogui
image = pyautogui.screenshot("screenshot.png")
print(image.size)The filename argument saves the screenshot and screenshot() returns a Pillow image object. You can also capture first and save later:
import pyautogui
image = pyautogui.screenshot()
image.save("screenshot.png")Use the second form when you want to inspect or transform the image before choosing where or how to save it. The project README shows both filename-based capture and saving the returned image with .save(): PyAutoGUI project README.
Capture only a rectangular region
Pass four integers as (left, top, width, height). The third and fourth values are dimensions, not the right and bottom coordinates.
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import pyautogui
region_image = pyautogui.screenshot(region=(0, 0, 300, 400))
region_image.save("region.png")This captures a 300-by-400-pixel rectangle starting at the display coordinate (0, 0). Change the left and top values to move the rectangle and the width and height values to resize it. The documented API describes full-screen and rectangular-region captures; it does not establish a window-targeted capture call.
Choose the right save and capture pattern
| Need | Use | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Save a full-screen capture immediately | pyautogui.screenshot("screenshot.png") |
Saves to the filename and returns the image object. |
| Process the image before saving | image = pyautogui.screenshot(), then image.save(...) |
Keeps the Pillow image available for later work. |
| Capture a rectangle | pyautogui.screenshot(region=(left, top, width, height)) |
Limits capture to the specified rectangle. |
Use a filename extension that matches the image format you intend to save; the official examples use PNG filenames.
Platform and display limits
PyAutoGUI’s quickstart describes support for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its FAQ says it currently handles only the primary monitor. If your script depends on a secondary display, verify the behavior in your specific operating system and setup before relying on it: quickstart and FAQ.
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Performance expectations
The screenshot reference gives roughly 100 milliseconds as an example for a 1920×1080 capture. That is an approximate documentation figure, not a performance guarantee or a benchmark across machines. Actual timing can differ with display size, operating system, dependencies, and system load. If capture speed matters in your application, measure it on the machines and display configurations where the script will run.
Troubleshoot common screenshot problems
ImportError or missing Pillow
Install PyAutoGUI and its screenshot dependency in the Python environment used to run the script. If multiple Python versions or virtual environments are installed, invoke pip through the same interpreter that starts the program, such as python3 -m pip or py -m pip.
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PyAutoGUI’s documentation identifies scrot for Linux screenshot support and lists python3-tk and python3-dev in its installation guidance. Check those dependencies in the Linux environment where the script runs, including containers or remote sessions, and consult the current installation guide for platform-specific steps.
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The region is misplaced or the result has the wrong size
Check the tuple order: (left, top, width, height). A tuple such as (0, 0, 300, 400) means a 300-pixel width and 400-pixel height from the upper-left coordinate, not a rectangle ending at (300, 400).
The screenshot does not include another monitor
The PyAutoGUI FAQ describes capture of the primary monitor only. Confirm which display is primary in the operating system and test the needed configuration; do not assume this API captures every connected display.
The screenshot is slower than expected
The roughly 100 ms figure applies only as an illustrative documented timing for a 1920×1080 screenshot. Time the operation in your actual environment rather than using that number as a service-level expectation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does PyAutoGUI return an image object after saving a screenshot?
Yes. pyautogui.screenshot("screenshot.png") saves the image and returns a Pillow image object.
Can PyAutoGUI capture a specific application window?
The documented screenshot API described here supports the full screen or a rectangular region; it does not establish a window-targeted capture method.
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