How To Take a Screenshot When Reporting an Error Message

• Taking a Screenshot With the Windows Snipping Tool
  • Locating the Snipping Tool in Windows 8
• Mac Users

The Windows Snipping toolprovides a great way to take a screenshot of a picture, window, or full screen. We also recommend using it when reporting an issue or error message.

If you see an error message that you need help resolving, we request that you take a screenshot and send it to us via a technical support ticket.

Providing us with a screenshot of the error message you see will help us diagnose any issues more efficiently.

Taking a Screenshot With the Windows Snipping Tool

1. Open your Start menu, and type Snipping in the search box.

 

 

You'll see the Snipping Tool in the results list. Click it to open it.

Windows 8 users: Searching in Windows 8 is a little different. To locate the search box to find the Snipping Tool, follow the Locating the Snipping Tool in Windows 8steps below.

2. After the Snipping Tool opens, click the black down-facing triangle next to the word "New" and select Fullscreen Snip to take a picture of your full screen.

 

 

3. The Snipping Tool will take a screenshot of the entire contents of your screen, including the error message.

4. You'll see the Snipping Tool interface in the top left corner of the window containing the screenshot.

 

 

Click the disk icon to save your screenshot.

5. Save the screenshot to a location where you can find it easly, such as your desktop or Downloads folder. You can then send us the screenshot, along with a description of the error or other issue you're experiencing, in a technical support ticket.

Locating the Snipping Tool in Windows 8

In Windows 8, searching for programs like the Snipping tool is a little different.

To search for the Snipping tool in Windows 8, first right-click on your Start icon in the lower left corner of your screen (shown below).

The menu pictured to the right will open.

 

Select the Search option.

The search menu shown below will open.

 

 

Type Snipping in the search box, and press Enter.

Windows will bring you to the Snipping tool. You can now proceed from Step 2 in the screenshot process, shown above.

Mac Users

If you have a Mac with Parallels, you can use the Snipping Tool on the Windows side to take a screenshot.

However, a Mac keyboard also gives you a couple of other options:

• Full screen shot: To take a screenshot of your entire screen, press the Command + SHIFT + 3 keys. A screenshot of your entire screen will be saved onto your desktop. If you have two monitors, this option will take screenshots of the contents of both monitors.

• Manual screenshot: To take a manual screenshot of an area you select o nyour screen, press the Command + SHIFT + 4 keys. The cursor will turn into crosshairs. Click and hold the mouse button, then drag to select the area you want to grab with a screenshot. Release the mouse button to take the photo. A screenshot of the selected area will be saved on your desktop.

You can then send us the screenshot, along with a description of the error or other issue you're experiencing, in a technical support ticket.