How to Take a Screenshot and Get the Date to Appear

By Benjamin Aries

i Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X both include native support for quickly capturing a screen shot of anything that appears on your computer display. This can be useful for documenting a technical problem or saving an image for future reference. By default, the date won't be added to a captured image, but you can use simple apps included with both operating systems to add the date to your screen shot.

Take a Screen Shot in Windows 8

Step 1

Open the window that you want to capture. Make sure that the area you want to save is visible on your screen.

Step 2

Press and hold the "Windows" key, and then press the "Print Screen" key. If you are using a tablet device that lacks a "Print Screen" key, press the "Windows" and "Volume Down" keys instead.

Step 3

Move your cursor to the top right corner of the screen, and then move the pointer down to reveal the Windows menu. On a tablet, swipe your finger inward from the right edge of the screen.

Step 4

Click or tap "Search." Type "Paint" in the search box and select "Apps." Choose the "Paint" application.

Step 5

Select the "File" menu and choose "Open." Browse to the "Pictures Library." Select the screen shot image and click "Open."

Step 6

Click on the "Home" tab in the Paint application. Locate the "Tools" group and then select the "Text" tool -- this icon is styled as an "A" letter.

Step 7

Select the area on the screen shot where you want to add the text and type in the date.

Step 8

Click on the "Save" button, styled as a purple disk icon. The screen shot image saves to the Pictures Library folder with the date included.

Take a Screen Shot in Mac OS X 10

Step 1

Open the program or window you want to capture. Make sure that the area you want to save is visible on your screen.

Step 2

Press and hold the "Command-Shift" keys on your keyboard. Press the "3" key while holding the other keys. Your Mac makes a sound and takes a snapshot of the screen. Release the keys.

Step 3

View your Mac's desktop. The screen shot is named "Screen shot" followed by the time and date.

Step 4

Double-click on the screen shot file. The picture opens in the Mac's Preview application.

Step 5

Click on the "Show Edit Toolbar" button. This is located near the center of the window and is styled as a blue pencil icon.

Step 6

Select the "Text" tool, marked with the letters "Aa" inside of a box. Click on the screen shot image in the place where you want to include the text and then type the date.

Step 7

Click on the "File" menu and choose "Save." The screen shot file now contains the date on top of the image.

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