Encountering a common frustration, we’ve all experienced confusion when attempting to pause a show and take a screenshot, only to end up with a blank image or one with subtitles. This issue plagues various streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu, among others. While we understand the reasoning behind blocking video recording, it seems unnecessary to prevent harmless screenshots. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for a widespread change in the industry to capture screenshots of streaming media. If you wanted to know how to take Netflix screenshots, this blog is for you.
How to take Netflix screenshots
There are a few different ways to achieve this on your computer.
1. Using an Image Editor
To take Netflix screenshots on your computer, you can follow these steps:
- Open Netflix: Launch the Netflix website (www.netflix.com) or open the Netflix app on your computer.
- Choose the content: Browse and select the movie, TV show, or any other content that you want to capture a screenshot of.
- Pause the video: Pause the video at the desired frame or scene that you want to capture.
- Find the Print Screen key: Locate the “Print Screen” key on your keyboard. It is usually labeled as “PrtScn,” “PrtSc,” or something similar. On some laptops, you might need to press the “Fn” key in combination with the “Print Screen” key.
- Take the screenshot: Press the “Print Screen” key to capture the entire screen. If you only want to capture the Netflix window, press the “Alt” key together with the “Print Screen” key.
- Open an image editor: Open an image editing software program on your computer, such as Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop, or any other image editor you prefer. You can usually find these programs in the Start menu or by searching for them.
- Paste the screenshot: In the image editor, click on the “Paste” option or press “Ctrl + V” on your keyboard to paste the screenshot from the clipboard. The captured screenshot of your Netflix screen should now appear in the image editor.
- Edit and save the screenshot: If desired, you can edit the screenshot in the image editor by cropping, resizing, or adding annotations. Once you’re satisfied with the edits, save the screenshot to your desired location on your computer.
2. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Another method is to disable hardware acceleration, which utilizes your computer’s GPU to enhance performance, in browsers like Chrome and Edge. In Chrome, navigate to Menu > Settings > System and locate the “Use hardware acceleration when available” option. Disable it and restart the browser. For Edge, go to Menu > Settings > System and Performance, then search for the “Use hardware acceleration when available” feature and disable it.
If you’re using Firefox on Windows 11, you’re in luck as streaming screenshots should work by default. However, if you’re on a different platform or they aren’t functioning properly, go to Settings > Performance and uncheck the “Use recommended performance settings” option. Next, disable the “Use hardware acceleration” feature.
Once hardware acceleration is disabled, you can return to your media and capture screenshots to your heart’s content.
3. Video Screenshot Extension
Alternatively, you can try using the Video Screenshot extension for Chrome and Chromium-based browsers if you’re reluctant to disable hardware acceleration due to concerns about quality and resolution loss. This extension works with multiple services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and more.
After installing the Video Screenshot extension, it will add a Camera button to the video player interface in all streaming services. Click on it, and the extension will save a copy of the screenshot to your Downloads folder. The only drawback is that the extension may not capture subtitles, which might be inconvenient for creating memes. However, you can manually add subtitles using any basic image editor.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, you now have the know-how on how to take Netflix screenshots effortlessly. Say goodbye to the frustration of capturing blank images or missing subtitles, and unlock the ability to create and share Netflix screenshots seamlessly. From now on, you can immortalize those memorable scenes, create hilarious memes, and share inside jokes with friends, all thanks to your newfound ability to take Netflix screenshots.
