How to Take a Screenshot in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Java: press F2 in-game - the screenshot saves to .minecraft/screenshots. Hide the HUD first with F1. On Bedrock use your device's own capture (Win+G, console share button, or phone screenshot).

What you need

Java: the F2 key (Fn + F2 on some laptops)
F1 hides the HUD for clean shots
Bedrock: your platform's capture button

Step by step

Java: press F2 at any moment in-game. A chat message confirms the screenshot was saved.
Find them in .minecraft/screenshots: %appdata%\.minecraft\screenshots on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/screenshots on macOS, ~/.minecraft/screenshots on Linux.
Clean shots: press F1 first to hide the HUD and your hand, and F3 to hide debug info if it is on. Press F1 again to bring the HUD back.
Bedrock on Windows: use Win + Alt + PrtScn (Game Bar) or the Snipping Tool - the game has no F2 key.
Consoles: use the controller's share/capture button; the shot saves to the console's media gallery.
Mobile: use the phone's normal screenshot gesture. Bedrock also has a screenshot button in the pause menu on some platforms.

Java vs Bedrock

Only Java has the built-in F2 screenshot. Bedrock always uses the operating system's capture feature.

Versions: F2 and F1 have worked the same in every Java version. Bedrock relies on the platform capture tools in all current versions.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Java screenshots go?

Into .minecraft/screenshots next to your saves folder. The chat message after pressing F2 links straight to the file.

F2 does nothing on my laptop?

Hold Fn + F2 - many laptops map F2 to brightness or volume by default.