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Long Screenshot: Complete Guide to Scrolling Screenshots [2025]

on 3 months ago

Long screenshots, also known as scrolling screenshots or extended screenshots, allow you to capture content that extends beyond your screen - perfect for capturing entire conversations, lengthy web pages, social media threads, and more. This comprehensive 2025 guide covers every method to take long screenshots across all devices and platforms.

What is a Long Screenshot?

A long screenshot (or scrolling screenshot) captures an entire page or document by automatically scrolling and stitching together multiple screen captures into a single extended image. Unlike regular screenshots that only capture what's visible, long screenshots can capture:

  • Complete WhatsApp or text message conversations
  • Full web pages and articles
  • Entire social media threads (Twitter/X, Reddit)
  • Long documents and PDFs
  • Email threads
  • Shopping carts and order confirmations

iPhone Long Screenshot (iOS)

Native Full Page Capture

iPhone offers built-in full page screenshots in Safari:

Step 1: Take a regular screenshot:

  • iPhone X and later: Press Volume Up + Side button
  • iPhone 8 and earlier: Press Home + Power button

Step 2: Tap the screenshot thumbnail that appears

Step 3: Tap "Full Page" tab at the top

Step 4: Tap "Done" then "Save PDF to Files"

Limitations:

  • Only works in Safari browser
  • Saves as PDF, not image
  • Doesn't work in apps

Third-Party Apps for iPhone

Tailor - Screenshot Stitching

  • Automatically detects and stitches overlapping screenshots
  • Works with any app (Instagram, Twitter, Messages)
  • Free with premium features

Picsew

  • Manual and automatic stitching
  • Scrolling webpage capture
  • Supports vertical and horizontal

Stitch It!

  • Simple interface
  • Fast stitching
  • No ads in free version

Android Long Screenshot

Samsung Galaxy Scroll Capture

Step 1: Take a regular screenshot (Volume Down + Power)

Step 2: Tap "Capture more" or scroll icon immediately

Step 3: Screen automatically scrolls down

Step 4: Tap screen when you reach the desired end point

Step 5: Screenshot saves to Gallery

Works on Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23, S24, Note series, and newer.

Google Pixel Long Screenshot

Step 1: Take screenshot (Power + Volume Down)

Step 2: Tap "Capture more" button

Step 3: Adjust selection area

Step 4: Tap "Save"

Available on Pixel 4 and newer with Android 12+.

OnePlus Scrollshot

Step 1: Take screenshot (Volume Down + Power)

Step 2: Tap "Scrollshot" icon

Step 3: Let phone auto-scroll or scroll manually

Step 4: Tap "Done" when finished

Universal Android Method

Using Chrome Browser:

Step 1: Open page in Chrome

Step 2: Tap three-dot menu

Step 3: Tap "Share"

Step 4: Select "Long screenshot"

Step 5: Adjust and save

Android Apps

LongShot (Free)

  • Auto-scroll capture
  • Manual stitching
  • Web page capture
  • No root required

Scroll Capture (Free)

  • Simple interface
  • Works in any app
  • Fast processing

Stitch & Share

  • Screenshot stitching
  • Annotation tools
  • Cloud backup

Windows Long Screenshots

ShareX (Free - Recommended)

Installation:

  1. Download from sharex.com
  2. Install and launch
  3. Select Capture > Scrolling Capture
  4. Click target window
  5. ShareX auto-scrolls and captures

Features:

  • Automatic scrolling
  • Custom scroll speed
  • Multiple monitors support
  • Cloud upload
  • OCR text recognition

PicPick (Free Personal Use)

Features:

  • Scrolling window capture
  • Built-in editor
  • Screen recorder
  • Color picker

Usage:

  1. Press PrtScn
  2. Select "Scrolling Window"
  3. Click target window
  4. Automatic capture starts

Snagit ($62.99)

Professional features:

  • Panoramic scrolling
  • Video recording
  • Advanced editing
  • Templates and themes
  • Cloud sharing

Browser Method (All Windows Users)

Use Full Page Screenshot Extension for Chrome/Edge:

  1. Install extension
  2. Click extension icon
  3. Instant full page capture
  4. Download as PNG or PDF

Mac Long Screenshots

Cleanshot X ($29 - Recommended)

Features:

  • Scrolling capture
  • Cloud uploads
  • Annotation tools
  • GIF recording
  • Quick upload

Usage:

  1. Press Cmd+Shift+4
  2. Select "Scrolling Capture"
  3. Click target window
  4. Auto-scrolls and captures

Shottr (Free)

Lightweight alternative:

  • Scrolling capture
  • Basic editing
  • OCR support
  • No account needed

Browser Method for Mac

Chrome/Edge:

  1. Press Cmd+Option+I (DevTools)
  2. Press Cmd+Shift+P
  3. Type "screenshot"
  4. Select "Capture full size screenshot"

Firefox:

  1. Right-click page
  2. Select "Take Screenshot"
  3. Click "Save full page"

Web-Based Long Screenshot Tools

Browser Extensions (Cross-Platform)

Full Page Screenshot

  • One-click capture
  • Works on Chrome, Edge
  • Export PNG, JPG, PDF
  • Free with premium options

Awesome Screenshot

  • Annotation tools
  • Video recording
  • Cloud storage
  • Team collaboration

FireShot

  • Multiple formats
  • Email integration
  • Print options
  • FTP upload

Online Screenshot Services

Web-Capture.net

  • Enter URL
  • Captures full page
  • No installation
  • Free for basic use

Screenshot.guru

  • URL-based capture
  • Full page screenshots
  • Mobile viewport option
  • API available

Use Cases for Long Screenshots

Social Media

  • Capture entire Twitter/X threads
  • Save Instagram Stories sequence
  • Document Reddit discussions
  • Preserve Facebook conversations

Messaging

  • Full WhatsApp chats
  • Complete text message threads
  • Telegram conversations
  • Discord channels

Professional

  • Email threads for documentation
  • Project timelines
  • Bug reports with full context
  • Client communications

E-commerce

  • Complete product pages
  • Order confirmations
  • Shopping carts
  • Receipt records

Research & Education

  • Academic articles
  • Research papers
  • Tutorial sequences
  • Study materials

Comparison Table

PlatformMethodEaseFreeBest For
iPhoneNativeVery EasyYesSafari pages
iPhoneTailor AppEasyFreemiumAny app
SamsungScroll CaptureVery EasyYesBuilt-in
PixelCapture MoreEasyYesAndroid 12+
AndroidLongShotEasyYesUniversal
WindowsShareXMediumYesPower users
WindowsSnagitEasyNoProfessionals
MacCleanshot XEasyNoMac pros
MacShottrEasyYesCasual users
Any BrowserExtensionVery EasyFreemiumWeb pages

Tips for Better Long Screenshots

Before Capturing

  1. Close unnecessary elements

    • Dismiss popups
    • Hide floating buttons
    • Clear notifications

  2. Adjust display settings

    • Increase screen brightness
    • Set comfortable zoom level
    • Use dark/light mode preference

  3. Clean up content

    • Close irrelevant tabs
    • Hide personal information
    • Organize windows

During Capture

  1. Wait for complete loading

    • Let images load fully
    • Allow animations to finish
    • Check lazy-loaded content

  2. Steady scrolling

    • Don't rush automatic capture
    • Keep consistent speed for manual stitching
    • Avoid interrupting process

  3. Check for overlaps

    • Ensure sufficient overlap for stitching
    • Watch for repeated sections
    • Verify complete capture

After Capture

  1. Review quality

    • Check for missing sections
    • Verify text readability
    • Confirm images are clear

  2. Edit if needed

    • Crop unnecessary margins
    • Add annotations
    • Blur sensitive information

  3. Choose right format

    • PNG for text documents
    • JPG for photos
    • PDF for archiving

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Stitching Errors

Solutions:

  • Take screenshots with more overlap (30-40%)
  • Use consistent scrolling speed
  • Avoid moving content (pause videos)
  • Try different stitching app

Problem: File Size Too Large

Solutions:

  • Compress with TinyPNG or Squoosh
  • Convert to JPG if not text-heavy
  • Reduce image dimensions
  • Use PDF format

Problem: Missing Content

Solutions:

  • Scroll slower during capture
  • Wait for lazy-loading
  • Capture in sections
  • Use different method/tool

Problem: Quality Loss

Solutions:

  • Use higher DPI settings
  • Capture at 100% zoom
  • Use PNG instead of JPG
  • Try professional tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What's the difference between long screenshot and full page screenshot?

Answer: They're essentially the same - both terms refer to capturing content beyond the visible screen. "Long screenshot" is more commonly used for mobile apps and messaging, while "full page screenshot" typically refers to web pages. Both use scrolling or stitching techniques.

Q2: Can I take long screenshots of videos?

Answer: No, long screenshots only capture static frames. For video content, you need screen recording tools like OBS Studio, QuickTime (Mac), or Xbox Game Bar (Windows). Some tools like Snagit offer screen recording features.

Q3: Why don't all phones have built-in long screenshot features?

Answer: It depends on the manufacturer and Android version. Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Huawei have native scrolling capture. iPhones have it for Safari only. Older devices may need third-party apps like LongShot or Tailor.

Q4: How long can a long screenshot be?

Answer: Most tools support up to 30,000-50,000 pixels in length. Beyond that, you may encounter memory issues. For extremely long captures, consider splitting into sections or using PDF output which handles length better.

Q5: Can long screenshots capture password-protected content?

Answer: Yes, if you're logged in and can view the content, you can screenshot it. However, respect privacy and copyright - don't share sensitive information or copyrighted content without permission.

Q6: Do long screenshots work with dynamic content?

Answer: Generally yes, but pause any animations, videos, or auto-scrolling content before capturing. Dynamic elements that change during capture may appear glitched or incomplete in the final image.

Q7: What's the best app for stitching multiple screenshots?

Answer: For iPhone: Tailor (automatic stitching). For Android: LongShot (versatile and free). For desktop: ShareX (Windows) or Cleanshot X (Mac). These apps intelligently detect overlaps and stitch seamlessly.

Q8: Can I edit long screenshots after capturing?

Answer: Yes! Most modern screenshot tools include basic editing (crop, annotate, blur). For advanced editing, use tools like Snagit, Cleanshot X, or import into Photoshop, GIMP, or mobile apps like Snapseed.

Conclusion

Long screenshots are incredibly useful for capturing and sharing extended content across all devices:

For iPhone users: Use Safari's native Full Page feature or Tailor app for other apps

For Android users: Use built-in scroll capture (Samsung/Pixel/OnePlus) or LongShot app

For Windows users: ShareX (free) offers the best balance of features and ease

For Mac users: Cleanshot X (paid) or Shottr (free) provide excellent scrolling capture

For web pages: Full Page Screenshot Extension works across Chrome, Edge, and other Chromium browsers

Key Recommendations:

  • Use built-in features when available (fastest, most reliable)
  • Install Tailor (iPhone) or LongShot (Android) for apps without built-in support
  • For desktop, ShareX (Windows) or Cleanshot X (Mac) are worth the setup
  • Browser extensions work great for web-only captures
  • Always review captures before sharing to ensure quality

Ready to start? Try your device's built-in method first, or install the Full Page Screenshot Extension for effortless web page captures!

Last Updated: November 2025 | Works on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac | Compatible with iOS 15+, Android 11+