How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot
Alex Chen Updated 2026-06-25 screenshot-tool ShareX is the best free scrolling screenshot tool for Windows. On Mac, Shottr does it for free at just 2.3MB. Both auto-scroll and stitch pages into one image. Before capturing, close popups, trigger lazy-loaded content, and decide whether the result is evidence, documentation, or a temporary image. That choice determines whether you need redaction, PNG quality, a smaller JPEG, or a share link. For a broader feature comparison, see Best Screenshot Tools.
Step-by-step
Choose the right scrolling screenshot tool for your platform
Your operating system determines which tool works best. On Windows, ShareX is the most powerful free option with 20+ capture modes including auto-scroll for web pages and documents. On Mac, Shottr is the best free choice at just 2.3MB with built-in scrolling capture, while CleanShot X adds OCR, screen recording, and cloud sharing for $29/year. Snagit works on both platforms and offers the most reliable scrolling capture for complex pages, though it costs $62.99. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Open the page or document you want to capture
Scroll to the top of the content you want to capture. Make sure the page is fully loaded — if images or lazy-loaded sections haven't appeared yet, scroll down once to trigger them, then scroll back to the top. Close any floating popups or cookie banners that would appear in every section of the scrolling capture. For documents, maximize the window so the capture captures the full width. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Start the scrolling capture
In ShareX, press the hotkey (default: Print Screen) or right-click the system tray icon and select 'Scrolling Capture' from the 'Capture' menu. Click and drag to select the scroll area — typically the main content area of the page. ShareX will then auto-scroll and stitch the sections together. In CleanShot X, press Cmd+Shift+S to open the capture bar, then select the 'Capture Scrolling Content' icon. In Shottr, use the scrolling capture button in the toolbar or the keyboard shortcut. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Wait for the auto-scroll to complete
The tool will automatically scroll the page in small increments and stitch each section into one long image. Do not move your mouse or touch the keyboard during this process — any interference can break the scroll pattern and create gaps or duplicate sections in the output. For very long pages, this process can take 10-30 seconds. In Snagit, you can also use manual scroll mode (click to advance) for pages that auto-scroll doesn't handle well. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Review and crop the result
After stitching completes, the tool opens the captured image in its editor. Check for stitching artifacts — misaligned edges, duplicate content, or missing sections are common on pages with sticky headers or complex layouts. Crop away any unnecessary areas like browser chrome, sidebars, or repeated navigation elements. Most tools let you annotate directly on the capture at this stage — add arrows, highlights, or text to call attention to specific sections. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Save or share the scrolling screenshot
Export as PNG for lossless quality if you need the capture for documentation or printing. Use JPEG (80-90% quality) for smaller file sizes when sharing via email or chat. ShareX can auto-upload to 80+ destinations including Imgur, Google Drive, and Slack. CleanShot X uploads to its own cloud with a shareable link. For maximum compatibility when sharing, consider splitting very long captures into multiple sections — some messaging platforms have image dimension limits. Keep the source page or document available for verification and inspect the full capture for gaps, duplicate sections, sticky headers, and private data. Save a clearly named copy before sharing or uploading it.
Handle sticky and lazy-loaded content
Long captures are most reliable when the page is stable. Scroll through once to load images, close cookie banners and floating controls, and note any fixed header that may repeat during stitching. If the result contains a gap or duplicate, try a smaller selection or manual scroll mode rather than editing the evidence until it looks right. For a page that changes frequently, record the URL and capture time with the image so a reviewer knows what was visible.
Choose dimensions and archive the capture
A very tall image may be difficult to open, print, or upload even when the screenshot is technically correct. Crop browser chrome, split a long capture into logical sections when necessary, and select PNG for sharp documentation or JPEG for lighter casual sharing. Redact names, addresses, tokens, and private content before upload. Store the final image with a descriptive filename and keep the original capture only in an approved location.
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