Lightshot Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Guide for Windows & Mac

Quick answer: The default Lightshot shortcut to start a screenshot is PrtScn on Windows and Command + Shift + 9 on Mac. Once you’ve selected an area, you can copy it (Ctrl/Cmd + C), save it (Ctrl/Cmd + S), edit it online (Ctrl/Cmd + E), or upload it (Ctrl/Cmd + D). You can also reassign any of these hotkeys from Lightshot’s Options menu.

Lightshot is one of the most popular free screenshot tools for Windows and Mac, and its biggest advantage is speed a full capture, edit, and share workflow that never touches a mouse if you don’t want it to. But most guides only list half the picture: the default keys. This guide covers the full shortcut list, the correct (and often-wrong) Mac equivalents, how to change your hotkey if it conflicts with another app, and what to do if Lightshot suddenly stops responding to Print Screen at all.

What Is the Default Lightshot Shortcut?

The main Lightshot shortcut the one that actually opens the capture tool is PrtScn on Windows. On Mac, since Apple keyboards don’t include a physical Print Screen key, Lightshot uses Command + Shift + 9 by default instead. Pressing this combination dims your screen and turns your cursor into a crosshair so you can drag-select the area you want to capture.

Every other Lightshot shortcut only works after you’ve made a selection they control what happens to that selection (copy, save, edit, upload, etc.).

Lightshot Shortcuts for Windows

Tip: Holding Ctrl while you drag-select an area copies it to your clipboard the instant you release the mouse no extra keypress needed.

Lightshot Shortcuts for Mac

Common mistake to avoid: A lot of shortcut lists (including older versions of this guide) claim Mac uses “Print Screen” too. That’s incorrect Apple keyboards don’t have a PrtScn key, so Lightshot maps its start-shooting action to Cmd+Shift+9 instead.

Lightshot in Your Browser

If you’re using the Lightshot extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera, capturing works a little differently instead of a system-wide hotkey, you trigger it from the extension’s toolbar icon, since browser extensions can’t override your operating system’s native Print Screen behavior. Once you’ve made a selection inside the browser, the same copy, save, and upload options are available from the on-screen toolbar that appears.

How to Change Your Lightshot Hotkey

If PrtScn or Cmd+Shift+9 conflicts with another app or you’d simply rather use a different combination you can reassign it in seconds.

On Windows:

1. Right-click the Lightshot icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner near the clock).
2. Select Options.
3. Click the Hotkeys tab.
4. Click into the field next to “Start shooting” (or whichever action you want to change).
5. Press your new key combination Lightshot captures it automatically.
6. Click OK to save.

On Mac:

1. Click the Lightshot icon in your menu bar.
2. Open Preferences.
3. Select the Hotkeys tab.
4. Click the field for the shortcut you want to change and enter your new combination.
5. Close the window to apply the change.

You can assign any combination of Ctrl, Cmd, Shift, Alt/Option, or Fn to avoid clashing with shortcuts from other software.

How to Use Lightshot: Quick Walkthrough

1. Press PrtScn (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+9 (Mac) to activate Lightshot.
2. Click and drag to select the area of your screen you want to capture.
3. Use the toolbar that appears to draw, highlight, add text, or crop your selection.
4. Choose what to do with it: copy (Ctrl/Cmd+C), save (Ctrl/Cmd+S), edit online (Ctrl/Cmd+E), or upload for a shareable link (Ctrl/Cmd+D).
5. Press Esc (or Cmd+X on Mac) at any point to cancel without saving.

Get the Full Shortcut List as a PDF

Want this entire shortcut list on your desk instead of your browser tab? Download the free Lightshot Shortcuts PDF and keep it handy while you work.

FAQs

What is the default Lightshot shortcut key?

PrtScn on Windows and Command+Shift+9 on Mac. Both open Lightshot’s capture mode and let you drag-select an area of your screen.

Does Lightshot use the same shortcut as the Windows Print Screen key?

Yes Lightshot’s Windows install replaces the standard system screenshot behavior, so pressing PrtScn opens Lightshot instead of just copying the full screen to your clipboard.

Why doesn’t my Print Screen key open Lightshot?

This usually means another program (often a GPU driver or screen recorder) is intercepting the PrtScn key first, or Lightshot isn’t currently running. Reassigning the hotkey inside Lightshot’s Options menu fixes most cases.

Can I use a different key instead of Print Screen?

Yes. Open Lightshot’s Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac), go to the Hotkeys tab, and set any key combination you prefer.

What is the Lightshot shortcut for Windows 11?

It’s the same as earlier Windows versions PrtScn since Lightshot overrides the system-level screenshot key regardless of Windows version.

Is there a Lightshot keyboard shortcut for copying directly to clipboard?

Yes after selecting your area, press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac). You can also hold Ctrl/Cmd while dragging your selection to copy it the moment you release the mouse.

Conclusion

Once you’ve got PrtScn (or Cmd+Shift+9 on Mac) muscle-memoried, Lightshot stops feeling like a separate app and starts feeling like part of your OS capture, mark up, and share in the same few seconds. If a shortcut ever stops responding, it’s almost always a conflicting app or an unset permission, not a broken install, so check the fixes above before reinstalling anything.

READ NEXT:

• Amazon Music Player Shortcuts
• TikTok Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts
• Tmux Keyboard Shortcuts
• FlexiSign Pro Keyboard Shortcuts