Here’s How: Save A Web Page Screenshot in Firefox

Firefox browser bar

Look for the ellipsis menu icon to the right of the URL search display field.

Saving A Web Page As A Screen Shot

Saving a screen shot of a web page usually means being able to capture only the visible portion of the page, including all the unwanted browser tabs that might be open, along with any toolbar bookmarks, neither of which have anything to do with the web page itself and can even prove embarrassing if left in place.

Saving a web page screenshot is not the same as “save web page as”, which downloads the HTML code and can include the resources. Firefox now has the screenshot widget in the toolbar, and it’s a simple, three-step process of selecting the action, choosing the content desired, and downloading the file format.

Browser Controlled Screenshot Selection

save full page option

Usually choose “full page” option, but occasionally “save visible” is preferable.

What’s great about the Firefox solution, aside from speed, is that unlike (Mac) command+shift+4’s select area or shift+command+3 capture full screen, Firefox captures the web page (or the visible area) and only the web page. If, as in the case of many flat or single page designs, the scroll goes on and on, the resulting full page image may not be what you’re looking for because of the height property. In that case, using the “save visible” option to capture the page portion you’re viewing is a work around.

Either way, you’ll see a clean capture and your choices, which besides downloading the image locally also offers copying to the clipboard for direct edit>paste versatility. Note—the entire page width is captured, not just the displayed width.

Firefox’s Built-In Screenshot Widget Is Fast, Efficient

download or copy the selection to the clipboard

Choose to download (with a choice of formats) or copy to clipboard for instant placement.

There are apps that provide the same functionality, with a few extra benefits. Skitch includes basic editing tools that can be used to add and highlight text, draw basic graphics, and crop without having to open the image in a full-fledged imaging program. And, if you have a premium account in Evernote, it’s fully synched.

But Firefox’s built-in shortcut is just to the right of the toolbar, at the bottom of the Page Actions icon. For documentation and gathering visual content, it’s simple, fast, and efficient.