In Ubuntu, the “Print Screen” key (often labelled PrtScn) is bound directly to the GNOME desktop’s native screenshot utility. Pressing it instantly dims your screen and brings up a selection tool, allowing you to capture a specific window, a custom region, or your entire desktop.
While highly convenient, this native tool can conflict with vastly superior third-party screenshot applications like Flameshot or Shutter. If you want to use a third-party tool and bind it to your Print Screen key, you will often find that Ubuntu fiercely protects the native shortcut, preventing your new app from intercepting the keystroke. To allow your preferred app to take over, you must completely unbind the default GNOME screenshot trigger.
How to Disable the Native Print Screen Shortcut in Ubuntu
You can remove the default screenshot binding directly from the system settings panel.
- Click the network/battery icon cluster in the top-right corner of the Ubuntu top bar and select Settings (the gear icon).
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, scroll down and click on Keyboard.
- In the main window on the right, look for the “Keyboard Shortcuts” section and click the View and Customize Shortcuts button.
- A new window will appear. Click on the Screenshots category.
- Find the entry labelled Take a screenshot interactively (it should show “Print” next to it).
- Click on the entry. A pop-up dialog will appear asking you to enter a new shortcut.
- Press the Backspace key on your keyboard. This will clear the shortcut, changing its status to “Disabled.”
- Click the Set button to confirm.
The native GNOME screenshot tool will no longer launch when you press the Print Screen key. The keystroke is now completely free, allowing you to assign it as the primary trigger in the settings of your preferred third-party screenshot application.