Hytale includes its own screenshot shortcut and also works smoothly with standard Windows and Mac capture tools, so recording what you see on screen is straightforward once you know the key combinations and file locations.
Hytale built-in screenshot shortcut (F12)
The quickest way to capture Hytale while using a keyboard is the built-in screenshot command on the F12 key. This tells the game to save an image of whatever is currently visible on screen.
Step 1: Enter gameplay and frame the scene you want to capture, whether that is a build, combat, or a menu.
Step 2: Press F12 once. The game briefly flashes white, which confirms that a screenshot has been taken and stored.
Step 3: Continue playing normally. Each time you press F12, Hytale saves another image to your screenshots folder on your computer.
Hytale does not support controllers, so there is no way to trigger screenshots directly from a gamepad. Use a keyboard key such as F12 or the operating system shortcuts instead.
Find Hytale screenshots on Windows
Screenshots created with F12 are stored automatically in a dedicated folder under your Windows user account. The default location follows this path (replace XXX with your Windows username):
C:\Users\XXX\Pictures\Hytale Screenshots
Step 1: Open File Explorer and select This PC.
Step 2: Open Local Disk (C:), then open the Users folder.
Step 3: Inside Users, open the folder that matches your Windows account name.
Step 4: Open the Pictures folder, then open Hytale Screenshots. All screenshots taken with F12 are stored here by default.
Take HUD-free screenshots in Hytale (F8)
The on-screen interface can get in the way when you want a clean view of the environment. Hytale allows you to hide the head-up display (HUD) before capturing an image.
Step 1: Position the camera exactly where you want the screenshot, such as a wide view of terrain or a build.
Step 2: Press F8 to hide the HUD so that status bars and interface elements do not appear.
Step 3: With the HUD hidden, press F12 to use Hytale’s screenshot feature, or use your operating system shortcut if you prefer that method.
Using F8 together with F12 is useful when you want environment shots that focus only on the world and not on UI elements.
Use Windows screenshot tools while playing Hytale
On Windows, built-in shortcuts can capture the whole screen or a chosen part of it while Hytale is running. These methods place the image on the clipboard, so you can paste it into another application to save or edit.
| Shortcut | Capture | Result |
|---|---|---|
PrintScreen |
Entire screen | Image copied to clipboard |
Windows key + Shift + S |
Selected area | Image copied to clipboard |
Full-screen capture with PrintScreen
Step 1: Make sure Hytale is visible and the content you want to capture is on screen.
Step 2: Press the PrintScreen key on your keyboard. Windows copies a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard.
Step 3: Open an application such as an image editor or document tool and use its paste command to insert the screenshot, then save the file.
Region capture with Windows key + Shift + S
Step 1: While Hytale is open, press Windows key + Shift + S.
Step 2: Choose the portion of the screen you want to capture, making sure it includes the part of Hytale you care about.
Step 3: Open your preferred application and paste from the clipboard. Save the pasted image to keep the capture.
These Windows shortcuts are useful if you want to include desktop elements along with Hytale or capture only a specific region of the game window.
Use Mac screenshot tools while playing Hytale
Mac systems also provide built-in shortcuts that work while Hytale is in focus. You can capture the entire display or a selected part of it, and macOS saves the resulting image file for you.
| Shortcut | Capture | Default save location |
|---|---|---|
Shift + Command + 3 |
Entire screen | Desktop |
Shift + Command + 4 |
Selected area | Desktop |
Full-screen capture with Shift + Command + 3
Step 1: Bring Hytale to the front and arrange the view you want to capture.
Step 2: Press Shift + Command + 3. macOS saves an image of the entire screen.
Step 3: Look on the desktop for the new screenshot file and move or rename it as needed.
Region capture with Shift + Command + 4
Step 1: While Hytale is visible, press Shift + Command + 4.
Step 2: Select the part of the screen to capture so that it contains the area of Hytale you want to show.
Step 3: Find the resulting image on the desktop and open it in your preferred image viewer or editor.
These shortcuts are helpful when you need standard image files placed directly on the desktop without using the clipboard.
Game recording tools when a screenshot is not enough
Sometimes a static image does not show an issue or event clearly, especially when timing or movement is involved. In those cases, a short video recording of Hytale can be more effective than a screenshot.
- Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) – A free and open-source application for recording video and live streaming, with extensive configuration options and support for multiple platforms. It can be downloaded from obsproject.com.
- Bandicam – Recording software designed to be lightweight and simple to use while capturing high-quality videos and screenshots, with features such as real-time drawing and scheduled recording.
- Nvidia ShadowPlay – Recording functionality available to users of Nvidia graphics cards, intended to provide high-quality captures while keeping performance impact low.
- AMD ReLive – A feature set for newer AMD graphics cards that offers functionality similar to Nvidia ShadowPlay for recording gameplay.
Using one of these tools while playing Hytale produces video clips that can be shared with other players or attached when reporting bugs, giving a clearer picture of what happened in game.
Combining Hytale’s F12 shortcut, the F8 HUD toggle, and the screenshot features built into Windows and Mac makes it straightforward to capture the game the way you want, keep track of where each image is stored, and share clear visual information whenever it is needed.
