Take Screenshots in Pixel Streaming | Capture Unreal on Web Instantly

How to capture screenshot while pixel streaming

When building immersive experiences with Unreal Engine Pixel Streaming, screenshots are more than just a nice-to-have — they’re a critical tool for marketing, user engagement, and documentation. Whether you’re showcasing a real estate project, sharing progress in a training simulation, or letting users capture gameplay moments, being able to take high-resolution screenshots directly from your cloud-streamed Unreal Engine application is essential.

But here’s the challenge: When your Unreal application is running in the cloud via Pixel Streaming, traditional Unreal screenshot commands don’t behave as expected. By default, screenshots are saved on the remote server, not on the end-user’s device. That makes them inaccessible to your clients unless you manually retrieve them.

At Streampixel, we’ve solved this limitation by introducing an easy, developer-friendly way to capture high-quality screenshots in Unreal Engine on the web — with just one simple command. Screenshots can now be taken either from inside Unreal Engine’s UI or directly from your website frontend (iframe integration), depending on your project’s needs.

Why Standard Unreal Engine Screenshots Fail in Pixel Streaming

Let’s break it down. Normally in Unreal, you can use:

• Console commands like HighResShot

• Blueprint functions for taking screenshots

  
  

However, in a cloud-hosted Pixel Streaming session, these methods save the image inside the server project folder. Since the server is remote, the user never sees that file.

This is a big problem for industries like:

• Real estate (capturing visuals of a walkthrough)

• Smart cities & infrastructure (sharing design simulations)

• Gaming & esports (letting players capture highlights)

• Enterprise training & simulation (recording scenarios for review)

• 
  

That’s why Streampixel built a direct client-side screenshot capture system for Pixel Streaming.

Streampixel’s Solution: Client-Side High-Resolution Screenshots

With Streampixel, screenshots are captured on the frontend browser instead of being locked on the server. This means:

• The user clicks a button (in Unreal UI or on the website)

• A message is sent to the frontend

• The frontend captures the current frame of the Unreal Engine Pixel Streaming session

• The screenshot is instantly downloaded in high resolution to the client’s device

• The screenshot is captured at the resolution at which the stream is running.

  
  

No backend fetching. No manual work. Just a smooth, real-time screenshot experience for your users.

Method 1: Taking Screenshots from the Unreal Engine UI

If you prefer the screenshot feature to look like part of the Unreal Engine experience itself, this approach works best.

1. Add a screenshot button inside your Unreal project UI (e.g., HUD or settings menu).

2. When the button is clicked, Unreal sends a message to the Pixel Streaming frontend via "Send Pixel Streaming Response" node.

3. The frontend listens for this event and captures the live stream frame.

4. The screenshot is immediately downloaded to the user’s local device.

   
   

✅ Best when all the UI is placed within Unreal app.

Blueprint Implementation

For more information about this you can visit: https://docs.streampixel.io/resources/quick-start-guide/screenshot-functionality

Method 2: Taking Screenshots from the Web UI (Iframe Integration)

For projects where the web interface is already central, you may want to control screenshots from your website frontend instead of Unreal.

1. Embed your Unreal Engine app inside an iframe.

2. Place a “Take Screenshot” button on the webpage.

3. When clicked, the button sends an iframe message to capture the Unreal stream.

4. The screenshot is captured and downloaded locally in high resolution.

   
   

✅ Best when all the UI is placed on the frontend

<button id="screenshotBtn">📸 Take Screenshot</button>

<script>
  const screenshotBtn = document.getElementById("screenshotBtn");

  screenshotBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
    window.postMessage(
      { message: 'requestScreenshot' },
      "*"
    );
    console.log("Screenshot request sent.");
  });
</script>

Code Snippet

For more information about Iframe integration you can visit: https://docs.streampixel.io/resources/custom-integration-guide/iframe-integeration

Method 3: Custom Workflow for Cloud Storage

Sometimes, you may not want users to download screenshots directly. Instead, you may want to:

• Save screenshots into AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Azure Blob

• Collect user captures in a centralized database

• Build a screenshot gallery for audits, analytics, or marketing

  
  

In this case, you can:

1. Trigger Unreal’s native screenshot functionality (HighResShot, Blueprint events, etc.).

2. Let Unreal save the file in the server’s project folder.

3. Write a blueprint that uploads the file to your chosen cloud storage provider.

This gives you complete flexibility for enterprise workflows while still leveraging the power of Pixel Streaming in Unreal Engine.

Why Screenshot Capture Matters in Pixel Streaming

Screenshots are not just a technical feature — they’re a marketing tool.

• Real Estate & Architecture: Clients can instantly save perspectives of a property tour.

• Gaming & Entertainment: Players can capture and share their best in-game moments.

• Training & Simulation: Instructors can review progress with screenshot documentation.

• Enterprise Demos: Companies can use screenshots as part of sales pitches and reports.

Every time a user captures a screenshot in your Pixel Streaming Unreal Engine app, you create content that can be shared, marketed, and repurposed.

Conclusion

With Streampixel, taking screenshots in Unreal Engine Pixel Streaming is no longer a challenge. Whether you:

• Add a button in Unreal Engine UI

• Create a webpage button in an iframe

• Or build a custom backend storage solution

… your users can capture high-resolution screenshots instantly and use them the way they need.

This capability transforms Pixel Streaming from a simple streaming solution into a fully interactive platform for developers, marketers, and enterprises.

🚀 Streampixel makes Unreal Engine Pixel Streaming simpler, more powerful, and more shareable.

Ready to give your users the ability to capture stunning, high-quality screenshots from your cloud-hosted Unreal Engine app?👉 Try Streampixel today and make your experiences more interactive and market-ready.