Do you need to capture your screen on Windows? This guide shows you simple ways on how to take screenshot on Windows.
Learn different methods to get the image you need.
We cover tools built into Windows. We also look at other popular options for specialized tasks.
Knowing how to screenshot on Windows can improve your communication and record keeping.
How to Screenshot on Windows
Using the Print Screen (PrtScn) Key: Instantly Copy Your Full Screen to Clipboard
The Print Screen key offers a basic screenshot method. It is often labeled “PrtScn“, “PrntScrn”, or “Print Scr” on your keyboard.
This key copies your entire screen image. The image goes to your computer’s clipboard.
You can then paste the image into an application.
For example, paste it into Paint, Word, or an email. Pressing “PrtScn” alone does not save the file; you must paste it somewhere.
Windows Key + Print Screen: Automatically Save Full-Screen Screenshots as Files
You can automatically save full-screen screenshots as image files.
Press the Windows key + Print Screen key together.
Your screen will briefly dim. This dimming confirms Windows took the screenshot. Windows saves the image as a file.
You can find these files in your Pictures folder. Inside Pictures, look for a subfolder named “Screenshots“. This method is quick for saving multiple full-screen views.
Alt + Print Screen: Capture Only the Active Window to Clipboard
Sometimes you only need a picture of one specific window.
Press the Alt key + Print Screen key together.
This action captures only the active window. The active window is the one you are currently using.
This screenshot copies to your clipboard.
You can then paste it where you need it, like in a document or image editor. This avoids capturing your entire desktop.
Snipping Tool: Flexible Screen Capture for Any Region in Windows
Windows includes a flexible tool called Snipping Tool.
It helps you capture any part of your screen.
To open Snipping Tool, search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu. Snipping Tool offers several capture modes:
- Free-form Snip: Draw any shape around an object with your mouse.
- Rectangular Snip: Drag the cursor to form a rectangle around the desired area.
- Window Snip: Select a specific window to capture, like a dialog box.
- Full-screen Snip: Capture your entire screen, similar to the PrtScn key.
After you select a mode, click ‘New‘. Then select the screen area you want.
The captured image, or snip, appears in the Snipping Tool window. You can save it as a file or copy it to your clipboard from there.
For more details on using Snipping Tool, Microsoft provides guidance at their support page.
How to Take a Delayed Windows Screenshot with Snipping Tool
You might need to capture something that disappears quickly, like an open menu or a notification. Snipping Tool can take a delayed screenshot for these situations.
- Open Snipping Tool.
- Click the “Delay” option in the toolbar.
- Choose a delay time, for example, 3 seconds or 5 seconds.
- Click “New“.
The screen capture will happen after the selected delay. This delay gives you time to open menus or arrange your screen exactly as you want it for the screenshot.
Tips for Taking Multiple Windows Screenshots Quickly
Taking many screenshots can be fast with the right approach.
- Use Windows Key + Print Screen for full-screen images. Each key press saves a new file automatically. This method is very quick for sequential full-screen captures.
- Keep Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch open. After taking one snip, you can click the “New” button again immediately in the tool’s window. This allows for rapid captures of different areas.
- For capturing active windows, Alt + Print Screen is fast. Press the keys, then paste the capture into your document or image editor. Repeat as needed.
How to Capture a Scrolling Full Web Page Screenshot in Windows 10/11
Web pages are often longer than your visible screen area.
Capturing a full scrolling page requires specific tools or browser features.
Many web browsers have this capability built-in:
- Microsoft Edge: Use the ‘Web capture’ feature. Right-click on the web page or find the ‘Web capture’ button (often a camera icon or in the ‘Settings and more’ menu). This feature allows you to select an area or capture the full page. Microsoft offers instructions for Edge Web Capture.
- Google Chrome: You can use Developer Tools for a full page screenshot. Press F12 to open Developer Tools. Then press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) to open the command menu. Type “screenshot” and select ‘Capture full size screenshot’.
Some browser extensions also provide this function. These tools take multiple screen parts and combine them into one long image.
Taking Screenshots of YouTube Videos on Windows 10/11 (Without Pausing!)
You can take screenshots of YouTube videos easily while they are playing. You do not need to pause the video.
- Press Print Screen (PrtScn). This copies the current full screen, including the playing video, to your clipboard.
- Press Windows Key + Print Screen. This saves the current full screen directly to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
- Press Alt + Print Screen. This captures just the YouTube player window if it is the active window.
These methods capture the video frame displayed at that exact moment. This is useful for getting a specific scene.
Using Snip & Sketch: Windows’ Modern Tool for Screenshots & Annotation
Snip & Sketch is Windows’ newer tool for screen captures. It offers modern features for taking screenshots and making simple edits. It is gradually replacing the older Snipping Tool in recent Windows versions.
You can open Snip & Sketch in several ways:
- Press Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will darken, and a small toolbar appears at the top. This is the quickest way.
- Search for “Snip & Sketch” in the Windows Start menu.
- You can also set the “PrtScn” key to open Snip & Sketch through Windows Settings (Ease of Access > Keyboard).
When you use the keyboard shortcut (Windows Key + Shift + S), you can immediately choose a capture mode from the toolbar:
- Rectangular Snip
- Free-form Snip
- Window Snip
- Full-screen Snip
After you capture an image, it copies to your clipboard. A notification also appears on your screen. Clicking this notification opens the image in the Snip & Sketch app. Here, you can annotate, save, or share it. You can find more information on the Microsoft support page for Snip & Sketch (this page covers both tools).
How to Include the Mouse Pointer in Your Windows Screenshots
Most standard screenshot methods in Windows hide the mouse pointer by default.
Sometimes, you need to show the pointer in your image to highlight something.
Snip & Sketch can include the mouse pointer in screenshots.
- Open the Snip & Sketch application.
- Click the three dots menu (labeled ‘See more’) in the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Find the option “Show mouse cursor in screenshots” (or similar wording) and turn it on.
Now, snips you take using Snip & Sketch will include the mouse pointer. If this option is not available or you use an older tool, some third-party screenshot applications offer this feature. The Windows built-in “Steps Recorder” (psr.exe) also captures the pointer, but it creates a report of steps with screenshots, not a single image file.
How to Take a Screenshot of Part of Your Screen (Snip & Sketch)
Snip & Sketch makes capturing a specific part of your screen very simple.
- Press Windows Key + Shift + S.
- Your screen dims. A selection toolbar appears at the top of your screen.
- Select the Rectangular Snip (usually the default) or Free-form Snip from the toolbar.
- Click and drag your mouse cursor to select the area you want to capture.
- Release the mouse button.
The selected part of your screen is copied to your clipboard. A notification will also appear. Click this notification to open the snip in the Snip & Sketch app for editing or saving.
Editing Your Captures: How to Annotate or Crop a Screenshot with Snip & Sketch
Once your screenshot opens in the Snip & Sketch app, you can edit it. The app provides several useful tools for basic modifications:
- Pen, Pencil, Highlighter: Draw or write directly on your image. You can change colors and line thickness for these tools.
- Eraser: Remove any annotations you made with the pen, pencil, or highlighter.
- Ruler/Protractor: Use the ruler to draw straight lines. Use the protractor to draw circles or arcs, or measure angles.
- Crop Tool: Trim the edges of your screenshot. This helps remove unwanted parts and focus on the important content.
After you finish editing, you can save the image as a new file, copy it to your clipboard again, or share it using various Windows share options.
Advanced Screenshots: Third-Party Applications Worth To Try
Using SnagIt for Powerful Screen Capture & Editing on Windows
While Windows offers good built-in tools, some third-party applications provide more features. SnagIt is a popular tool from TechSmith.
It offers advanced capture options like scrolling window capture, panoramic capture, and video recording from your screen.
SnagIt also includes a powerful editor with many effects, text tools, and pre-made templates.
It is a comprehensive solution for users who need high-quality screenshots and editing capabilities. You can learn more about its features on the TechSmith SnagIt website.
Screenpresso: A Feature-Rich Screenshot Tool for Windows Users
Screenpresso is another strong option for Windows users seeking more screenshot power. It provides screen capture for images and HD video.
Screenpresso includes a built-in image editor and user-friendly sharing features. It aims to be a lightweight yet powerful tool for frequent screenshot takers.
Find details about its capabilities on the Screenpresso website.
PicPick: All-in-One Design & Screenshot Tool for an Enhanced Windows Experience
PicPick combines screenshot capabilities with a suite of graphic design tools.
It includes a versatile screen capture tool, an image editor, a color picker, a pixel ruler, a protractor, and more
PicPick is useful for users who need more than basic capture, such as web designers or graphic artists.
It offers many features in one package.
Visit the PicPick website for information.
Conclusion
Now you know many ways to screenshot on Windows. You can capture your full screen, a single window, or a specific area with precision.
Use built-in tools like the PrtScn key combinations, Snipping Tool, or the modern Snip & Sketch app for quick and easy captures.
For more advanced needs like scrolling capture or extensive editing, consider exploring third-party tools such as SnagIt, Screenpresso, or PicPick.
Practice these methods. Find the ones that work best for your daily tasks. Good screenshots can help you share information clearly, create tutorials, or document issues effectively.
Did this guide help you learn how to screenshot on Windows? Share it with friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Do you have a favorite screenshot method or a tip we missed?
Please tell us in the comments section below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Windows Screenshots
Here are answers to some common questions about taking screenshots in Windows.
FAQ: What is the Print Screen (PrtScn) key and how does it work for screenshots?
The Print Screen (PrtScn) key is a standard key on most computer keyboards. It captures an image of your entire computer screen.
When you press the PrtScn key alone, the image copies to your system’s clipboard.
It does not automatically save as a file. You must paste the captured image into an application like Microsoft Paint, Word, or an image editor to view, edit, or save it.
FAQ: Where is the Print Screen (PrtScn) key located on my keyboard?
The Print Screen key is usually found in the top-right section of your keyboard. It typically sits near the F12 key and the Scroll Lock key.
Keyboard labels can vary.
You might see it labeled as PrtScn, PrntScrn, Print Scr, PrtSc, or a similar abbreviation.
On some laptops, especially smaller ones, you may need to press the Function (Fn) key at the same time as the PrtScn key for it to work.
FAQ: How do I take a full screen screenshot on Windows 11?
You have several easy ways to take a full-screen screenshot on Windows 11:
- Press the PrtScn key. This action copies the entire screen to your clipboard. You then need to paste it into an application to save or use it.
- Press Windows Key + PrtScn together. This combination captures the full screen and automatically saves it as an image file in your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
- Use Snip & Sketch (or the older Snipping Tool). Open the tool (e.g., by pressing Windows Key + Shift + S for Snip & Sketch) and select the ‘Full-screen Snip’ option from its toolbar.
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