Summary
There are occasions when you need to save the content that is now shown on your screen. There is a possibility that you come across anything that you would want to discuss with your loved ones or friends, or that there is something that you would like to store for future reference. Your good fortune is that regardless of whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11, there are a few simple methods that you can use to snap screenshots of the whole screen or just a portion of it.
screenshot on windows
Microsoft is still providing support for the Windows 10 operating system until October 2025, despite the fact that the company no longer really sells Windows 10. As a result, you are not required to upgrade to Windows 11 just yet, and you may continue to make use of these screenshot tricks for a few of more years.
The purpose of this article is to learn how to take screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11 using the built-in tools and alternative shortcuts, so that you may choose the one that best suits your needs.
To Snip and Sketch
It is now more simpler to access, share, and annotate screenshots with the Snip & Sketch tool than it was with the previous Snipping Tool. A startling absence that occurred when the software was originally released and that kept us using Team Snipping Tool until lately is that it now has the capability to take a snapshot of a window that is located on your desktop.
Utilizing the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Shift + S is the most convenient method for bringing up the Snip & Sketch application. It is also possible to locate the Snip & Sketch tool in the alphabetical list of applications that may be opened by clicking the Start button. Additionally, it can be found in the notification panel, where it is referred to as Screen snip. In the event that you do not commit the keyboard shortcut to memory, you then have the option to simply search for it. In the event that you capture screenshots on a regular basis, we strongly suggest that you pin the application to the taskbar.
By pressing either the keyboard shortcut or the notification button, your screen will go dark and a little menu will appear at the top of your screen. This menu will allow you to choose the sort of screenshot you wish to capture, which may be either a rectangle, freeform, window, or full-screen screenshot. After you have taken a screenshot, it will be copied to your clipboard and will appear as a notice in the lower-right corner of your screen for a brief period of time. For the purpose of annotating, saving, or sharing the screenshot, you may access it in the Snip & Sketch app by clicking on the notice. (In the event that you fail to see the notification, you may access the notification panel and find it waiting for you there.)
Instead of opening the little panel at the top of the screen, the Snip & Sketch window will open when you access it from the Start menu or by searching for it. This is because the Snip & Sketch window automatically opens. If you want to start a screen capture and open the little panel, you will need to click the New button that is located in the top left corner of this screen. Proceeding in this manner requires an additional step, but it also allows you to postpone taking a snapshot. You may postpone a snip for three or ten seconds by clicking the down-arrow button that is located next to the New button.
Snipping Tool
Since the release of Windows Vista, the Snipping Tool has been available. Despite the fact that Windows has been warning users for a number of years that the Snipping Tool would be removed, it is still there in operating system version 11. You may still readily access the Snipping Tool using the search bar, despite the fact that it has been removed from the list of applications that are shown on the Start menu.
In order to start the process of taking screenshots, click the New button. In addition to the rectangular snip that is the default, you also have the option to capture free-form, full-screen, and window snips.
The Snipping program does not automatically save your screenshots; rather, you will be required to manually save them inside the program before you quit it. However, it does automatically copy your grabs to the clipboard.
Print Screen
To take a screenshot of your complete screen, press the Print Screen key, which is often referred to as the PrtScn key. In contrast to being saved as a file, your snapshot will be copied to the clipboard instead of being saved. In order to save the file, you will need to open an image editing program (like Microsoft Paint), then paste the screenshot into the editor, and then save the file from inside the editor.
When you go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, you can choose the option to Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping under Print Screen Shortcut. This will allow you to configure the PrtScn button to open the Snip & Sketch tool.
Windows key + Print Screen
Pressing the Windows key in conjunction with the Print Screen key will allow you to take a snapshot of your complete screen and save it automatically. You will see that your screen has been dull for a moment to signify that you have just taken a screenshot. The screenshot will be stored to the folder that is located under Pictures > Screenshots.
Alt + Print Screen
You may quickly capture a screenshot of the window that is now active by using the keyboard shortcut Alt + PrtScn. This action will take a screenshot of the window that is now active and copy the snapshot to the clipboard. For the purpose of saving the photo, you will need to open it in an image editor.
Is there no key for printing the screen?
There is no need to worry if your computer does not have the PrtScn key since Microsoft offers another keyboard shortcut tailored just for you. If you want to capture a screenshot, you may do it by pressing the Fn key, the Windows logo key, and the space bar. After that, it will be saved to the folder that is labeled Pictures > Screenshots.
Playing bar
You are able to take a screenshot by using the Game bar, regardless of whether you are currently engaged in the process of playing a game or not. The first thing you will need to do is go to the settings page and make sure that the Record game clips, snapshots, and broadcasts using Game bar option is toggled on. This will allow you to activate the Game bar. When the Game bar is ready, press the Windows key and the G key simultaneously to bring it up. From this location, you may take a snapshot of the whole screen by either clicking the screenshot button located in the Game bar or by using the default keyboard shortcut that consists of the Windows key, Alt, and PrtScn. To customize the keyboard shortcut for taking screenshots from the Game bar, go to Settings > Gaming > Game bar.
Windows Logo and a decrease in loudness
You are able to take a screenshot of your complete screen by using the physical buttons on your Microsoft Surface device. This is comparable to how you would take a screenshot on any other phone or tablet. If you are using a Microsoft Surface device, you can really utilize the physical buttons. This may be accomplished by pressing and holding the Windows Logo touch button located at the bottom of your Surface screen while simultaneously pressing the physical volume-down button located on the side of the tablet. A momentary dimming of the screen will occur, and the snapshot will be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder automatically immediately after.
Full screen on Windows
- Press ‘Print Screen/PrtScrn’ or press ‘Alt’ and ‘Print Screen/PrtScrn’ (different for each PC).
- Click ‘Start’.
- Open ‘Paint’. Do a search for ‘Paint’ if you can’t find it.
- Click ‘File’.
- Click ‘New’ to open a new page.
- Click on ‘Paste’ in the new page.
- Click on ‘File’.
- Click on ‘Save As’.
- Name the new file, choose where you want it to save on your computer, and click ‘Save’.
Windows’s portion of the display screen
- Click ‘Start’.
- Click ‘Snipping Tool’. Do a search for ‘Snipping Tool’ if you can’t find it.
- In the ‘Snipping Tool’ select ‘New’.
- The cursor will then change to a crosshair pointer.
- Move the crosshair to where you want to capture.
- Click and drag to select an area.
- When you have selected the area you need, release your Mouse or Trackpad.
- Click on ‘File’.
- Click on ‘Save As’.
- 1Name the new file, choose where you want it to save on your computer, and click ‘Save’.
Those who are using Windows 10
Make use of the button labeled “Print Screen” (PrtSc). The majority of keyboards have it located on the upper-right side of the keyboard (although on others, it is located adjacent to the space bar). Your full screen will be captured in a picture that will be copied to the clipboard. You may then paste it into a document by using the ‘Ctrl + V’ key combination.
Screen recording on Windows
The Xbox Game Bar is a feature that is integrated into both Windows 11 and Windows 10, and it enables users to record their screen in a single application at a time.
The ‘Windows Key’, the ‘Alt’ key, and the ‘R’ key should all be pressed simultaneously.
To begin recording, a recording widget will take up residence in the upper-right hand corner of your screen.
To adjust the volume of your sound, you may either turn on or off your microphone.
Holding down the Windows key, the Alt key, and the R key at the same time will stop the recording of your screen. Alternatively, you may hit the “Stop” button that is located inside the recording widget.
In most cases, the recording will be located in the Videos/Captures folder that you may access using File Explorer.
The Xbox Game Bar will not be able to record your Windows desktop or File Explorer. Please take note of this. To do this, it is possible that you may need to install a third-party program on your desktop.
If you are using a different computer or device, what steps should you take?
If none of these ways for taking screenshots work on your device, we recommend that you open your search engine and search for “How do I take a screenshot/screen recording with a [add your device type/model]?”
In addition, there are various applications that may be used to capture a screenshot or record the activity on the screen. To find a screen capture or screen recorder, open Google Play and search for the term.
How to screenshot on Windows (video)?
To take a screenshot of a static picture, press the Windows logo key, followed by Shift, and then S. If you want a still picture snippet, use the Print Screen (PrtSc) button. To take a screenshot of a video, press the Windows logo key, Shift, and R simultaneously.
