How to Take a Screenshot on Your Windows Computer

A screenshot captures exactly what's on your screen as an image — useful for saving information, asking for tech help, or sharing what you see.

2 min read · 4 steps · Checked April 2026

1. Step 1. Capture the whole screen with Print Screen

   Press the "PrtSc" (Print Screen) key on your keyboard — it's usually in the top right area of the keyboard, often labeled "PrtSc" or "Print Screen." This copies an image of your entire screen to the clipboard. Open the Photos app or Word, press Ctrl+V to paste it, and save the file. Alternatively, press the Windows key + PrtSc together — this automatically saves a screenshot to your PicturesScreenshots folder.

   Quick Tip

   The Windows key is the key with the Windows logo (four squares) on it, usually at the bottom left of the keyboard.

2. Step 2. Use the Snipping Tool to capture just part of the screen

   For capturing just a specific section of your screen: press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim and your cursor changes to a crosshair (+). Click and drag a rectangle around the area you want to capture. When you release, the selected area is copied to your clipboard. A notification will appear — click it to open the Snipping Tool where you can save or edit the image.

3. Step 3. Open the Snipping Tool app for more options

   Click the Start button and type "Snipping Tool." Open the app. Click "New" and drag to select the area of the screen you want to capture. The Snipping Tool also allows you to take screenshots after a delay (give yourself 5-10 seconds to set up what you want to capture first). Click the floppy disk icon to save your screenshot.

4. Step 4. Find your saved screenshots

   Screenshots saved automatically (Windows key + PrtSc) go to: PicturesScreenshots in the Files app. Screenshots captured with Snipping Tool are saved wherever you choose when you click "Save." To quickly find a screenshot you just took, open File Explorer, click "Pictures" in the left column, and look for the "Screenshots" folder.