How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

Capture anything on your computer screen to save or share — there are several ways to do this on Windows.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Use the Snipping Tool shortcut (recommended for Windows 11)
2.Use the Print Screen key to capture the whole screen
3.Capture a single window
4.Auto-save a screenshot with one shortcut
5.Use the Snipping Tool app for more options

Use the Snipping Tool shortcut (recommended for Windows 11)

~35s

Hold the Windows key, then hold the Shift key, then press the S key (all three together: ⊞ Win+Shift+S). Your screen will go slightly dim and a small toolbar will appear at the top. Click "Rectangular Snip" and then drag your mouse to draw a box around the part of the screen you want to capture. When you let go, the screenshot is copied to your clipboard and a notification pops up. Click the notification to open, edit, or save it.

Quick Tip

This is the fastest and most flexible way to take a screenshot on Windows 11. It lets you capture any part of the screen you choose.

Use the Print Screen key to capture the whole screen

~21s

Look for a key labeled "PrtSc" or "Print Screen" on your keyboard (usually in the top right area). Press it once. This copies a picture of your entire screen to the clipboard. To save it, open Paint (type "Paint" in the Start menu search), press Ctrl+V to paste the image, then press Ctrl+S to save it as a file.

Capture a single window

~17s

Click on the window you want to capture to make sure it is in front. Then hold the Alt key and press PrtSc. This copies only that one window to your clipboard — not the whole screen. You can paste it into Paint, an email, or a document using Ctrl+V.

Auto-save a screenshot with one shortcut

~23s

Press the Windows key and PrtSc at the same time. Your screen will flash briefly to confirm the screenshot was taken. The image is saved automatically to your Pictures folder, inside a subfolder called "Screenshots." Open File Explorer and go to Pictures then Screenshots to find all your saved screenshots.

Quick Tip

This method is great when you want to save many screenshots quickly without opening any other program.

Use the Snipping Tool app for more options

~22s

For extra features, type "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu and open the app. From here you can set a timer before the screenshot is taken (helpful for capturing menus that close when you click away), draw on your screenshot to highlight something, and save in different file formats. This is the best option when you need more control over your screenshots.

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