8 ways to take a screenshot on Windows 10 and Windows 11
You have the option of using either the Print Screen button or the Snipping Tool in Windows 10 or 11 to capture a screenshot.
You may also snap a screenshot by pressing the Windows Key in combination with the letter G on your keyboard.
There are even more functionalities available through third-party applications, such as automatically posting screenshots to the internet.
There are a few different approaches that you can use in order to capture a screenshot on a computer that is running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
We have compiled a list of the most effective methods for taking screenshots in Windows, which you can use whether you want to capture the entire screen or just a portion of it.
A helpful hint for anyone who uses a Mac is to read the article linked here, which explains how to capture screenshots on a Macintosh computer.
The Print Screen button
The button labelled “Print Screen.”
A capture of a Windows keyboard, with the Print Screen key in the foreground and highlighted.
The key that prints the current screen is located on the very top row of keys. William Antonelli/Insider
If you have Windows 10 or Windows 11, hitting the Print Screen (PrtScn) button on your keyboard is the quickest and fastest way to snap a screenshot of the complete screen on either operating system.
You will see a notification that the screenshot has been copied to your clipboard. Copy the screenshot and then paste it into an application that allows you to insert images, such as Microsoft Word or Paint. This will allow you to save the file.
capture of the print screen from Windows 10
You can save and alter your screenshot by pasting it into an application such as Paint. William Antonelli/Insider
As a helpful hint, you may view the screenshots you have captured by pressing the Windows key in combination with the letter V to bring up the clipboard.
The Windows key + Print Screen
Combining the Windows key with the Print Screen key
A capture of a Windows keyboard, with the Print Screen key and the Windows key in focus in the image.
Pressing the Windows key in conjunction with the Print Screen key will cause screenshots to be saved automatically. William Antonelli/Insider
By pressing the Windows key in conjunction with the PrtScn button, users of Windows 10 or Windows 11 can quickly capture a screenshot and have it saved directly to the Screenshots folder. The brightness of your screen will decrease, and a screenshot of the full visible portion of your screen will be saved to the folder.
As a helpful hint, the Screenshots folder can be located by launching File Explorer (by pressing the Windows key plus E) and selecting Pictures from the left side panel of the window that appears (navigation pane). If you have an active OneDrive account, the screenshot will also be stored to that cloud storage service.
Alt + Print Screen
Pressing the Alt key in conjunction with the PrtScn key will capture only the currently active window. The captured image will be copied to your clipboard, and in order to save it, you will need to paste it into another application.
The Snip & Sketch tool in Windows 10
If you want to be able to personalise, comment, or share the screenshots you take with Windows, the best method to do so is using the Windows 10 Snip & Sketch application.
To make use of Snip & Sketch, press the Windows Key, followed by Shift, and then S on your keyboard. The brightness of your screen will decrease, and a little menu will show up at the top of your display. This menu will give you the choice to record a full-screen, window, free-form, or rectangle portion of the screen.
A captured image of a Windows keyboard, with the Shift key, Windows key, and S key in the front, respectively.
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 are compatible with this keyboard combination. William Antonelli/Insider
You have several options for taking screenshots available to you using Snip & Skitch, including the following:
Mode Function \sRectangular
Determine the dimensions of a rectangle for your screenshot.
Free-form
Use your cursor to make freehand drawings.
Window
Pick a particular window to take a screenshot of.
Full-screen
Take a screenshot of your full computer screen.
The Snip and Sketch functions that are included in Windows 10.
To take a screenshot in a rectangle, free-form, window, or full-screen format, select the appropriate option from the menu (from left to right). William Antonelli/Insider
When you have finished taking the screenshot, it will be copied to your clipboard, and a notification showing a preview of the screenshot will display in the lower-right hand corner of the screen.
You can save, share, or alter the snapshot using the drawing tools that are provided by opening the Snip & Sketch programme, which can be accessed by clicking on the preview notice.
The Snipping Tool in Windows 11
Even while it is available in Windows 10, the Snipping Tool is not typically the tool you will want to use for taking screenshots. The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 received a significant update, and as a result, it is now the most effective method for capturing customised screenshots.
You may launch the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 by searching for it or by pressing the Windows Key in combination with the Shift key and the S key. Your screen will dim in a manner similar to that of Snip & Sketch, and a toolbar containing options for screenshots will emerge at the top of the screen. You can take a capture that is rectangular, freeform, the entire window, or the entire screen with the help of this toolbar.
The Windows 11 software known as the Snipping Tool.
The Snipping Tool looks precisely like Snip & Sketch. William Antonelli/Insider
After you have taken a screenshot, the image will automatically be transferred to your clipboard so that you can immediately share it, and it will also be kept in the Screenshots folder on your computer. You will have the ability to save and make changes to the document after clicking on the preview that appears in the lower-right hand corner of your screen.
The Game Bar
The Game Bar is an overlay that enables you to take screenshots and record videos within the majority of the apps and games that are compatible with Windows. To access and make use of it, please follow the instructions below:
1. Combine the Windows Key and the letter G.
A word of advice: check to see if the Game Bar is turned on if you can’t open it. To open the settings app, hit the Windows key and the letter I simultaneously. Once it’s open, go to Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. The next step is to activate the Game Bar by toggling the switch to the on position so that you can “record game footage, chat with pals, and receive game invites.”
2. To access the Capture menu, in the top menu of the overlay, click the Capture button, which is represented by a camera icon. This will open the Capture menu.
A snapshot shows the Windows 10 application known as the Game Bar.
Using the Game Bar, you are able to capture screenshots as well as record your gameplay. William Antonelli/Insider 3. To take a screenshot, select the Capture menu option and then select the camera icon. You can also record a video clip by selecting the record button, and you have the option to include audio by clicking the microphone icon. Recording a video clip requires you to have the microphone icon selected.
You may locate screenshots and video clips that were captured by the Game Bar in the Videos > Captures folder in File Explorer. The screenshots and clips are saved in PNG and MP4 formats, respectively. You may also access them through the Gallery section of the Game Bar by selecting Show my captures > See my captures from the Capture menu, which is located directly below the buttons for recording and taking screenshots.
Power + Volume Up
Pressing the Power Button in conjunction with the Volume Up Button on a Microsoft Surface device allows you to take a screenshot in Windows 10. The screen will become darker, and the screenshot you just took will be saved in the folder under “Pictures > Screenshots.”
Important: If you want to take a screenshot on a Surface 3 or an earlier model, you need to hit the Windows logo button while simultaneously pressing the Volume Down button.
Apps developed by third parties for taking screenshots on Windows
There are third-party screenshot applications that are worth investigating if none of the built-in Windows techniques meet your needs. Each of these apps comes with its own unique set of additional features.
Third-party screenshot apps for Windows
A screenshot taken with Lightshot while using Windows 10.
Apps like Lightshot that take screenshots are helpful for posting on social media. William Antonelli/Insider
Lightshot is a free screenshot application that was developed with the intention of facilitating rapid social sharing. When you download and install Lightshot on a computer running Windows 10, it takes the place of the Print Screen feature and provides additional editing options.
Greenshot is another another free programme that gives you the ability to modify and personalise screenshots, in addition to giving you the chance to record an entire web page as it is scrolling.
ScreenRec is a free recording programme for Windows that enables you to capture films as well as images and share them with others. In addition to that, it gives you the tools you need to annotate your recordings and screen captures, and it also lets you rapidly create a link that you can give to other people so that they may view your annotations.
Snagit is a tool for taking screenshots that also enables the creation of animated GIFs, the capture of whole pages, and other capabilities. What’s the catch? The price for the premium version is $50. There is an option for a free trial that lasts for thirty days, but any pictures you take during that time will have a watermark on them.
Screencast-O-Matic is a web-based video editing and screen-sharing programme that allows you to capture and share the activities that occur on your computer screen. You merely need to sign up for a free account in order to use its other feature, which allows you to capture screenshots. You also have the option to unlock more advanced features by upgrading to a premium membership, which starts at just $4 per month.