Windows · Guide
How to Take a Screenshot on Windows
Short answer
Press Windows key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool's region selector, capture the area you want, then paste it wherever you need it. It is copied to your clipboard automatically.
Requirements
- Windows 11 or Windows 10
- Snipping Tool (built in)
- Optional: ShareX or Greenshot for annotation and auto-save workflows
Steps
1. Open the snip selector
Press Windows key + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top.
2. Choose a capture mode
Pick rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen snip from the toolbar.
3. Select the area
Drag over the region you want. The image copies to your clipboard immediately after you release the mouse.
4. Paste or edit it
Paste directly into an email, chat, or document with Ctrl+V, or click the notification that appears to open it in Snipping Tool for markup.
5. Capture the full screen instead
Press the PrtScn key alone to copy the entire screen to the clipboard, or Windows key + PrtScn to also save a PNG to Pictures\Screenshots.
Alternative methods
1. Use ShareX for advanced capture
ShareX adds scrolling captures, automatic uploads, and one-click annotation on top of standard screenshots.
2. Use Greenshot for quick annotation
Greenshot is lightweight and opens an editor immediately after capture for adding arrows, text, and highlights.
Troubleshooting
Windows key + Shift + S does nothing
Make sure Snipping Tool is set as the screenshot handler in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, or reinstall it from the Microsoft Store if it was removed.
PrtScn opens Snipping Tool instead of copying the screen
This is expected behavior on newer Windows 11 builds; the setting can be toggled in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Print Screen shortcut.
Screenshots are not saving automatically
Windows key + Shift + S only copies to the clipboard by default. Use Windows key + PrtScn, or enable auto-save in Snipping Tool's settings.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Windows key + PrtScn screenshots save?
To This PC\Pictures\Screenshots by default.
Can I capture a scrolling webpage in one screenshot?
The built-in Snipping Tool cannot, but ShareX and some browser extensions support scrolling capture.
How do I screenshot just one window?
Use Alt + PrtScn to copy only the active window, or choose the Window snip mode in Snipping Tool.