How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Taking screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is straightforward and accessible for every user. This guide covers several ways to capture your screen on both systems, utilizing various key combinations and built-in tools.

1. Using the Print Screen (PrtScn) Key

The quickest way to take a screenshot is by using the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn on the keyboard). Here’s how it works:

  • Print Screen (PrtScn): Press the PrtScn key to capture the entire screen. The image will be copied to your clipboard. Open any graphic editor, such as Paint, and paste the image by pressing Ctrl + V to save it.
  • Alt + Print Screen: To capture only the active window, press Alt + PrtScn. This image will also be copied to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it into the desired application.
  • Windows + Print Screen: Press Windows + PrtScn to automatically save a screenshot of your entire screen. The image will be stored in the Pictures → Screenshots folder on your computer.

2. Using the "Snipping Tool"

The Snipping Tool lets you capture specific parts of your screen and offers several capture modes:

  1. Open the Snipping Tool: Type "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search bar and open the application.
  2. Select a capture mode: In the app, you can choose from "Free-form," "Rectangular," "Window," or "Full-screen" modes. Pick the one that fits your needs, and highlight the area to capture.
  3. Save the screenshot: After capturing, select "Save As" to store the screenshot in your chosen folder.

Starting with Windows 11, the Snipping Tool is also integrated with the “Screen Sketch” function, allowing you to edit and annotate screenshots.

3. Using "Snip & Sketch" (Windows + Shift + S)

In both Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can press Windows + Shift + S to activate the Snip & Sketch feature:

  • After pressing Windows + Shift + S, the screen will dim, and a capture menu will appear at the top of the screen for selecting your capture area.
  • Choose the area to capture. The screenshot will automatically save to your clipboard, and a notification will appear in the bottom-right corner to edit the image.
  • Click the notification to open an editor where you can add text, highlights, and annotations before saving the file.

4. Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G)

For gamers and users who want to record their screen or capture screenshots during gameplay, the Xbox Game Bar is ideal:

  1. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar.
  2. Select the camera icon to take a screenshot. The image will be saved automatically in the Videos → Captures folder.