You might think taking a screenshot is not a big deal, and you would be correct, but do you know there are almost a dozen ways you can take a screenshot on Windows?
And if you’re wondering why there are so many ways, different users have different screenshot needs. Some people want to capture entire screens to give tutorials; others want to capture only specific parts to highlight an essential element or a focal point.
So, the goal today is to show you simple ways to take screenshots on Windows while streamlining your workflow and giving you high-quality screenshots! If you're a Mac user looking for similar screenshot tips, be sure to check out our sister article "How to Take a Screenshot on Mac" for a comprehensive guide tailored to Apple devices
In this article
1. Screenshot Shortcuts on Windows
Windows has no shortage of shortcuts for each of its functions and features. Whether you want to mute a video, enable subtitles, or launch your webcam, a key (or key combinations) is always within reach to initiate the action. This applies to taking screenshots as well.
So, if you want to know how to take screenshots on Windows, follow the methods below. We’ll start off with the easy ones first and then move on to combinations requiring more keystrokes.
Print Screen/PrtScn (Capture the Full Screen; Screenshot Saved to Clipboard)
The PrtScrn or PrtSc key is near your Windows keyboard’s “Del” key. Press PrtScn:
This takes a screenshot on the computer and copies the entire screen to your Windows clipboard for you to paste into an MS Word document, an email, etc.
Win + PrintScreen (Capture the Full Screen; Screenshot Saved to Computer).
The Windows key is at the bottom left of your keyboard. Press Windows + PrtScn:
This takes a screenshot on Windows of the entire window and saves it to your default Screenshots folder.
Win + Alt + PrintScreen (Capture the Window; Screenshot Saved to Computer)
The Alt key is to the right of the Windows key. Press Win + Alt + PrintScreen:
This command takes a screenshot of the currently active window, not the entire screen. It’ll save the screenshot to your Captures folder in Videos.
Win + Shift + S(Capture A Rectangular Screen Area; Screenshot Saved to Clipboard)
Press Win+Shift+S, This shortcut takes a screenshot of only a section of your screen. After pressing the key combination, your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Go to the snipping toolbar, click “Snipping Mode,” then select “Rectangle.”
Drag the crosshair in any direction, and a rectangular selection window will appear. Expand or contact it to cover the portion of the screen you want, then lift your finger from the trackpad or mouse to take the screenshot on Windows.
Capture An Irregular Screen Area; Screenshot Saved to Clipboard.
Press Win + Shift + S:
Use this shortcut to draw an irregular or freeform shape over the portion of the screen you want to capture. When you press the key combination, the screenshot toolbar will appear. Click “Snipping Mode” and select “Freeform.”
Drag the crosshair to form a shape, then lift your finger from the trackpad/mouse when you’re done. Windows will automatically take screenshots on the computer.
Capture The Window; Screenshot Saved to Clipboard.
Press Win + Shift + S,This takes a screenshot of a specific window. The key combination will open the screenshot toolbar where you click “Snipping Mode” and then “Window.”
Point your crosshair towards the specific window you want to capture, tap your trackpad, or click your mouse. The toolbar will take screenshots on Windows.
Capture the Full Screen; the screenshot is saved to the Clipboard.
Press Win + Shift + S, This captures everything on the screen. Pressing the key combination will bring up the screenshot toolbar. Click “Snipping Mode” and select “Full Screen.”
It will instantly take a screenshot of the whole screen. Look to the bottom right and see a smaller preview of the screenshot you just took.
）2. Windows Built-in Snipping Tool
That’s that for shortcuts; we’ll now show you how to screenshot on Windows using its native screenshot tool. It’s appropriately named “Snipping Tool” and has been part of Windows since 2002, but many users still don’t know it exists!
It’s a light and simple tool to take screenshots on Windows, so we highly recommend you use it if you’re not too keen on using keyboard combinations.
Step1Open the Snipping tool
Press Win + S to open the Windows search interface, then type “snipping,” and the tool will appear. Click it.
）Step2Set Parameters
Snipping Tool has a few options that make taking a screenshot on Windows a simple affair:
- The camera icon takes a screenshot
- The video camera icons record your screen
- The Snipping Mode gives options for the kind of screenshot you want to take: “Rectangle” to capture a particular section of the screen, “Window” to capture a specific window, “Full Screen” to capture the whole screen, and “Freeform” to draw a shape on the screen and capture it
- The clock icon is a timer, so you can set whether you want the tool to take the screenshot with no delay or a 3,5, or 10-second delay. If you want more settings, click the three dots to the right of the tool and click “Settings
So, choose your options and click the “+New” button to take a screenshot on Windows.
3. Third-Party Snipping Tools for Windows
While we appreciate the Windows Snipping Tool, it only has the most basic features that any other screenshot tool has.
But we always want the best for you, so we’ll show you how to screenshot on Windows using three third-party tools that offer unique features you don’t often see on other screenshot software!
Sharex
Sharex is an open-source and free software designed primarily to take screenshots on Windows and edit images.
It has over 14 screen capture methods, including full screen, active window, monitor menu, screen recording, scrolling capture (we love this one!), auto capturing, and much more.
Sharex also offers “after capture tasks” like printing the mage, beautifying it, saving it in different formats, and even the ability to recognize text via OCR (Optical Character Recognition)!
And yet, despite all these advanced features, using the tool is very simple. See the steps below to see how to take screenshots on Windows:
Step1Open Sharex
Download, install, and open Sharex. Most of what you need is already on the software’s homepage. You’ll see the type of screenshots it takes, with their respective keys and key combinations.
）Step2Take Screenshot
Use any of the keys or hotkeys to take screenshots on the computer. In the example below, we pressed the “Print Screen” key to capture the entire screen.
Once you take the screenshot, you’ll see its preview below and to the right. The screenshot will also appear on Sharex’s interface. Right-click on the screenshot in Sharex to edit, beautify, pin it, or do a host of other things with it.
DemoAir
DemoAir is an online screenshot tool by a company that needs no introduction: Wondershare! DemoAir is another free, lightweight, yet powerful tool for recording voices and screens and taking full screenshots on Windows.
It also has a Chrome plugin, so you can capture an entire website page on the go without needing to open the tool. And you don’t need to download it to use it, so that’s very convenient. And regarding compatibility issues, you can even use it on mobile!
This tool is easy to use and great for anyone who wants to record tutorials or online courses. But it also leverages the power of AI to help you create exciting presentations and share them on streaming platforms. This is how to take screenshots on Windows with DemoAir:
Step1Open DemoAir
Go to DemoAir and toggle on the “Full-page screenshot” option if it’s not on already.
Step2Paste URL
DemoAir is an online tool, so you can only capture webpages via their URL. So, copy the webpage URL you want a screenshot of and paste it into the field provided.
）Step3Take Screenshot
Click the “Capture” button. Wait a few seconds, and the next page will show your screenshot. That’s how to screenshot on Windows with this great software!
GoFullPage
This is the least robust of the three screenshot tools we listed, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less efficient. With over 73,000 positive reviews and over 8,000,000+ users, you’re assured this Edge and Chrome browser extension excels at taking screenshots on Windows.
It’s easy to use and can easily capture the entire website page. It allows you to save screenshots in PNG, JPG, PDF, etc. formats. And it’s fast, too! Use it by doing this:
Step1Open GoFullPage
Open GoFullPage and install the extension for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, depending on your browser.
Step2Take Screenshot
Once the extension has been installed, a camera icon appears in the extension toolbar. Click it to take a screenshot of the entire webpage. The tool will take you to a new page where you can download the screenshot.
How to Take Video Screenshots on Windows
We’re done showing you how to screenshot on Windows; now we’re moving on to video screenshots! Many third-party tools can do this for you, but it’s not just about recording your screen, right?
No, you want a screen recorder that can capture your screen in high quality, retaining every little detail. A tool that can record crisp audio and even record both your webcam and screen at once! And we have the perfect tools for that:
Wondershare DemoCreator
DemoCreator is another innovative software from Wondershare. While it might seem like the tool is geared towards professionals, because of the professional-grade videos it can give you, everyday individuals can also use it to take screenshots on the computer and for all their screen recording needs.
The tool has advanced editing tools, rich templates/effects, and leverages AI technology. Plus, your video can be shared immediately after screen recording. Using it is as simple as clicking a few buttons; see the steps below:
Step1Open DemoCreator
Download, install, and run DemoCreator. Click “Video Recorder.”
）Step2Select Screen Recorder
Click “Screen and Camera.”
）Step3Record Screen
A rectangular recorder window will open; this area is where the tool will record. You can drag the edges outward to expand and pull them inward to shrink their size. You can also set the software to dual record your webcam and screen if you wish.
Once you’ve set the area you want to record, or perhaps set the tool to record the entire screen, click “REC.”
）Step4Export Recording
Click the Stop button to stop recording and bring up the next and final page. You can edit the video by clicking “Advanced Editing” or “Share” it online or just “Quick Export” it and save it to your system.
）Xbox Game Bar
When you hear “Xbox,” the last thing that comes to mind is software to take screenshots on Windows, right? We don’t blame you; it’s a feature that Microsoft added fairly recently (2019).
The aim was not to give Windows users another screenshot tool but to give gamers a means to capture in-game moments and share them online and with friends.
But we felt that not mentioning it here would be a waste because it’s still a great screenshot tool, gamers or not! Here’s how to screenshot on Windows with Xbox Game Bar!
Step1Launch the Xbox Game Bar
Press these keys: Win + G. The Game Bar will open. Click “Capture,” which is the fourth tool on the bar.
Step2Take Screenshot
Click the Camera icon to take a screenshot or the dot to start recording your screen. When done, click the Stop button, and the file will be saved to your system.
4. FAQ
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What Versions of Windows Include the Snipping Tool?
As mentioned earlier, Snipping Tool has been around for quite a while. It was initially part of Windows Vista, released in 2006, for users to learn how to screenshot on Windows. However, all successors to Windows Vista also came with Snipping Tool: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. The simple truth is that Microsoft knows that the Snipping Tool is now integral to their customers. It provides quick and easy access to tools that take screenshots on Windows and even record screens. -
After I Capture a Screenshot, How Do I Create Arrows and Annotations?
Snipping Tool has built-in editors and features for this purpose. After you take a screenshot on the computer, it will open in an editing window. You’ll see several drawing tools like a Ballpoint Pen, a Highlighter, and a Pencil. You can use any of them manually to draw arrows, make edits, and annotate. While the Snipping Tool doesn’t have a dedicated arrow tool, you can still draw arrows if your hand is steady enough and use the marker, pencil, and pen we mentioned. To add text, type in the screenshot on Windows. You can also crop and share your screenshots right from the Snipping Tool. -
Why Print Screen Do Not Work?
There could be any number of reasons. For one, make sure it is not a hardware issue, and the key isn’t faulty or hasn’t been dislodged. It’s also possible another software running in the background has overridden the Print Screen key and prevented you from taking screenshots on Windows. In some systems, the Print Screen doesn’t work unless combined with other keys like Fn. Lastly, check your keyboard settings to ensure the Print Screen hasn’t been disabled. If it still doesn’t work, it’s best to take it to a professional to repair it. -
How To Screenshot Without Opening Snipping Tool?
This is easy. You use shortcuts via a combination of keys to screenshots on the computer. There are several combinations, but the main ones will mostly have you pressing Win + Shift + S to open a snipping menu and select from different types of screen capture. And if you don’t want to open the snipping tool, Win + PrtScn works perfectly well, too; it will capture the entire screen and save it in the default Screenshots folder, -
How To Screenshot Shortcut Part of the Screen on Windows?
You’ll use one of the commands we gave in the previous answer: Win + Shift + S. It opens a tiny snipping menu that offers options to take screenshots of the whole screen, specific windows, certain areas, or even an area you’ll draw out.
5. Conclusion
What do you think about these nine tools to take screenshots on Windows? It’s surprising how many ways you can capture your Windows screen, isn’t it?
We’re sure you learned how to screenshot on Windows today in ways you never even knew possible. But that’s not the best part of this article.
No, the best part is you now know of a tool that can take high-quality screenshots on Windows and record screens in HD for you: Wondershare DemoCreator!
It’s the only screenshot and screen recorder software you need, regardless of whether you’re a professional who makes a living from recording tutorials or an individual who wants to capture their screen for other reasons.
