5 Easy Ways to Take Screenshots in Windows

Occasionally, you may find the need to capture and store the contents displayed on your screen—be it for sharing noteworthy moments with friends and family or saving information for future reference. Fortunately, whether you’re using Windows 10 or the newer Windows 11, there are several convenient methods for capturing full or partial screenshots.

Learn how to employ the built-in tools and various shortcuts available in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 to capture screenshots, allowing you to choose the method that best suits your preferences.

Taking screenshots in Windows 10 is a straightforward process, and there are several ways to do it. Here are five easy methods:

1. Print Screen (PrtScn) Key:
   • Press the PrtScn key on your keyboard. This captures the entire screen.
   • To capture only the active window, press Alt + PrtScn.
   • Open an image editor (like Paint or Photoshop) and paste (Ctrl + V) to view and edit the screenshot.
2. Snipping Tool:
   • Open the Snipping Tool by typing “Snipping Tool” in the Windows search bar and selecting it from the results.
   • Click on “New” and select the area you want to capture.
   • After capturing, you can edit and save the screenshot.
3. Snip & Sketch:
   • Use the keyboard shortcut Win + Shift + S to open the Snip & Sketch tool.
   • Select the area you want to capture.
   • The captured snip is copied to the clipboard and can be pasted into an image editor.
4. Windows + Print Screen:
   • Press Windows + PrtScn to capture the entire screen. The screenshot is automatically saved in the Screenshots folder within the Pictures library.
5. Game Bar:
   • If you are running a game, you can use the Xbox Game Bar.
   • Press Win + G to open the Game Bar, and then click on the camera icon to take a screenshot.

Notably, the Snip & Sketch tool offers a more user-friendly experience for capturing, sharing, and annotating screenshots compared to its predecessor, the Snipping Tool. It now includes the ability to capture screenshots of specific windows on your desktop—a feature that was initially missing and kept many users loyal to the Snipping Tool until recently.

To swiftly access Snip & Sketch, use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Shift + S. Alternatively, you can locate the Snip & Sketch tool in the alphabetical list of apps accessible from the Start button or in the notification panel, where it’s identified as Screen snip. If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t stick in your memory, a simple search will also lead you to the tool.

Remember that the methods may vary slightly depending on your Windows 10 version. These are general methods that should work for most users. Feel free to choose the one that fits your preference and workflow.