How to take a screenshot on Windows 11 (6 ways)

Applies to Windows 11 (and most of it to Windows 10). On many laptops the Print Screen key is labelled PrtSc and may need the Fn key.

Screenshot shortcuts

Capture part of the screen (Snipping Tool)

1. Press Win + Shift + S.
2. Choose a mode in the toolbar at the top: rectangle, window, full screen or freeform.
3. Drag around the area. It's copied to the clipboard - paste with Ctrl+V.
4. Click the preview notification to annotate, then Save (Ctrl+S).

Save the whole screen as a file

1. Press Win + PrtScn. The screen dims briefly.
2. Open File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots to find the PNG file.

Capture only the active window

1. Click the window you want.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn - it's copied to the clipboard. Paste it into Paint, Word, an email or chat.

What the Print Screen key does in Windows 11

In current Windows 11 versions, pressing PrtScn on its own opens the Snipping Tool overlay by default (same as Win+Shift+S). To make it copy the whole screen like before, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture.

Other ways

• Snipping Tool app: search for it in Start. It has a delay timer (useful for menus) and can record the screen as video.
• Xbox Game Bar: press Win + Alt + PrtScn to capture the active game or app. Files go to Videos > Captures.
• Surface and tablets: press Power + Volume Up together.

Screenshots not saving?

• Win + Shift + S only copies to the clipboard unless you save from the notification. In the Snipping Tool settings you can turn on Automatically save screenshots.
• If Pictures > Screenshots is missing, OneDrive may be saving them instead - check OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots.
• Some apps (streaming video, banking) block screenshots on purpose.