How to Screenshot on Windows Laptop

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Screenshot on Windows Laptop

When being productive on your Windows laptop, whether for classes or work, you’ll likely need to take screenshots. The Windows operating system lets you capture almost anything on your display, saving it as a JPG or PNG image file.

Windows also enables you to screenshot or just a portion of your entire screen. Knowing how to screenshot on a Windows laptop can enhance your productivity.

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The screenshotting process can vary depending on your laptop’s Windows OS version and the type of Windows laptop you’re using.

There are several methods within Windows OS to take a screenshot on your laptop. In this review, we will explore five ways to do so.

Power Button + Volume Up Method

This method works only on 2-in-1 laptops running Windows 10 or higher, such as the HP Spectre X2 or the Microsoft Surface Pro.

Hold the ‘Power Button + Volume Up‘ buttons to take a screenshot. Your device will capture the screenshot and save the image in the ‘Screenshots‘ folder under ‘Pictures‘, located in the left sidebar of File Explorer.

Print Screen (PrtScn) Button Method

One of the simplest ways to take a screenshot on a laptop running Windows 10 or higher is by using the Print Screen (PrtScn) button on the keyboard.

To take a screenshot, press the ‘PrtScn‘ button in the top-right corner of your keyboard.

On laptops running Windows 10, the image will be temporarily saved to the clipboard. To save the image, paste it into any app that supports images, such as Microsoft Word.

For laptops running Windows 11, the image will be saved in the ‘Screenshots‘ folder under ‘Pictures‘, located in the left sidebar of File Explorer. If you have set up OneDrive on your Windows 11 laptop, you can also save it there.

Snip & Sketch Method

Snip & Sketch is available only on desktops and laptops running Windows 10 or higher and is considered the primary screenshot method for devices running this OS.

1. To take a screenshot, press the ‘Shift + Windows Key + S‘ keys on your keyboard.

2. Your screen will blur momentarily, and a rectangular menu will appear at the top.

3. Select the option you want to use; you can capture your entire display, a rectangular section, a freehand form, or a specific app window.

4. After capturing, an alert in the notification bar will indicate ‘Snip Saved to Clipboard‘. Click on this alert to open the screenshot. You can edit the screenshot using a highlighter, pen, and pencil.

Snipping Tool Method

The Snipping Tool is a screenshot app available on Windows laptops running Windows 7 or higher. In Windows 11, it has been updated to include more options.

1. To take a screenshot using this method, press ‘Windows Key + Shift + S‘ on your keyboard.

2. Your screen will blur momentarily, and a menu with screenshot options will appear at the top of your screen.

3. Choose the option you wish to use for the screenshot. Once captured, the image will be saved to your clipboard and shared with an app or website.

4. For 2-in-1 convertible laptops, such as the HP Spectre X2 or Microsoft Surface Pro, you can launch the Snipping Tool by double-clicking the button on the stylus.

Xbox Game Bar Method

The Xbox Game Bar is an overlay that can be used on top of most Windows apps and games for screenshotting or recording the display.

1. press the ‘Windows Key + G’ on your keyboard to launch this overlay.

2. Click the camera symbol on the menu to capture your entire display. For recording, click on the record button. You can use your laptop’s built-in mic for audio recording.

3. Screenshots and clips captured using this method are saved in the ‘Captures‘ folder inside the ‘Videos’ folder under the main user folder. You can view screenshots and/or clips by clicking on ‘Show

all captures’ under the screenshot control.

4. Note: The Xbox Game Bar might not open if not activated. To activate it, search for ‘Xbox Game Bar Settings‘ in the search bar and enable it.

In conclusion, taking screenshots on a Windows laptop is relatively easy, with several methods. Consider using Snip & Sketch or the Snipping Tool for more editing options.