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Every Screenshot Method on Windows
| Method | Shortcut | What It Captures | Where It Saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print Screen | PrtScn | Entire screen | Clipboard |
| Auto-save screenshot | Windows + PrtScn | Entire screen | Pictures/Screenshots |
| Active window only | Alt + PrtScn | Current window | Clipboard |
| Snipping Tool | Windows + Shift + S | Custom area | Clipboard + notification |
| Xbox Game Bar | Windows + Alt + PrtScn | Active window | Videos/Captures |
Method 1: Print Screen (PrtScn)
The Print Screen key captures your entire screen and copies it to the clipboard. Nothing visible happens on screen – no flash, no notification. The screenshot sits on the clipboard waiting for you to paste it somewhere.
- Press the PrtScn key on your keyboard (usually in the top-right area, sometimes labeled “PrtSc” or “Print Screen”).
- Open any app that accepts images: Paint, Word, an email compose window, Slack, or a chat app.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.
- Save from there if needed.
On Windows 11, Microsoft changed the default PrtScn behavior to open the Snipping Tool instead of copying to clipboard. If pressing PrtScn opens the Snipping Tool, go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Keyboard, and toggle off “Use the Print Screen key to open Snipping Tool” to restore the classic behavior.
Method 2: Auto-Save Screenshot (Windows + PrtScn)
This is the fastest way to save a screenshot as a file. Press Windows + PrtScn and the screen dims briefly. The screenshot saves automatically as a PNG file.
- Press Windows + PrtScn simultaneously.
- The screen flashes to confirm.
- Open File Explorer and go to This PC, then Pictures, then Screenshots.
- Your screenshot is saved as “Screenshot (1).png” and so on.
This captures all monitors if you have a multi-monitor setup. The resulting image is one wide panoramic screenshot of every display combined. For single-monitor captures on a multi-monitor setup, use the Snipping Tool or Alt + PrtScn instead.
Method 3: Active Window (Alt + PrtScn)
Alt + PrtScn captures only the currently focused window, excluding the taskbar and any other windows. Click the window you want to capture, then press Alt + PrtScn. The screenshot copies to your clipboard – paste it with Ctrl + V into Paint, Word, or wherever you need it.
This is the cleanest option for capturing a single application without the desktop background, taskbar, or other windows cluttering the image.
Method 4: Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + S)
The Snipping Tool is the most versatile screenshot method on Windows. Press Windows + Shift + S and a toolbar appears at the top of the screen with four capture options.
Rectangular Snip: Click and drag a rectangle around what you want. This is the default and most commonly used mode.
Freeform Snip: Draw any shape to capture an irregular area.
Window Snip: Click on any window to capture just that window.
Full Screen Snip: Captures the entire screen (same as PrtScn but through the Snipping Tool).
After capturing, a notification appears in the bottom right. Click it to open the Snipping Tool editor where you can annotate with pens and highlighters, crop, add text, and save to any location. If you ignore the notification, the screenshot stays on the clipboard.
Open the Full Snipping Tool App
For more control, open the full Snipping Tool application instead of using the keyboard shortcut.
- Press the Windows key and type “Snipping Tool.” Click to open it.
- Click the dropdown next to “New” to select your capture mode.
- Set a delay (no delay, 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds) if you need to capture menus or tooltips that disappear when you click.
- Click “New” to start the capture.
The delay feature is essential for capturing context menus, dropdown menus, and hover tooltips. Set a 3-second delay, open the menu you want to screenshot, and wait for the automatic capture.
Method 5: Xbox Game Bar
The Xbox Game Bar works in any application, not just games. Press Windows + Alt + PrtScn to take a screenshot of the active window. The file saves to your Videos folder under “Captures.”
To access the full Game Bar interface, press Windows + G. The Capture widget shows screenshot and recording buttons. You can also start video recordings of your screen from here. The Game Bar is most useful when you need both screenshots and screen recordings – for pure screenshots, the Snipping Tool is faster and more flexible.
Snip & Sketch vs Snipping Tool
On Windows 10, Microsoft had two screenshot tools: the legacy Snipping Tool and the newer Snip & Sketch app. On Windows 11, they merged into one app simply called “Snipping Tool.” If you’re on Windows 10 and see both, use Snip & Sketch (or Windows + Shift + S) – it has better features and is the one Microsoft continues to update.
Where Screenshots Are Saved
| Method | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows + PrtScn | C:UsersYourNamePicturesScreenshots |
| Xbox Game Bar | C:UsersYourNameVideosCaptures |
| Snipping Tool (saved) | Wherever you choose in the Save dialog |
| PrtScn / Alt + PrtScn | Clipboard only (paste somewhere to save) |
How do I take a screenshot of just one monitor?
Use the Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + S) and draw a rectangle around the monitor you want. Alternatively, click a window on the target monitor to bring it into focus and use Alt + PrtScn to capture just that window. The Windows + PrtScn shortcut always captures all monitors as one combined image.
Can I change the default screenshot save location?
Yes. Navigate to C:UsersYourNamePictures, right-click the “Screenshots” folder, select “Properties,” go to the “Location” tab, and click “Move.” Choose a new folder (your Desktop, a OneDrive folder, or anywhere else). All future Windows + PrtScn screenshots save to the new location.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot on Windows?
Windows doesn’t have a built-in scrolling screenshot feature. Third-party tools handle this: ShareX (free, open-source) captures scrolling content in browsers and apps. Snagit ($63 one-time) also supports scrolling captures. In Chrome or Edge browsers, the DevTools can capture a full-page screenshot: press F12, then Ctrl + Shift + P, type “full size screenshot,” and press Enter.
See also: How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop, How to Screenshot on MacBook Pro, How to Screenshot on iPad
Sources
Microsoft – Snipping Tool | Microsoft – Take a Screenshot