How do I take a screenshot on Windows?

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I’m trying to capture an error message that popped up on my Windows computer, but I’m not sure how to take a screenshot. I’m using Windows 10, and I’ve heard there are different methods like using keyboard shortcuts or built-in tools. Could you walk me through the simplest way to take a full-screen screenshot? Also, I need to capture just a specific portion of my screen later for work, so how do I save that as a file? I don’t have third-party apps installed, so I need solutions that work with basic Windows tools. If there’s an updated method in Windows 11 versus Windows 10, please include that too. Thanks!

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

1. Full Screen Screenshot (Entire Display)

  • Method: Press the PrtScn (Print Screen) key on your keyboard.
  • Where to find the screenshot: The image is copied to your clipboard. Paste it into an image editor (e.g., Paint, Word, or Photoshop) by pressing Ctrl + V and save it.

2. Active Window Screenshot

  • Method: Press Alt + PrtScn.
  • Result: Only the currently active window is copied to the clipboard. Paste it into an application to save.

3. Automatic Save to Pictures Folder (Windows 10/11)

  • Method: Press Windows Key + PrtScn.
  • Result: The screenshot is saved automatically in the Pictures folder under a subfolder named Screenshots.
  • File naming: Screenshots are saved sequentially (e.g., Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png).

4. Snip & Sketch Tool (Windows 10/11)

  • Activate:
    • Press Windows Key + Shift + S.
    • Or search for "Snip & Sketch" in the Start Menu.
  • Options:
    • Rectangular Snip: Drag to select a rectangular area.
    • Freeform Snip: Draw a custom shape.
    • Window Snip: Capture a specific window.
    • Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire display.
  • Save: After capturing, click the notification to edit (crop, annotate) or save directly. Screenshots are copied to the clipboard and the Snip & Sketch editor opens for edits.
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5. Snipping Tool (Legacy Method, Still Available)

  • Location: Search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start Menu (pre-installed on Windows Vista and later).
  • Modes:
    • Free-form Snip: Draw any shape.
    • Rectangular Snip: Drag a rectangle.
    • Window Snip: Capture a single window.
    • Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire screen.
  • Save: Click "File > Save As" after capturing.

6. Game Bar (For Games and Applications)

  • Activate: Press Windows Key + G to open Game Bar, then click the camera icon or press Windows Key + Alt + PrtScn.
  • Settings: In Game Bar settings (gear icon), enable "Screenshot folder" under "Captures."
  • Location: Screenshots save to Videos\Captures by default.

7. Using the Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10/11)

  • Activate: Open any app/game, press Windows Key + G, then click the camera icon.
  • Shortcut: Windows Key + Alt + PrtScn.

8. Screenshots via Command Prompt or PowerShell

  • Command (cmd):
    cmd
    screencapture.exe /output "C:\path\to\screenshot.png"

    Replace the path with your desired save location.

  • PowerShell:
    powershell
    Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
    $screen = [System.Windows.Forms.Screen]::PrimaryScreen
    $bounds = $screen.Bounds
    $bitmap = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap($bounds.Width, $bounds.Height)
    $graphics = [System.Drawing.Graphics]::FromImage($bitmap)
    $graphics.CopyFromScreen($bounds.Location, [System.Drawing.Point]::Empty, $bounds.Size)
    $bitmap.Save("C:\path\to\screenshot.png")
    $graphics.Dispose()
    $bitmap.Dispose()

9. Edge Browser Screenshot (Microsoft Edge)

  • Method: Open Edge, press Shift + S, or use the Web Capture icon in the toolbar.
  • Result: Capture a region or full page, then save or edit.

10. Touch Screen or Tablet

  • Method: Press the Windows Logo + Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
  • Result: Saves automatically to Pictures > Screenshots.

Additional Notes

  • Clipboard vs. Automatic Save: Methods like PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn require pasting into an app. Windows Key + PrtScn saves directly.
  • Editing Tools: Use Snip & Sketch, Paint, or third-party tools (e.g., Snagit, Lightshot) for annotations.
  • File Format: Screenshots default to .png but can be saved as .jpg, .bmp, etc., in editors.
  • Shortcuts Customization: In Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, customize screenshot shortcuts under "Print Screen shortcut."
  • Troubleshooting: If PrtScn doesn’t work, check if Fn keys (e.g., Fn + PrtScn) are required, or update keyboard drivers.
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For most users, Windows Key + PrtScn (auto-save) or Windows Key + Shift + S (flexible snipping) are the most efficient methods.

Published: October 1, 2025