How to Take Screenshot on Windows 11? Using the Built-in Windows Snipping Tool and Other Options

Taking a screenshot on Windows 11 will not require working your fingers to the bone. It’s a simple process that can be done with several shortcuts, regardless of the Windows OS version you’re using.

The Windows snipping tool is surely the obvious one, but with the latest advancements made by Microsoft, you can not only grab screenshots but also record the screen and even run optical character recognition (OCR) on images.

So, if you’re wondering how to take a screenshot on Windows, you’ll be surprised to know that there are 7 ways you can use, read this write-up for all the available options.

The most obvious and basic method to grab a screenshot or screengrab on Windows is using the Snipping tool. So, to get started with the Snipping tool on Windows, you can follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and type “snipping tool” in the search field. Open Snipping Tool.

   

2. Click “New” to grab a screenshot. 

   

3. Then, select the area you need to capture using the mouse, and the cropped image will be automatically copied to the clipboard. 

4. Once you’re done, you’ll get back to the Snipping Tool window with your selected screen grab. You can make any changes there using the options given. 

   

Save the changes and the screenshot using the Save button.

Pressing the Windows key + shift + S shortcut will directly allow you to take a screenshot through the Snipping Tool. 

When you press the shortcut key for snipping tool, your screen will get dim and a tiny option panel will appear on the top. Then, you’ll be able to take a snip off of your screen and receive a message that it has been copied to the clipboard.

Also, if you change your mind and don’t want to keep the screenshot, just press the Escape key to back out.

The PrtScn or Print Screen Key, is used to grab the screenshot of the whole screen. In this case, however, your clipped screenshot will not be saved as a file but will be copied to the clipboard. 

Moreover, it is also possible to set the PrtScn button via the Snipping Tool option. First, open the Snip tool for Windows and go to Settings. There, you’ll find the option “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture” under the Shortcuts. Click Change in Window settings.

Then, go to Settings >> Accessibility >> Keyboard. Then, toggle on the option Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. 

Another way to use the Print Screen key is by pressing it along with the Window key. With this option, you can take a screenshot, and it will automatically get saved to the hard drive of your PC.

The process follows the same style as taking a screenshot using the Windows key + Shift + S. The screen will get dim, and your saved PNG file will move to the folder Pictures >> Screenshots. Furthermore, the shortcut Alt + PrtScn can also work for some systems.

Pro tip: If your computer doesn’t have the PrtScn key, you can press the Fn + Windows key + spacebar to take a full screenshot. 

Apart from the generic keyboard shortcuts, you can also use the Game bar to snap a screenshot. The shortcut key to open the Game bar is Win + G.

The Game Bar works effectively for screengrabs whether you’re playing a game or not. However, if you’re not able to open it using the given shortcut keys, you must enable it before that.

Go to: Settings >> Gaming >> Game Bar and turn on the toggle for “Allow your controller to open Game Bar.”

Taking a screenshot on a Windows PC is pretty different from a Surface tablet because there’s no Print Screen key on the on-screen touch keyboard (you can connect an external keyword though).

Moreover, you can also screengrab using the Surface Pen by double tapping its back button.

So, to take a screenshot on a Surface Table (Surface Pros to Surface Pro 4), press the volume up and power buttons at the same time. However, if you’re using an older version, use the Fn + Windows Key + Space bar combination to take a screenshot.

There’s also an option of installing a third-party screenshot tool to your system if you like. You can find several screenshot applications available on the internet, with each having a unique feature. 

For example, third-party screenshot tools allow you to take scrolling screenshots, meaning you can capture the parts that are not visible by scrolling down. Such screenshots are usually required when you’re capturing a web page. 

Windows doesn’t have such a scrolling feature, but Microsoft Edge and Firefox do. Even though Google Chrome can also take such screenshots, you’ll have to change a Developer Setting.