How to Capture a Screenshot in Windows

You might be saving a receipt as a digital file, trying to show something unusual on your screen to tech support, or capturing participants on a Zoom conference call. Taking a screenshot is a helpful tool, though it’s not always clear how to do it. While there are apps for taking screenshots and annotating them, Microsoft Windows offers built-in features too. Below are the two most commonly used methods for taking a screenshot.

Using the Print Screen Button

This works with all versions of Windows. The Print Screen button, located near the top right of your keyboard, captures everything on your screen and saves it to the clipboard. (It may be labeled PrtScr, PrtSc, or another abbreviation.) Depending on your system, you may need to either press the Print Screen button alone, press Alt + Print Screen simultaneously, or press both Fn + Print Screen (with Fn and Alt located at the bottom left of the keyboard) to capture your screen.

Once captured, you can paste the screenshot into a document. (Press Ctrl + V to paste.) To save it, simply paste it into an image app (like Paint) and save it as a file. Alternatively, you can paste it directly into an email, Slack message, or Word document.

For Windows 8 and 10, you can capture a screenshot by holding the Windows logo and Print Screen buttons simultaneously. The screenshot will automatically be saved in a screenshot folder within the Pictures library.

Using the Snipping Tool

For Windows Vista and newer (including Windows 7, 8, and 10), the built-in Snipping Tool allows you to capture entire screens or individual app windows. You can also draw rectangular or free-form shapes around areas of your screen to capture. The captured image is saved to the Snipping Tool window for editing. To access the tool, search for 'snipping tool' in the Windows search box, though the method may vary depending on your Windows edition.

To use: Open the Snipping Tool and choose Mode (or click the arrow next to the New button for older Windows versions). Then select the snip type you prefer, typically Rectangular Snip. The screen will dim, and you can outline the area you wish to capture and save. Save the image using the methods mentioned earlier.

The Snipping Tool lets you share and annotate your screenshot, but Windows 10 also includes a tool called Snip & Sketch, offering additional annotation features. You can find it by searching just like you would for the Snipping Tool.