How to take a screenshot
Short answer: Press Windows + Shift + S, drag across the area you want, then click the notification to edit and save. That is the fastest screenshot method on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Last verified: 2026-08-01
The default method
- 1Press Windows + Shift + SThe Windows screen dims and a small capture bar appears at the top of the display.
- 2Choose a capture modeRectangular snip, free-form snip, window snip or full-screen snip. Window snip is the cleanest way to capture a single application.
- 3Select the areaDrag across the region, or click the window you want. The capture is copied to the clipboard immediately.
- 4Open the editorClick the notification in the corner to open Snipping Tool, where you can crop, annotate and undo.
- 5Save the filePress Ctrl + S and choose PNG for interface screenshots or JPG when file size matters.
Windows screenshot keyboard shortcuts
These shortcuts are part of Windows itself and work in File Explorer, Chrome and any desktop application.
| Shortcut | What it does | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Windows + Shift + S | Open the snipping overlay: rectangular, free-form, window or full-screen snip. Result goes to the clipboard. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Print Screen | Copy the whole screen to the clipboard. On Windows 11 this can be set to open the snipping overlay instead. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Alt + Print Screen | Copy only the active window to the clipboard. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + Print Screen | Save the whole screen straight to Pictures\Screenshots as a PNG file. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + Alt + Print Screen | Save the active window as a PNG through Xbox Game Bar, into Videos\Captures. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + G | Open Xbox Game Bar, which includes a capture widget for stills and screen recording. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Fn + Print Screen | On many Windows laptops the Print Screen key is shared with another function and needs the Fn key. | Windows laptops |
Where Windows saves your screenshots
- Windows + Print Screen saves PNG files to This PC \ Pictures \ Screenshots.
- Windows + Alt + Print Screen saves to This PC \ Videos \ Captures via Xbox Game Bar.
- Windows + Shift + S copies to the clipboard first; the file only exists once you save it from the Snipping Tool editor.
- Print Screen and Alt + Print Screen copy to the clipboard only — paste into an editor or document with Ctrl + V.
You can move the Screenshots folder: right-click it, open Properties, then the Location tab, and choose a new path.
Choosing a file format
- PNG — the right default for user interfaces, text and diagrams. Lossless, crisp edges.
- JPG — smaller files for photographic content; text edges soften.
- PDF — when the capture must be a document, printed or signed.
- GIF or MP4 — when a still cannot show the behaviour you are describing.
Troubleshooting when the screenshot does not work
- Nothing happens on Print Screen: on a Windows PC the key may be shared with a function key. Try Fn + Print Screen or Fn + Windows + Print Screen.
- Windows + Shift + S does nothing: check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and make sure the Snipping Tool app is installed and updated from the Microsoft Store.
- The screen does not dim: another application may have taken the hotkey. Close capture tools running in the notification area and try again.
- Screenshots are black: this usually means hardware-protected content, such as a DRM video player. Capture the window with a different tool or disable hardware acceleration in that application.
- The file never appears: Windows + Print Screen writes to Pictures\Screenshots. If OneDrive is managing your Pictures folder, look inside OneDrive \ Pictures \ Screenshots.
Recommended Windows software
Snipping Tool
Microsoft
Microsoft's built-in Windows screenshot tool for rectangular, window, free-form and full-screen snips, opened with Windows + Shift + S.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Annotation
ShareX
ShareX Team
Free, open-source Windows screenshot and screen capture software with scrolling capture, OCR, screen recording and scriptable after-capture workflows.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Scrolling capture
Greenshot
Greenshot
A small, fast open-source screenshot tool for Windows with region and window capture, a simple annotation editor and direct export to file, printer or Office.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Annotation
Snagit
TechSmith
Commercial Windows screenshot and screen capture software with scrolling capture, a polished annotation editor, templates, OCR and screen recording.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Scrolling capture
Frequently asked questions
- How do I take a screenshot on a Windows computer?
- Press Windows + Shift + S for a region, or Windows + Print Screen to save the whole screen as a PNG in Pictures\Screenshots.
- Where is the screenshot button on Windows?
- It is the Print Screen key, usually labelled PrtScn, in the top row of the keyboard.