Screenshots on a Windows PC

Multi-monitor desktops

• Windows + Print Screen saves every connected monitor into one wide PNG.
• Alt + Print Screen captures only the focused window, which is usually what you want on a three-monitor desk.
• Windows + Shift + S lets you drag a region across a single display or spanning two.
• ShareX and PicPick can bind a hotkey to 'capture active monitor', which is faster than dragging.

Desktop capture step by step

1. 1Press Windows + Shift + SThe Windows PC screen dims and a small capture bar appears at the top of the display.
2. 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.
3. 3Select the areaDrag across the region, or click the window you want. The capture is copied to the clipboard immediately.
4. 4Open the editorClick the notification in the corner to open Snipping Tool, where you can crop, annotate and undo.
5. 5Save the filePress Ctrl + S and choose PNG for interface screenshots or JPG when file size matters.

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.

Recommended Windows software

Frequently asked questions

How do I screenshot one monitor only?

Use Alt + Print Screen for the active window, or bind an 'active monitor' hotkey in ShareX or PicPick.