How to Screenshot on Windows

Windows screenshot tools evolved in chaotic increments. The PrintScreen key, the legacy Snipping Tool, the new Snip & Sketch, then Snipping Tool again (rebuilt in Windows 11), plus the Xbox Game Bar capture and the OneDrive cloud-upload trick. Each saves files to different locations, behaves differently with the clipboard, and supports different annotation tools. In 2026, with Windows 11 23H2 widely deployed, the cleanest workflow uses Win+Shift+S (modern Snipping Tool) for everyday captures and the PrintScreen key for full-screen grabs. This guide covers every method, where files save, and how to change defaults to match how you actually work.

1. 1
   Quick snip with Win+Shift+S (the recommended method)

   Press Win+Shift+S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top with four options: Rectangular, Freeform, Window, and Fullscreen. Select a mode, capture, and the image copies to the clipboard. A notification toast lets you click to open it in Snipping Tool for annotation.
2. 2
   Full-screen capture with PrintScreen

   Press PrtScn (also labeled PrintScreen). On stock Windows 11, this now opens the Snipping Tool in capture mode. On older setups, it copies the full screen to the clipboard silently. You can change this behavior at Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard → Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping.
3. 3
   Save a full-screen capture as a file with Win+PrtScn

   Press Win+PrtScn. The screen briefly dims, and a PNG saves automatically to This PC → Pictures → Screenshots. No clipboard, no prompt — just a file.
4. 4
   Capture only the active window with Alt+PrtScn

   Press Alt+PrtScn. Only the foreground window copies to the clipboard. This is the fastest way to grab a single app without cropping later.
5. 5
   Open the Snipping Tool for advanced captures

   Press Win+R, type snippingtool, press Enter (or search for "Snipping Tool" in Start). The full app opens with delay timer, video recording, and annotation tools. Useful when you need a 3- or 5-second delay before capture.
6. 6
   Record screen video with Snipping Tool

   Open Snipping Tool, click the camera icon to switch from screenshot to record mode, click + New, drag to select an area, and click Start. Recording saves as MP4 to your Videos folder. Microphone and webcam overlay are optional in Windows 11 23H2 and later.
7. 7
   Use the Xbox Game Bar for game and app capture

   Press Win+G to open the Game Bar overlay. Click the camera icon for a screenshot, or the record icon for video. Captures save to Videos → Captures by default. The Game Bar works in any app, not just games, despite the name.
8. 8
   Change where Snipping Tool screenshots save

   Open Snipping Tool, click the ... menu in the top-right, then Settings. Under Automatically save screenshots, toggle on and pick a folder. By default, only Win+PrtScn auto-saves; Win+Shift+S only copies to clipboard.
9. 9
   Annotate a captured screenshot

   After Win+Shift+S, click the notification toast (within 5 seconds) to open Snipping Tool. Use the pen, highlighter, eraser, ruler, and protractor tools. Save with Ctrl+S or copy with Ctrl+C.
10. 10
    Set screenshots to upload automatically to OneDrive

    Open OneDrive settings (right-click the cloud icon → Settings), go to Sync and backup → Preferences, and enable Save screenshots I capture to OneDrive. Screenshots taken via PrintScreen will automatically copy to OneDrive → Pictures → Screenshots and sync across devices.
11. 11
    Use third-party tools for scrolling captures

    Windows still has no built-in scrolling screenshot. ShareX (free, open source) and Greenshot (free) both offer scrolling capture and additional annotation. PicPick is a popular paid alternative. Install from the Microsoft Store or vendor sites — avoid third-party download portals.