Depending on your hardware, you may use the Windows Logo Key + PrtScn button as a shortcut for print screen. If your device does not have the PrtScn button, you may use Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar to take a screenshot, which can then be printed.
To locate your screenshots, open File Explorer from the taskbar. On the side navigation pane, select the Pictures folder, and select Screenshots.
View the full list of keyboard shortcuts.
You can also use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots.
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- To take a screenshot on Windows 10 or 11, you can use the Print Screen button or Snipping Tool.
- You can also take a screenshot with the Game Bar by pressing the Windows Key + G.
- Third-party apps offer even more features, like automatically uploading screenshots to the internet.
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If you want to take a screenshot on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, there are several methods you can use.
Whether you want to save the entire screen or just a piece of it, we’ve rounded up all the best ways to take a Windows screenshot.
The Print Screen button
William Antonelli/Insider
The easiest way to take a screenshot of your entire screen on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is by pressing the Print Screen (PrtScn) button on your keyboard.
The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, or you can save it to your screenshots folder. To save the file, paste the screenshot into any program that allows you to insert images, like Microsoft Word or Paint.
William Antonelli/Insider
The Windows key + Print Screen
William Antonelli/Insider
To take a screenshot on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and automatically save the file to the Screenshots folder, press the Windows key + PrtScn. Your screen will go dim and a screenshot of your entire screen will be saved to the folder.
Alt + Print Screen
To only capture the active window you’re working in, press Alt + PrtScn. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, and you’ll need to paste it into another program to save it.
The Snip & Sketch tool in Windows 10
The Windows 10 Snip & Sketch app is the best way to screenshot on Windows if you’re looking to customize, annotate, or share your screen captures. This is the best way to annotate your screenshots before sharing them, as it gives you editing capabilities like an eraser, a ruler, and cropping tools.
To activate Snip & Sketch, use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will go dim and a mini menu will appear at the top of your screen, giving you the option to take a rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen capture.
William Antonelli/Insider
With these Snip & Sketch options, you can choose how you’d like to take a screenshot:
William Antonelli/Insider
After you capture the screenshot, it’ll be saved to your clipboard and a preview notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Click on the preview notification to open the Snip & Sketch app, where you can save, share, or edit the screenshot with the available drawing tools.
The Snipping Tool in Windows 11
Although the Snipping Tool exists in Windows 10, it’s not usually the screenshot tool you’ll want to use. In Windows 11, the Snipping Tool got a major upgrade and it’s now the best way to take custom screenshots.
To start the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, you can search for it or press the Windows Key + Shift + S. Like Snip & Sketch, your screen will go dim and a toolbar of screenshot options will appear at the top of the screen. This toolbar will let you take a rectangular, freeform, full-window, or a full-screen capture, as well as time your screenshot for the amount of seconds you’ll need to pull up the window you need to capture.
William Antonelli/Insider
Once you’ve taken your screenshot, it can be copied to your clipboard, saved to the Screenshots folder, or printed right away. If you click the preview that pops up in the bottom-right corner of your screen, you’ll be able to save and edit it further.
The Game Bar
The Game Bar is an overlay you can use within most Windows apps and games to take screenshots and record videos. Follow the steps below to open and use it:
1. Press Windows Key + G.
2. In the overlay menu, click the Capture button – the camera icon – in the top menu to bring up the Capture menu.
William Antonelli/Insider
3. In the Capture menu, click the camera icon to take a screenshot. You can also record a video clip by pressing the record button, with the option to include audio by clicking the microphone icon.
Screenshots and video clips captured by the Game Bar are saved in PNG and MP4 format and you can find them in the Videos > Captures folder in File Explorer. You can also find them through the Game Bar’s Gallery, by clicking Show my captures > See my captures underneath the screenshot and recording buttons in the Capture menu.
Power + Volume Up
To take a screenshot on Windows 10 with a Microsoft Surface device, press the Power Button + Volume Up Button. The screen will go dim, and your screenshot will save to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Third-party screenshot apps for Windows
If you’re unsatisfied with any of the built-in Windows methods, there are third-party screenshot tools worth considering, each with its own extra offerings.
William Antonelli/Insider
- Lightshot is a free screenshot tool designed for quick social sharing. When you download and install Lightshot on Windows 10, it replaces the Print Screen function and offers more editing capabilities.
- Greenshot is another free tool that allows you to edit and customize screenshots, as well as the option to capture a complete scrolling web page.
- ScreenRec is a free Windows recording tool that allows you to capture and share videos and screenshots. It also provides tools for annotating your recordings and screen grabs, as well as instantly creating a link that you can share with others so they can view them.
- Snagit is a screenshot tool that allows you to create animated GIFs, take full-page screenshots, and more. The downside? The premium version costs $50. There’s a 30-day free trial option but any picture you capture during the trial will be watermarked.
- Screencast-O-Matic is a web-based video editor and screen-sharing tool for recording your on-screen activities. It also has the ability to take screenshots, you’ll just need to sign up for a free account. You can also upgrade to a premium account to unlock advanced features, starting at $4 a month.
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Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews
William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month.
Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He’s also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation.
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Создавайте снимки экрана с помощью системных инструментов или дополнительных программ.
Штатные средства Windows
1. Win + PrtSc
Начнём с самого простого. Чтобы мгновенно сделать снимок всего экрана, используйте комбинацию клавиш Win (с флажком) + PrtSc (Print Screen).
Система сделает скриншот и сразу сохранит его на жёсткий диск в формате PNG. Готовый файл вы найдёте по адресу: «Этот компьютер» → «Изображения» → «Снимки экрана».
2. PrtSc + Paint
Этот способ тоже позволяет создать снимок всего экрана, но при необходимости вы можете сразу отредактировать результат.
Нажмите клавишу PrtSc. Windows сделает скриншот, но не покажет его: система не сохранит изображение на жёсткий диск, а только скопирует в буфер обмена.
Чтобы увидеть скриншот, запустите Paint и вставьте изображение в окно программы с помощью клавиш Ctrl + V. Если необходимо, измените картинку с помощью редактора.
Нажмите «Файл» → «Сохранить как» и сохраните снимок экрана в нужном формате. Изображение появится в указанной вами папке. Вместо Paint можно использовать любой другой графический редактор, установленный на ПК.
3. Alt + PrtSc
Эта комбинация клавиш делает снимок активного окна и, как и предыдущий способ, копирует получившееся изображение в буфер.
Нажмите Alt + PrtSc. Затем откройте Paint или другой графический редактор и воспользуйтесь клавишами Ctrl + V, чтобы вставить скриншот. Отредактируйте изображение, если нужно, и сохраните его в любую папку в удобном формате.
4. Программа «Ножницы»
В Windows 10 есть встроенный менеджер скриншотов, который позволяет делать снимки всего экрана, отдельных фрагментов и выбранных окон. Это приложение «Ножницы». Его легко найти по названию через поиск по системе.
Запустив «Ножницы», нажмите «Режим» и выберите нужную область дисплея. Затем воспользуйтесь кнопкой «Создать» и кликните по экрану.
Когда скриншот будет готов, программа откроет его в новом окне. Здесь на изображение можно нанести свои пометки и отправить его по почте или просто сохранить на жёстком диске.
5. Программа «Фрагмент и набросок»
Недавно в Windows 10 добавили ещё одно приложение для работы со скриншотами — «Фрагмент и набросок». С его помощью тоже можно делать снимки выделенной области, выбранных окон или всего экрана. Скорее всего, в будущем эта утилита заменит «Ножницы».
Чтобы вызвать «Фрагмент и набросок», нажмите Win + Shift + S или найдите программу по названию через поиск по системе. Запустив её, выберите область скриншота с помощью появившихся на дисплее кнопок.
Чтобы увидеть снимок экрана, откройте Paint и нажмите Ctrl + V. Когда изображение появится в программе, его можно будет отредактировать и сохранить на жёстком диске. В некоторых сборках Windows во «Фрагменте и наброске» есть встроенный редактор, который позволяет обойтись без Paint.
Сторонние программы
Если стандартных способов вам мало, можете попробовать эти инструменты с дополнительными функциями.
1. Nimbus Capture
Nimbus Capture — это плагин для браузера, с помощью которого очень удобно делать скриншоты веб‑страниц. Помимо обычных снимков всего экрана, окна или выделенного фрагмента, он также позволяет захватывать полную длину страницы, даже если она не помещается в экран.
А ещё в Nimbus Capture вы можете редактировать изображения и сохранять их прямо в Google Drive. Плюс ко всему плагин умеет записывать видео экрана.
Чтобы сделать скриншот, достаточно кликнуть по кнопке Nimbus Capture на панели браузера и выбрать область экрана. Вы также можете настроить горячие клавиши и формат снимков: PNG или JPG.
Все перечисленные функции доступны бесплатно. Но, если вы захотите прицепить к скриншотам свой логотип, сохранять их в Dropbox и получать оперативную техподдержку, придётся оформить подписку стоимостью 15 долларов в год.
2. PicPick
Редактор изображений, очень похожий на Paint, с функцией создания скриншотов. PicPick умеет делать снимки всего экрана, любой выделенной области и выбранного окна — в том числе с прокруткой. Что касается редактора, помимо базовых функций вроде добавления текста и пометок, он позволяет корректировать цвета изображений и накладывать различные эффекты.
Вы можете настроить горячие клавиши и сохранять файл в одном из следующих форматы: PNG, JPG, BMP, PDF и GIF. После установки значок программы появляется на панели задач. Чтобы сделать скриншот, нужно кликнуть по нему и выбрать область экрана.
Программу можно использовать бесплатно, но в таком случае новые версии придётся скачивать с сайта вручную. За возможность автообновления разработчики просят одноразовый платёж размером 30 долларов.
Скачать PicPick →
3. LightShot
LightShot — простейший инструмент, который позволяет делать скриншоты выделенной области в пару кликов. Нужно лишь нажать на иконку программы и выделить мышью необходимый фрагмент. После вы сможете добавить текст, стрелки или что‑нибудь нарисовать поверх изображения.
С помощью LightShot очень удобно делиться снимками экрана. Сделав скриншот, вы можете сразу же сохранить его на сервере программы, чтобы получить прямую ссылку для отправки коллегам или друзьям. К вашим услугам два формата: PNG и JPG.
Приложение бесплатное, но перед установкой предлагает загрузить дополнительное ПО. Не забудьте от него отказаться.
Скачать LightShot →
Этот материал был впервые опубликован в январе 2017 года. В марте 2020‑го мы обновили текст.
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Use the keyboard shortcut Windows+PrtSc, the Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch (Windows+Shift+S), or Game Bar (Windows+G)
Updated on August 22, 2023
What to Know
- The easy way: Use the Windows + PrtSc (Print Screen) key combination on your keyboard.
- Or, use the Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch (Windows+Shift+S), or Game Bar (Windows+G).
- Screenshots are stored in Pictures > Screenshots by default unless you change that destination manually.
This article covers how to capture a screenshot in Windows 10, including using a keyboard combination, using the Snipping Tool, the Snip & Sketch Tool, or the Windows Game Bar.
Capture a Screenshot in Windows 10 With Print Screen
The easiest way to capture a screenshot in Windows 10 is to press the PrtSc + Windows keyboard combination on your keyboard. You’ll see your screen flash very briefly, and the screenshot will save to the Pictures > Screenshot folder on your computer. But while this is the easiest way, it may not be the best way.
One problem you may encounter if you use this keyboard combination and you’re running Windows 10 with two or more computer monitors, you’ll capture the screens on both monitors, as shown below. If what you’re trying to do is grab a single screen or part of a screen, you have some additional options in Windows 10 that might work better.
An alternative keyboard shortcut that might work a little better if you only want to capture a screenshot of an active window is to use Alt + PrtSc. However, be aware that this send the screenshot to your clipboard, not to the Pictures folder.
Capture a Screenshot With Snip & Sketch
An alternative way to capture a screenshot in Windows 10 is to use the Snip & Sketch tool. Snip & Sketch can be accessed through the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Shift + S or by choosing Snip & Sketch from the Start menu. Here’s how it works:
-
From the page or window, you want to capture, either use the keyboard shortcut or the Start menu to start the Snip & Sketch tool.
-
Once the tool is activated, you have several options:
- Rectangle: Draw a rectangle around the portion of the screen you want to capture with your mouse.
- Freeform: Draw any freeform shape around the area you want to capture.
- Window Snip: Grabs a screenshot of the active window.
- Fullscreen Snip: Grabs a screenshot of your entire screen (if you’re using multiple monitors, it will capture a screenshot of all monitors).
If you change your mind, you can click the X to close out of the Snip & Sketch tool.
-
Once you’ve captured the screenshot, it will save to your clipboard, and you’ll see a notification pop up in the corner of your screen. Click this notification to markup and share the screenshot.
If you miss the popup notification, you can still access the screenshot through the Notifications bar on the screen’s right side.
-
Click the notification to open the Snip & Sketch tool, where you can mark-up, save, and share the screenshot. When you save the screenshot from here, you can choose where you want to put it.
If you don’t save the screenshot to your hard drive, it stays on your Clipboard. Depending on your clipboard settings, it will disappear when replaced with another item on the Clipboard.
Get the Image With the Snipping Tool
Another option you can use in Windows 10 is the Snipping Tool. This tool has been part of Windows since Windows Vista, and while you can no longer find it in the Start menu, you can still access it by using the Windows Search Bar.
-
When you have something on your screen you want to capture a screenshot of, type Snipping Tool in the Windows Search bar, and select the Snipping Tool from the results.
-
The Snipping Tool will open, and you’ll have some options to choose from:
- Mode: This allows you to choose whether you want to take a Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip (This is the default.), Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip.
- Delay: Lets you choose to delay the screenshot from 1-5 seconds.
- Options: Lets you change the Snipping Tool options.
-
Once you’ve set up your screenshot, click New to take the shot. The screen appears with a white overlay in the areas you’re not capturing.
-
Once you’ve completed the capture, the screenshot is opened in the Snipping Tool, where you can mark-up, save, or share it.
When you capture screenshots with the Snipping Tool, they are not automatically saved anywhere, including on the clipboard. If you want to keep the screenshot when you close the Snipping Tool, you need to choose File > Save As and save the screenshot to the desired location on your hard drive.
The Snipping Tool is a legacy tool in Windows 10, which is why you won’t find it listed in any menu. When you open it, you’ll even see a notice that it’s going away in a future update. For that reason, this should not be your first choice for taking screenshots.
Capture Screenshots (and Video) With the Game Bar
The Windows 10 Game Bar can capture screenshots, record your screen, and even help you with broadcasts. While Microsoft designed it to capture gameplay recordings, you can also use Game Bar to capture screenshots for other purposes.
Unless you’ve already enabled the Game Bar on your computer, you’ll need to enable it before you can use it to capture a screenshot. To do that, go to Settings > Gaming and make sure Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like… is enabled (the toggle should be blue, and the word «On» should be visible).
-
To start the screenshot process, press the Windows key + G on your keyboard to open the Game Bar.
-
In the menu that appears, click the Capture icon.
-
A Capture dialog box appears. Click Capture to take your screenshot.
A faster alternative is to press the keyboard combination Windows Key + Alt + PrtSc when Game Bar is active.
-
A full-screen screenshot is captured and automatically saved to C:\users\yourname\Videos\Captures, where C: is the name of your Windows hard drive, and yourname is your username.
Use Third-Party Screen Capture Software
Alternatively, you can use a third-party screen capture app like Snagit, Fireshot, or ShareX. These programs offer additional features, such as video recording and tools for annotating images and videos.
Capture Screenshots on a Windows 10 Microsoft Surface
If you have a Microsoft Surface device running Windows 10, press Power+Volume Up. On a Surface 3 or earlier, press the Windows Logo+Volume Down. Screenshots are saved to Pictures > Screenshots.
FAQ
-
How do I take screenshots on Windows 11?
To take screenshots on Windows 11, press PrtScn to save to the clipboard, or press the Windows Key+PrtSc to save fullscreen screenshots to Pictures > Screenshots. Press Win+Shift+S to pick a window or section of the screen.
-
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac using a Windows keyboard?
Press the Windows key+Shift+3 to take a screenshot with a Windows keyboard on Mac. This is the same as taking a Mac screenshot with a Mac keyboard, but you press the Windows key instead of Command.
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Here’s how to use keyboard shortcuts, the snipping tool and more to take screenshots on your PC.
Matt Elliott is a senior editor at CNET with a focus on laptops and streaming services. Matt has more than 20 years of experience testing and reviewing laptops. He has worked for CNET in New York and San Francisco and now lives in New Hampshire. When he’s not writing about laptops, Matt likes to play and watch sports. He loves to play tennis and hates the number of streaming services he has to subscribe to in order to watch the various sports he wants to watch.
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Sometimes you need to save what’s on your screen. Maybe you see something you want to share with friends or family, or perhaps there’s something you want to save for easy reference later. Thankfully, whether you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 11, there are a few easy ways to take screenshots of all — or part — of your screen.
While Microsoft no longer sells Windows 10, the software giant still supports the operating system until October 2025. So you don’t have to switch to Windows 11 yet, and you can still use these screenshot tips for a couple more years.
Here’s how to use built-in tools and other shortcuts for taking screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11, so you can decide which you like best.
Snip & Sketch
The Snip & Sketch tool is easier to access, share and annotate screenshots than the old Snipping Tool. It can now capture a screenshot of a window on your desktop, a surprising omission when the app was first introduced that kept us on Team Snipping Tool until recently.
The easiest way to call up Snip & Sketch is with the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Shift + S. You can also find the Snip & Sketch tool listed in the alphabetical list of apps accessed from the Start button as well as in the notification panel where it’s listed as Screen snip. Or you can just search for it if you don’t commit the keyboard shortcut to memory. (If you’re a frequent screenshot taker, we recommend pinning the app to the taskbar.)
The built-in Snip & Sketch app has finally won us over and is now our go-to method for taking screenshots in Windows 10 and 11. So long, Snipping Tool.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETEither the keyboard shortcut or the notification button will dim your screen and open a tiny menu at the top of your screen that lets you choose which type of screenshot you want to take: rectangular, freeform, window or full-screen. Once you take your screenshot, it will be saved to your clipboard and show up momentarily as a notification in the lower-right corner of your screen. Click the notification to open the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app to annotate, save or share it. (If you miss the notification, open the notification panel and you’ll see it sitting there.)
If you open Snip & Sketch from the Start menu or by searching for it, it will open the Snip & Sketch window instead of the small panel at the top of the screen. From here, you need to click the New button in the upper left to initiate a screen capture and open the small panel. It’s an extra step to proceed this way, but it also lets you delay a screenshot. Click the down-arrow button next to the New button to delay a snip for 3 or 10 seconds.
Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool has been around since Windows Vista. Windows has warned for a couple years that the Snipping Tool is going away, but it’s still kicking around in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool has been delisted from the list of apps in the Start menu, but you can still easily access it via the search bar.
Click the New button to begin the screenshot process. The default snip type is rectangular, but you can also take free-form, full-screen and window snips.
Snipping Tool does not automatically save your screenshots — you will need to manually save them in the tool before you exit — and it does automatically copy your captures to the clipboard.
The Snipping Tool has been with Windows for a long time.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETPrint Screen
To capture your entire screen, tap the Print Screen (sometimes labeled PrtScn) key. Your screenshot won’t be saved as a file, but it will be copied to the clipboard. You’ll need to open an image editing tool (such as Microsoft Paint), paste the screenshot into the editor and save the file from there.
You can also set the PrtScn button to open the Snip & Sketch tool by going to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and toggling on Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping under Print Screen Shortcut.
You can adjust print screen settings in Windows.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETWindows key + Print Screen
To capture your entire screen and automatically save the screenshot, tap the Windows key + Print Screen key. Your screen will briefly go dim to indicate you’ve just taken a screenshot, and the screenshot will be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Alt + Print Screen
To take a quick screenshot of the active window, use the keyboard shortcut Alt + PrtScn. This will snap your currently active window and copy the screenshot to the clipboard. You’ll need to open the shot in an image editor to save it.
No Print Screen key?
If your computer doesn’t have the PrtScn key, no worries, Microsoft has another keyboard shortcut for you. You can press Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar to take a screenshot. It will then be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Game bar
You can use the Game bar to snap a screenshot, whether you’re in the middle of playing a game or not. First, you’ll need to enable the Game bar from the settings page by making sure you’ve toggled on Record game clips, screenshots and broadcasts using Game bar. Once enabled, hit the Windows key + G key to call up the Game bar. From here, you can click the screenshot button in the Game bar or use the default keyboard shortcut Windows key + Alt + PrtScn to snap a full-screen screenshot. To set your own Game bar screenshot keyboard shortcut, to Settings > Gaming > Game bar.
Windows Logo + volume down
If you’re rocking a Microsoft Surface device, you can use the physical (well, sort of physical) buttons to take a screenshot of your entire screen — similar to how you would take a screenshot on any other phone or tablet. To do this, hold down the Windows Logo touch button at the bottom of your Surface screen and hit the physical volume-down button on the side of the tablet. The screen will dim briefly and the screenshot will be automatically saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Want more Windows info? Check out CNET’s Windows 11 review and every difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can also check out which Windows 11 settings you should consider changing.
Watch this: How to Record Your Screen in Windows 11
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