Taking a screenshot on Windows is a useful
skill that can help you capture and share anything on your screen. Whether you
want to save an error message, show off your gaming achievements, or create a
tutorial, screenshots are the way to go.
But how do you take a screenshot on
Windows? And what are the best tools and techniques to do it quickly and
easily?
In this guide, we’ll show you everything
you need to know about taking screenshots on Windows. We’ll cover the
different types of screenshots, the keyboard shortcuts, the built-in tools, and
the third-party apps that can help you take screenshots like a pro.
Types of Screenshots
Before we dive into the methods of taking
screenshots, let’s first understand the different types of screenshots you can
take on Windows. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may want to
capture one of the following:
Full-screen screenshot: This is the most
common type of screenshot that captures everything on your screen, including
the taskbar and the desktop icons. It’s useful for showing the overall layout
and appearance of your screen.
Active window screenshot:
This type of
screenshot captures only the current window that you’re working on, without any
other elements on your screen. It’s useful for focusing on a specific app or
document that you want to share or save.
Custom area screenshot:
This type of
screenshot allows you to select a specific area or region of your screen that
you want to capture. It’s useful for cropping out unnecessary parts of your
screen and highlighting the most important information.
Freeform screenshot:
This type of
screenshot lets you draw any shape on your screen that you want to capture.
It’s useful for creating custom screenshots that fit your needs and
preferences.
Keyboard Shortcuts
One of the easiest and fastest ways to take
a screenshot on Windows is to use keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts are
combinations of keys that perform certain actions when pressed together. Here
are some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots on
Windows:
Print Screen (PrtScn):
This key is usually
located in the upper-right corner of your keyboard, next to the F12 key. When
you press it, it copies the entire screen to your clipboard, which you can then
paste into any app that supports images, such as Paint, Word, or PowerPoint. You
can also save the screenshot as an image file by opening Paint and pressing
Ctrl + S.
Windows + Print Screen:
This shortcut is
similar to the previous one, but instead of copying the screenshot to your
clipboard, it saves it as an image file in your Pictures > Screenshots
folder. You’ll also see a brief flash on your screen to indicate that the
screenshot was taken.
Alt + Print Screen:
This shortcut copies
only the active window to your clipboard, which you can then paste into any app
that supports images. It’s useful for capturing a specific app or document
without any other elements on your screen.
Windows + Shift + S: This shortcut opens
the Snipping Tool, which is a built-in app that lets you take custom-area screenshots. You’ll see a small toolbar at the top of your screen with four
options: rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, and full-screen snip.
Choose the option that suits your needs and drag your mouse over the area that
you want to capture. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, which you
can then paste into any app that supports images.
Built-in Tools
Windows also comes with some built-in tools
that can help you take screenshots with more features and options. Here are
some of them:
Snipping Tool:
This is an app that lets you
take custom area screenshots with different modes and shapes. You can also
annotate your screenshots with a pen or highlighter tool, save them as image
files, or share them via email or other apps. To open the Snipping Tool, go to
Start > Windows Accessories > Snipping Tool. You can also pin it to your
taskbar or Start menu for easy access.
Snip & Sketch:
This is an app that
replaces the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 and offers similar functionality with
some improvements. You can take custom area screenshots with different modes
and shapes, annotate them with various tools, save them as image files, or
share them via other apps. You can also set a delay timer for taking
screenshots after a few seconds. To open Snip & Sketch, go to Start >
Snip & Sketch. You can also pin it to your taskbar or Start menu for easy
access.
Game Bar:
This is an app that lets you take
screenshots and record videos of your gameplay or any other app on your screen.
You can also access various settings and widgets related to gaming, such as
audio, performance, chat, and more. To open the Game Bar, press Windows + G on
your keyboard. You can also customize the keyboard shortcuts for taking
screenshots and recording videos in the settings menu.
Some laptops may have a dedicated Print
Screen key instead of the PrtScn key.
Game Bar app, which is new to Windows 10 and
Windows 11.
Third-party Apps
If you want more advanced features and
options for taking screenshots on Windows, you can also use third-party apps
that are designed for this purpose. There are many apps available online, both
free and paid, that offer different functionalities and benefits. Here are some
of the most popular ones:
Lightshot:
This is a free app that lets you
take custom areas with a simple and intuitive interface. You can
also edit your screenshots with various tools, such as crop, resize, rotate,
add text, draw shapes, and more. You can also upload your screenshots to the
cloud, share them via social media or other apps, or search for similar images
on Google. To use Lightshot, download and install it from its official website.
You can then press the Print Screen key to activate it and select the area that
you want to capture.
Snagit:
This is a paid app that lets you
take screenshots and record videos of your screen with a powerful and
feature-rich interface. You can also edit your screenshots and videos with
various tools, such as crop, resize, rotate, add text, draw shapes, apply
effects, and more. You can also organize your captures in a library, upload
them to the cloud, share them via email or other apps, or export them to different
formats. To use Snagit, download and install it from its official website. You
can then press the Print Screen key to activate it and select the area that you
want to capture or record.
Greenshot:
This is a free app that lets you
take custom areas with a simple and lightweight interface. You can
also edit your screenshots with basic tools, such as crop, resize, rotate, add
text, draw shapes, and more. You can also save your screenshots as image files,
copy them to your clipboard, upload them to the cloud, share them via email or
other apps, or print them directly. To use Greenshot, download and install it
from its official website. You can then press the Print Screen key to activate
it and select the area that you want to capture.
Conclusion
Taking a screenshot on Windows is a handy
skill that can help you capture and share anything on your screen. Whether you
want to take a full-screen screenshot, an active window screenshot, a custom
area screenshot, or a freeform screenshot, you can use keyboard shortcuts or
built-in tools to do it quickly and easily.
If you want more features and options for
taking screenshots on Windows, you can also use third-party apps that offer
different functionalities and benefits.
We hope this guide has helped you learn how
to take a screenshot on Windows. If you have any questions or feedback,
feel free to leave a comment below.
Sources:
The Easiest Way to Take a Screenshot in Windows | wikiHow:
This page gives you a step-by-step guide on how to use keyboard shortcuts, the
built-in Snipping Tool app, and the Xbox Game Bar to take screenshots on
Windows.
How to take a screenshot on a Windows PC in 2023 [Updated]:
This page covers the different types of screenshots, keyboard shortcuts, and
some third-party apps that can help you take screenshots on Windows.
How
to Screenshot on Windows (2023) - Prima Games: This page offers some tips
and tricks on how to take screenshots on Windows using keyboard shortcuts and
other methods.
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