Taking screenshots on Windows 10 is a fundamental skill for anyone using a computer today. Whether you need to capture an error message for tech support, share a funny online moment with friends, or create visual guides, knowing how to screenshot is essential. Windows 10 offers a variety of built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts to make screen capturing quick and efficient. This guide will walk you through seven different methods to take screenshots on Windows 10, ensuring you can capture your screen exactly how you need it.
7 Methods to Capture Screenshots on Windows 10
From simple keyboard shortcuts to dedicated applications, Windows 10 provides several ways to take screenshots. Let’s explore each method in detail:
Method 1: The Print Screen Key (PrtScn) for Full Screen Capture
The most basic method involves using the Print Screen (PrtScn) key, usually located in the upper-right corner of your keyboard.
Step 1: Navigate to the screen you want to capture.
Step 2: Press the PrtScn key. This action copies a screenshot of your entire screen to the clipboard. You won’t see any visual confirmation, but the screenshot is now ready to be pasted.
Step 3: Open an image editing program like Paint, or any application that supports image pasting, such as Microsoft Word, or even online image editors.
Step 4: Paste the screenshot by pressing Ctrl + V. The full-screen capture will appear in the application.
Step 5: In Paint, click File > Save As to save the screenshot as an image file (PNG, JPG, etc.) in your desired location. Choose a filename and click Save.
Method 2: Alt + Print Screen for Active Window Capture
If you only need to capture the active window (the window you are currently working in), use the Alt + PrtScn shortcut.
Step 1: Ensure the window you want to screenshot is active and in the foreground.
Step 2: Press Alt + PrtScn keys simultaneously. This captures only the active window and copies it to the clipboard.
Step 3: Paste the screenshot into an image editor or application (like Paint) using Ctrl + V.
Step 4: Save the image as needed using the application’s save function.
Method 3: Windows Key + Print Screen for Direct Save Full Screen Capture
For a quicker full-screen screenshot that automatically saves as a file, use the Windows key + PrtScn combination.
Step 1: Display the screen you want to capture.
Step 2: Press the Windows key + PrtScn keys together. Your screen will briefly dim, indicating that a screenshot has been taken and saved.
Step 3: The screenshot is automatically saved as a PNG file in the Pictures > Screenshots folder in your user profile. You can access this folder through File Explorer.
Method 4: Snipping Tool for Selective Screenshots
The Snipping Tool is a built-in Windows utility that offers more control over the type of screenshot you take.
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool. Click the Start Menu, type “Snipping Tool,” and select it from the search results.
Step 2: Choose your desired snip mode from the Mode dropdown menu:
- Free-form Snip: Draw a freehand shape around the area you want to capture.
- Rectangular Snip: Drag a rectangle to select the area. This is the default and most commonly used mode.
- Window Snip: Capture a specific window by clicking on it.
- Full-screen Snip: Captures the entire screen, similar to the PrtScn key.
Step 3: Click New to start a new snip. The screen will dim, and depending on the mode you selected, follow the on-screen instructions to select the area you want to capture.
Step 4: The captured snip will open in the Snipping Tool window. Here you can annotate it with a pen or highlighter, or erase annotations.
Step 5: Click the Save Snip button (disk icon) to save the screenshot as an image file. Choose your desired location and filename.
Method 5: Snip & Sketch for Enhanced Screenshotting
Snip & Sketch is the modern replacement for the Snipping Tool, offering similar functionality with additional features and a more streamlined interface.
Step 1: Open Snip & Sketch using one of these methods:
- Shortcut: Press Windows key + Shift + S. This immediately activates the snip bar at the top of your screen.
- Start Menu: Click the Start Menu, type “Snip & Sketch,” and select it.
Step 2: If you used the shortcut, the snip bar appears at the top of your screen, offering these snip types:
- Rectangular Snip (default)
- Freeform Snip
- Window Snip
- Full-screen Snip
Click on your desired snip type and select the area you want to capture.
Step 3: The screenshot is copied to your clipboard and also appears as a notification in the Action Center (bottom right corner of your screen). Click the notification to open the Snip & Sketch application for editing.
Step 4: In Snip & Sketch, you can annotate, crop, and share your screenshot. Use the pen, pencil, highlighter, and eraser tools to mark up your image.
Step 5: Click the Save icon (disk) to save your edited screenshot. Choose your file location and format.
Method 6: Xbox Game Bar for Game and Application Screenshots
While primarily designed for gamers, the Xbox Game Bar can be used to take screenshots of any application window.
Step 1: Enable Game Bar (if you haven’t already). Go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and ensure “Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like recording game clips, chatting with friends, and receiving game invites” is turned On.
Step 2: Open the application you want to screenshot.
Step 3: Press Windows key + G to open the Game Bar.
Step 4: In the Game Bar overlay, locate the Capture widget (it looks like a camera icon). Click the Screenshot button (camera icon) to take a screenshot of the current application window. Alternatively, use the shortcut Windows key + Alt + PrtScn.
Step 5: Game Bar screenshots are automatically saved as PNG files in the Videos > Captures folder within your user profile. You can access them through File Explorer.
Method 7: Alt + Print Screen (in Paint) for Selective Area After Capture
This method is a variation using the basic Alt + PrtScn and Paint to achieve a selective screenshot after the initial full window capture.
Step 1: Press Alt + PrtScn to capture the active window to the clipboard.
Step 2: Open Paint and paste the screenshot (Ctrl + V).
Step 3: Use the Select tool in Paint to draw a rectangle around the specific area you want to keep from the captured window.
Step 4: Click Crop in the Image section of the Paint ribbon. This will remove everything outside your selection.
Step 5: Save the cropped screenshot as an image file in Paint.
Conclusion
Mastering screenshots on Windows 10 enhances your productivity and communication. From quickly capturing your entire screen with the PrtScn key to using powerful tools like Snip & Sketch for precise selections and annotations, Windows 10 offers a range of options to suit every need. Experiment with these methods to find the ones that best fit your workflow and make screen capturing a seamless part of your daily computer usage. Whether you are creating tutorials, documenting issues, or simply sharing moments, these screenshot techniques will prove invaluable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Windows 10 Screenshots
Q: How do I take a screenshot of only a portion of my screen?
A: Use the Snip & Sketch tool (Windows key + Shift + S) or the Snipping Tool. Both allow you to select specific areas of your screen to capture using rectangular or free-form snips.
Q: Where are my screenshots saved in Windows 10?
A: It depends on the method used:
- Windows key + PrtScn: Pictures > Screenshots folder.
- Xbox Game Bar: Videos > Captures folder.
- Snipping Tool & Snip & Sketch: You choose the save location when you save the file.
- PrtScn & Alt + PrtScn (alone): Screenshots are copied to the clipboard and need to be pasted and saved manually.
Q: Can I take a screenshot without using the Print Screen key?
A: Yes, you can use Windows key + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch, or use the Snipping Tool, or the Xbox Game Bar (Windows key + G).
Q: Is there a delay option for taking screenshots?
A: Yes, the Snipping Tool has a “Delay” option that allows you to set a delay of 1 to 5 seconds before the screenshot is taken, useful for capturing menus or actions that disappear quickly.
Q: Can I annotate screenshots directly in Windows 10?
A: Yes, Snip & Sketch and Snipping Tool both offer annotation features, allowing you to draw, highlight, and write on your screenshots before saving them.
