You need to send someone a picture of an error message, a receipt or a funny chat, and you’re not sure which keys to press. Windows 11 has several built-in ways to take a screenshot, and each one is better for a different situation. Here’s how to take a screenshot on Windows 11, where the images are saved, and what to do when the Print Screen key doesn’t seem to work.
Quick reference: Windows 11 screenshot shortcuts
- Windows + Shift + S: opens the Snipping Tool overlay to capture an area, a window or the full screen.
- Print Screen (PrtScn): on recent Windows 11 versions, opens the same Snipping Tool overlay by default. On older setups, it copies the whole screen to the clipboard.
- Windows + PrtScn: captures the full screen and saves it as a file automatically.
- Alt + PrtScn: copies only the active window to the clipboard.
- Windows + Alt + PrtScn: saves a screenshot of the active window using the Xbox Game Bar.
On many laptops, PrtScn shares a key with another function. If nothing happens, try holding the Fn key at the same time.
Method 1: Snipping Tool with Windows + Shift + S
This is the most flexible option and the one most people should use.
- Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top.
- Choose a mode: Rectangle, Window, Full screen or Freeform.
- Drag over the area you want, or click the window.
- The capture is copied to the clipboard and a notification appears in the corner.
Press Ctrl + V to paste it straight into an email, a chat or a Word document. If you want to draw on it, crop it or save it as a file, click the notification. The Snipping Tool opens with your capture, and you can save it with Ctrl + S.
Automatic saving
Recent versions of the Snipping Tool also save each capture automatically to Pictures > Screenshots. If you’d rather not fill that folder, open the Snipping Tool, go to Settings (the three dots) and turn off automatic saving.
Method 2: Windows + Print Screen to save the full screen
When you want a file right away without opening anything, press Windows + PrtScn. The screen flashes for a moment and the image is saved as a PNG in:
This PC > Pictures > Screenshots
The files are numbered in order (Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png…), which makes this method great when you need several captures in a row, like documenting the steps of a process.
Method 3: Alt + Print Screen for one window
If you have several windows open and only want one of them, click that window first, then press Alt + PrtScn. It goes to the clipboard, so paste it wherever you need it. This keeps your taskbar, desktop and other apps out of the picture, which is good for privacy.
Method 4: Delayed screenshots
Some things disappear the moment you press a key, like right-click menus and tooltips. The Snipping Tool app has a timer for that:
- Open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- Choose the snip mode, then set the delay to 3, 5 or 10 seconds.
- Click New, open the menu you want to capture and wait.
Method 5: Xbox Game Bar for games and apps
Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar, then click the camera icon in the Capture widget, or use Windows + Alt + PrtScn directly. Captures go to Videos > Captures. It’s meant for games but works with most apps. The same widget can record video too; we compare it with other tools in our guide to the best free screen recorders for Windows.
How to take a scrolling screenshot
Windows 11 doesn’t have a built-in scrolling capture for every app. For web pages, Microsoft Edge has one: press Ctrl + Shift + S, choose Capture full page, then save or copy it. Chrome users can install a reputable screenshot extension from the Chrome Web Store, or use the free ShareX program, which offers a scrolling capture mode.
Print Screen not working? Try these fixes
- Use the Fn key. On many laptops, PrtScn only works with Fn held down.
- Check the setting. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and look at Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. Turn it on if you want PrtScn to open the Snipping Tool, or off to restore the old copy-to-clipboard behavior.
- Close other screenshot apps. Programs like OneDrive, Dropbox or third-party capture tools can take over the PrtScn key. Check their settings.
- Enable clipboard history. Press Windows + V to see recent captures. If it’s off, Windows offers to turn it on.
- Restart the Snipping Tool. If Windows + Shift + S stops responding, end the Snipping Tool in Task Manager or restart your PC.
If your screenshots folder is filling up your drive, our guide on how to free up space on drive C shows you how to clean things up safely.
FAQ
Where do screenshots go on Windows 11?
Captures taken with Windows + PrtScn, and those auto-saved by the Snipping Tool, go to Pictures > Screenshots. Game Bar captures go to Videos > Captures. Shortcuts like Alt + PrtScn only copy to the clipboard until you paste them.
How do I screenshot only part of the screen?
Press Windows + Shift + S, choose Rectangle mode and drag over the area. The selection is copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it or open it in the Snipping Tool to save.
Can I edit a screenshot in Windows 11 without other software?
Yes. The Snipping Tool lets you crop, highlight, write with a pen and blur or hide text with its tools. For bigger edits, open the image in Paint or the Photos app.
Why is my screenshot black?
Some streaming apps and protected videos block screenshots on purpose, so you’ll get a black image. This is a copy protection feature and isn’t something to work around.
