How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows
Windows' Snipping Tool allows users to capture a screenshot, or a snip, of the entire screen or a portion of the screen. The captured screenshot will appear in the tool's Mark-up Window. From the Mark-up window, users may save the snip,...
Method 1 of 4:
Taking a Screenshot
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 1
Open the Snipping Tool. Click the 'Start' button.' Type 'Snipping Tool' in the search bar and open the application[1]- If you are using Windows 8, place your cursor in the lower right corner of your screen. Swipe up and select 'Search.' Type 'Snipping Tool' in the search bar and select the result listed as 'Snipping Tool.'[2]
- If you are using Windows 7 or Windows, click "Start". Select "All Programs", followed by "Accessories", then "Snipping Tool".[3]
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 2
Click the downward pointing arrow next to "New". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 3
Choose a snip type from the drop-down menu that appears.- 'Free-form Snip:' Use your stylus or cursor to draw a custom shape around the item
- 'Rectangular Snip:' Take a rectangular snip by clicking and dragging your cursor or stylus along and around the edge of the item
- 'Window Snip:' Click on the window you want captured in the snip.
- 'Full-screen Snip:' Snip the entire screen[4]
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 4
Click "New". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 5
Draw free-form around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and hold as you draw free-form around the object you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 6
Release the cursor to take the snip. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it[5] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 7
Draw a rectangle around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and drag your cursor to create a rectangle around the object . -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 8
Release the cursor to take the snip. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it[6] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 9
Click on the window you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 10
Release the cursor or stylus to take the snip.[7] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 11
Capture a Full-screen snip. After selecting 'Full-screen snip,' a screenshot of your entire screen is instantly captured. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it[8]
Method 2 of 4:
Snipping on a Time Delay in Windows 10
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 12
Open the Snipping Tool and set a time delay. Windows 10's Snipping Tool has a new feature, called 'Time Delay.' When you take a traditional snip, you don't have any time to 'set up' the shot, making it impossible to capture a screenshot of anything that requires a click from your mouse to open. The time delay feature gives you 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds to move your mouse and click a feature, such as a drop-down menu, before the snip is captured. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 13
Click on the downward pointing arrow next to "Delay". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 14
Set a "1", "2", "3", "4", or "5" second delay. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 15
Click the downward pointing arrow next to "New". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 16
Select a snip type. Options include: "Free-form snip", "Rectangular snip", "Window snip", or "Full-screen snip". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 17
Click "New". Normally when you select this an overlay instantly appears on your screen. However if you've selected a time delay the overlay will appear after 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds. When the delay is done, your overlay will appear, effectively freezing your screen and allowing you to take the screenshot you desire. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 18
Draw free-form around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and hold as you draw free-form around the object you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 19
Release the cursor to take the snip. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it[9] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 20
Draw a rectangle around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and drag your cursor to create a rectangle around the object . -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 21
Release the cursor to take the snip. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it[10] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 22
Click on the window you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 23
Release the cursor or stylus to take the snip.[11] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 24
Capture a Full-screen snip. After selecting 'Full-screen snip,' a screenshot of your entire screen is instantly captured. The snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window where you can edit, annotate, or share it.[12]
Method 3 of 4:
Capturing Cursor-Activated Menus in Windows 7, 8 and Vista
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 25
Open the Snipping Tool. Windows 8, 7, and Vista allows users to capture cursor-activated objects too. To begin, click 'Start', followed by 'All Programs', 'Accessories', and finally 'Snipping Tool'.[13] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 26
Push Esc. Pressing Esc will remove the overlay from the screen. The Snipping Tool will remain visible.[14] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 27
Open the menu you want to snip.[15] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 28
Press Ctrl+PrtScn to launch the Print Screen Function. The overlay will appear again and the screen will freeze. The Snipping Tool window will remain visible.[16] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 29
Click on the downward pointing arrow next to "New". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 30
Choose a snip type. Options include: 'Free-form snip', 'Rectangular snip', 'Window snip', and 'Full-screen Snip'.[17] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 31
Click "New". -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 32
Draw free-form around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and hold as you draw free-form around the object you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 33
Release the cursor to take the snip. Once captured, the snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window.[18] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 34
Draw a rectangle around the object you want to capture. Click down on your cursor and drag your cursor around the object to create a rectangle. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 35
Release the cursor to take the snip. Once captured, the snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window.[19] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 36
Click on the window you want to capture. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 37
Release the cursor or stylus to take the snip.[20] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 38
Capture a Full-screen snip. After selecting 'Full-screen snip,' the screenshot is instantly captured. Once captured, the snip will open in the Snipping Tool's Mark-up Window.[21]
Method 4 of 4:
Annotating, Saving, and Sharing the Snip
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 39
Write on the snip. Windows' Snipping Tool includes a pen. You can use the pen to write freeform on your snip. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 40
Click on the pen icon. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 41
Select a pen type. Options include:- 'Red Pen'
- 'Blue Pen'
- 'Black Pen'
- 'Custom Pen'.
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 42
Customize the pen. From the drop down menu, select 'Customize'. This option allows you to alter the pen's color, thickness, and tip. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 43
Click on the highlighter icon and then highlight the snip. It is located next to the pen icon. You may use the highlighter to draw attention to important aspects of your snip.- This tool is not customizable.
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How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 44
Click on the eraser icon and then erase your annotations. Hold as you move the eraser over any previous annotations you want to remove.[22] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 45
Tap the 'Save Snip' button to save the snip. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 46
Assign a name to the snip and select where you want to save it. -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 47
Click 'Save.'[23] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 48
Select the 'Send Snip' button to email the snip. Clicking this button will launch your default mail-client and automatically attach the snip to the email.[24] -
How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool on Microsoft Windows Picture 49
Type in the email address and click 'Send'.[25]
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