How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11

Windows 11 gives you several ways to take a screenshot. For most people, the quickest option is Windows + Shift + S: select an area, then open the capture from the notification or paste it into another app. If you want a full-screen image saved directly as a file, use Windows + Print Screen.

Windows 11 screenshot shortcuts

Capture part of the screen with Snipping Tool

Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears. Choose one of the available capture modes:

• Rectangle: drag around the area you want.
• Freeform: draw an irregular outline.
• Window: select an open window.
• Full screen: capture everything currently displayed.

The screenshot is copied to the clipboard. You can immediately paste it into an email, document, chat, or image editor with Ctrl + V. Selecting the notification opens the image in Snipping Tool, where you can crop it, mark it up, copy it, or save it. Current versions of Snipping Tool may also save captures automatically; check the app's settings if you want to change that behavior.

Open the full Snipping Tool app

Search for Snipping Tool from the Start menu and select New to begin a capture. Opening the full app is useful when you need a delayed screenshot. Choose the delay from the clock menu, then select New. A delay gives you time to open a menu or position the pointer before Windows takes the capture.

Record the screen with Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool can record a selected part of the screen as video on supported Windows 11 versions. Open the app, switch to video mode, select New, and drag over the area to record. Choose the available audio options, then select Start. When finished, stop the recording and save the video. If the recording controls are missing, update Windows and Snipping Tool through Microsoft Store.

Use the Print Screen key

Pressing Print Screen (sometimes labeled PrtSc or PrtScn) traditionally copies the entire screen to the clipboard. Open Paint or another image editor, press Ctrl + V, and save the result.

On some Windows 11 installations, Print Screen opens the Snipping Tool toolbar instead. You can control this behavior under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard using the option that assigns the Print Screen key to screen capture. Laptop keyboards may require you to hold Fn while pressing Print Screen.

Save a full-screen screenshot automatically

Press Windows + Print Screen to capture the entire screen and save the image as a file. The screen may dim briefly. Look in Pictures > Screenshots. If your Pictures folder is synchronized with OneDrive, the screenshot may appear inside the corresponding OneDrive Pictures folder.

Capture only the active window

Select the window you want, then press Alt + Print Screen. Windows copies only that active window to the clipboard. Paste it into Paint, a document, or another app and save it if needed. This is cleaner than capturing the full desktop and cropping afterward.

Capture a game or app with Xbox Game Bar

Press Windows + G to open Xbox Game Bar, then use the camera button in the Capture widget. The shortcut Windows + Alt + Print Screen takes a screenshot without opening the overlay. Game Bar is designed for games and supported apps; it is not the best choice for capturing the Windows desktop or File Explorer. Captures are normally stored in Videos > Captures.

Take a screenshot on a Microsoft Surface

On a modern Surface without a Print Screen key, press Power + Volume Up together to capture the full screen. The image is saved in Pictures > Screenshots. Older Surface models that have a capacitive Windows-logo button may instead use Windows-logo button + Volume Down. Keyboard shortcuts such as Windows + Shift + S also work when a keyboard is attached.

If a screenshot shortcut does not work

• Try holding Fn with Print Screen on a compact or laptop keyboard.
• Check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard if Print Screen behaves differently than expected.
• Open Snipping Tool directly and install available Windows or Microsoft Store updates.
• Remember that clipboard-only captures must be pasted before you copy something else.
• For protected video or restricted apps, Windows may capture a blank or black area; use the app's supported sharing or export feature instead.

For a quick selection, use Windows + Shift + S. For a full-screen file with no extra steps, use Windows + Print Screen. Those two shortcuts cover most Windows 11 screenshot needs.