How to Screenshot on Windows: Shortcuts, Snipping Tool, Files

Windows has three ways to grab the screen, and they behave differently in one way that trips people up: some only copy the image, some save a file. If you've ever pressed Print Screen and then wondered where the picture went, that's why. Here's what each shortcut does, where your screenshots end up and what to do when you need text out of an image rather than a picture of it.

Windows screenshot shortcuts at a glance

Keys	What happens	Saved as a file?
Windows + Shift + S	Snipping overlay: drag an area, a window or the full screen	Yes, in Screenshots, and copied
Windows + PrtScn	Whole screen, instantly	Yes, Pictures > Screenshots
PrtScn	Whole screen, or opens Snipping Tool on newer setups	Depends on your settings
Windows + Shift + R	Starts a screen video	You save it when you stop

Snip part of the screen with Windows + Shift + S

1. Press the Windows logo key, Shift and S together. The screen dims and a small bar appears at the top.
2. Pick a mode: Rectangle, Freeform, Window or Full screen.
3. Drag around what you want, or click the window.
4. A notification pops up. Click it to open the snip in Snipping Tool, or just paste it with Ctrl and V.

This is the shortcut I'd learn first. You choose exactly what's in the shot, so there's no cropping afterwards, and the image is ready to paste into an email or chat the moment you let go.

Capture everything and save it straight away

Press the Windows logo key and PrtScn together. On many laptops the screen flickers briefly to show it worked. The file lands in Pictures, inside a folder called Screenshots. On a laptop where PrtScn shares a key with something else, you may need to hold the Fn key too.

Using the Snipping Tool app

Everything above runs through Snipping Tool, and opening the app itself gives you more control. Select Start, type snipping tool and open it. Choose a snipping mode and select New. Microsoft lists five kinds of snip:

• Rectangle: drag a box around something.
• Freeform: draw any shape around an object.
• Window: click a single window or dialog box.
• Full screen: the whole display.
• Video snip: record part of the screen.

Inside the app, Alt and D adds a delay of between 1 and 5 seconds, which is the fix when you need to capture a menu that closes the moment you click elsewhere. Alt and N takes a new snip in the same mode as last time.

Where Windows keeps your screenshots

Snipping Tool saves every capture automatically to your Screenshots folder, which sits inside Pictures. If you'd rather it didn't, or you want a different folder, open Snipping Tool, select See More (the three dots), then Settings, and change the automatic save option. You can also save an extra copy anywhere with Save as, or press Ctrl and S.

Pull text out of a screenshot

This is the feature most people don't know is there. After you capture an image snip, select Text actions. Windows reads the text in the picture so you can select and copy it, which is brilliant for error messages, a phone number in an image or a slide someone shared. You can also redact parts before sharing. It saves retyping anything.

Mark up before you send

With the snip open, use the Pen or Highlighter to circle the thing you're talking about, add shapes or emojis, crop with Image crop, and undo anything you don't like. For bigger edits, choose Edit, then Edit with Paint. Then copy it or save it and send.

Extra features on Copilot+ PCs

On a Copilot+ PC, Snipping Tool adds Perfect screenshot, which tightens the frame around the main content on screen so you don't need to crop, and a Color picker that copies the exact colour value of anything on screen. You won't see these on older machines, and that's normal.

If nothing happens when you press the keys

• On laptops, try holding Fn with PrtScn.
• Check that Snipping Tool notifications aren't switched off, or you won't see the pop-up after a snip.
• Some streaming apps block screenshots of video, so the capture comes out black.
• On a work computer, your IT team may have restricted screenshots.

If you're on a Mac as well as a PC, the shortcuts are different but the idea is the same. And if you're cleaning up a slow computer while you're at it, read my take on whether Malwarebytes is safe to use before installing a cleaner.

My verdict

Use the Windows logo key, Shift and S for nearly everything. It lets you pick the exact area, copies it ready to paste and saves a copy in Screenshots too. Keep the Windows logo key and PrtScn for times you need the whole screen saved in one tap, and remember Text actions whenever you're tempted to retype something from a picture. For more keyboard time-savers, my list of ChatGPT keyboard shortcuts works in Windows too.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut to screenshot on Windows?

Press the Windows logo key, Shift and S to snip an area, or the Windows logo key and PrtScn to save the whole screen.

Where do screenshots go on Windows?

They save to the Screenshots folder inside Pictures.

How do I screenshot one window on Windows?

Press the Windows logo key, Shift and S, choose Window mode and click the window.

Can I copy text from a screenshot on Windows?

Yes. Open the snip in Snipping Tool and select Text actions to copy the text.

How do I take a delayed screenshot on Windows?

Open Snipping Tool and press Alt and D to delay the capture by 1 to 5 seconds.

Why does my screenshot come out black?

Some apps, often video streaming services, block screenshots of their content.