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Learning how to capture screenshots on your PC using the keyboard is a valuable skill that can save you time and effort. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or the latest Windows 11, there are several built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts that make taking screenshots quick and easy.
In Windows, Microsoft has provided two main built-in tools for capturing screenshots: Snip & Sketch and the Snipping Tool. These tools offer different options for capturing screenshots, depending on your needs.
Snip & Sketch is a more advanced and user-friendly tool that can capture screenshots of windows, rectangular areas, and the full screen. It offers a variety of annotation and sharing options, allowing you to enhance and share your screenshots easily.
The Snipping Tool, on the other hand, is an older tool that is still available in Windows 11. It can capture rectangular, freeform, full-screen, and window screenshots. Although it lacks some of the advanced features of Snip & Sketch, it is functional and straightforward to use.
In addition to these built-in tools, there are also keyboard shortcuts that can be used to capture screenshots. The Print Screen key captures the entire screen, while the Windows key + Print Screen combination automatically saves a screenshot to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. The Alt + Print Screen shortcut captures the active window.
If you’re a gamer, you can use the Game bar by pressing the Windows key + G to capture full-screen screenshots while gaming. Microsoft Surface devices also have their own screenshot shortcut, using the combination of the Windows Logo + Volume Down buttons.
Lastly, if you’re looking for more advanced features and customization options, there are third-party screenshot apps available for Windows, such as Lightshot, Greenshot, ScreenRec, Snagit, and Screencast-O-Matic. These apps offer additional functionalities, like social sharing, editing, and recording capabilities.
With these built-in tools, keyboard shortcuts, and third-party apps at your disposal, you’ll be able to capture and share screenshots effortlessly on your Windows PC.
Snip & Sketch: The Easier Way to Capture Screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Snip & Sketch is a built-in tool in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that provides an easier and more versatile way to capture screenshots. It offers advanced features and flexibility compared to the older Snipping Tool.
To capture screenshots using Snip & Sketch, simply press the Windows key + Shift + S keyboard shortcut. This will display a small panel at the top of your screen where you can choose the type of screenshot you want to take.
Snip & Sketch allows you to capture:
- Rectangular screenshots
- Freeform screenshots
- Window screenshots
- Full-screen screenshots
After capturing a screenshot, it is saved to your clipboard, and a notification appears in the lower-right corner of your screen. Clicking on the notification opens the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app, where you can annotate, save, or share it.
Alternatively, you can open Snip & Sketch from the Start menu or by searching for it. When opened, it displays the Snip & Sketch window, where you can initiate a screen capture and access annotation and sharing options.
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One of the advantages of Snip & Sketch over the Snipping Tool is its ability to capture screenshots of windows, which was a feature missing in the Snipping Tool for a long time.
Another useful feature of Snip & Sketch is the option to delay a screenshot for 3 or 10 seconds. This allows you to set up the screen before capturing the image.
In conclusion, Snip & Sketch has become the preferred method for taking screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11 due to its ease of use and additional features. It offers a more intuitive and efficient way to capture and annotate screenshots, making it a valuable tool for various purposes.
Snipping Tool: The Classic Screenshot Tool Still Available in Windows 11
The Snipping Tool is a classic screenshot tool that has been a part of Windows since Windows Vista. Despite indications of its eventual phase-out, the Snipping Tool remains accessible in Windows 11. With the Snipping Tool, users can capture rectangular, freeform, full-screen, and window screenshots, providing a versatile range of options for capturing visual content.
In Windows 11, the Snipping Tool is no longer listed in the Start menu, but it can still be accessed through the convenient search bar. To initiate the screenshot process in the Snipping Tool, users simply need to click the “New” button. By default, the Snipping Tool offers the rectangular snip type, but users can also choose freeform, full-screen, or window snips depending on their specific screenshot requirements.
Unlike some other built-in tools, the Snipping Tool does not automatically save screenshots. Therefore, users must manually save their captures within the tool before closing it. However, the Snipping Tool does automatically copy captures to the clipboard, allowing for easy pasting into other applications for saving or sharing purposes.
Other Keyboard Shortcuts and Third-Party Apps for Taking Screenshots on Windows
In addition to Snip & Sketch and the Snipping Tool, there are several other keyboard shortcuts and third-party apps available for taking screenshots on Windows.
The Print Screen key, sometimes labeled PrtScn, captures the entire screen and copies the screenshot to the clipboard. To save the screenshot as an image file, you need to open an image editing tool and paste the screenshot into it.
The Windows key + PrtScn shortcut automatically saves the screenshot to the Pictures > Screenshots folder on your computer. The Alt + PrtScn shortcut captures only the active window and copies the screenshot to the clipboard.
The Windows Logo + Space Bar shortcut, or Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar for computers without the PrtScn key, takes a screenshot and saves it to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
The Game bar, activated with the Windows key + G shortcut, allows you to take screenshots while gaming and offers additional recording options.
Microsoft Surface devices have their own screenshot shortcut, using the combination of the Windows Logo touch button and the volume-down button.
Finally, there are third-party screenshot apps available for Windows, such as Lightshot, Greenshot, ScreenRec, Snagit, and Screencast-O-Matic. These apps offer additional features and customization options like social sharing, editing, and recording capabilities.
FAQ
How do I capture a screenshot on a PC keyboard?
To capture a screenshot on a PC keyboard, you can use built-in tools and keyboard shortcuts. The main built-in tools in Windows are Snip & Sketch and Snipping Tool, and there are also shortcuts like the Print Screen key, Windows key + Print Screen, and Alt + Print Screen. You can also use the Game bar and third-party apps for additional features.
What is Snip & Sketch?
Snip & Sketch is a built-in tool in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that allows you to capture screenshots. It can capture rectangular, freeform, window, and full-screen screenshots. You can access Snip & Sketch using the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Shift + S or from the Start menu. It offers annotation and sharing options and has the ability to delay screenshots.
How do I use the Snipping Tool in Windows 11?
The Snipping Tool is a classic screenshot tool available in Windows 11. Although delisted from the Start menu, it can still be accessed through the search bar. To use the Snipping Tool, you need to click the New button and choose the desired snip type (rectangular, freeform, full-screen, or window). The Snipping Tool does not automatically save screenshots, but it copies captures to the clipboard for easy pasting into other applications.
What other keyboard shortcuts and third-party apps can I use for taking screenshots on Windows?
In addition to the built-in tools, you can use the Print Screen key to capture the entire screen or the Windows key + PrtScn shortcut to automatically save a screenshot to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. The Alt + PrtScn shortcut captures the active window, and the Windows Logo + Space Bar shortcut saves a screenshot to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. Gamers can use the Game bar with the Windows key + G shortcut. Microsoft Surface devices have their own screenshot shortcut. There are also third-party apps like Lightshot, Greenshot, ScreenRec, Snagit, and Screencast-O-Matic that offer additional features and customization options.
