How To Print Screen In Windows Desktop: A Complete Guide
If you need to capture a moment on your screen, Windows provides several built‑in ways to do it quickly and without additional software. This article walks you through the classic Print Screen key, the newer Snip & Sketch tool, and practical tips for saving and editing your screenshots.
Understanding the Print Screen Function
The Print Screen (often abbreviated PrtScn) key has been a staple of Windows keyboards for decades. It copies an image of your display to the clipboard, where you can paste it into an image editor, document, or email. While the basic concept is simple, Windows 10 and Windows 11 add shortcuts that let you save files directly, bypassing the clipboard entirely.
The Traditional Print Screen Key
- PrtScn – Captures the entire screen and stores the image on the clipboard.
- Alt + PrtScn – Captures only the active window and places it on the clipboard.
- Windows + PrtScn – Captures the entire screen and automatically saves a PNG file in the Pictures\Screenshots folder.
These shortcuts work on virtually every Windows desktop, making them reliable for quick documentation or sharing.
Using Windows Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch
Microsoft’s Snipping Tool (Windows 10) and Snip & Sketch (Windows 11) offer more control. In a short video tutorial, “This video describes two methods of capturing images and graphics that are displayed on your computer,” the presenter demonstrates how to select a rectangular, free‑form, or full‑screen snip, and then annotate the result before saving.
Both tools can be launched with Windows + Shift + S. Your screen dims, and a small toolbar appears at the top, letting you choose the snip shape you need. The captured image is copied to the clipboard and also appears as a notification, where you can click to open the editor.
Step‑by‑step Guide to Capture the Whole Screen
- Locate the PrtScn key on your keyboard. It is usually in the top‑right corner, sometimes combined with Print Screen or SysRq.
- Press Windows
