How to Take a Screenshot on Windows (All Methods)

Method 1 — PrtScn (full screen, copied to clipboard)

1. Press the PrtScn key (top-right area of keyboard; use Fn + PrtScn on laptops if needed)
2. Open Paint, Word, or any image editor
3. Press Ctrl + V to paste
4. Save the file

Method 2 — Windows + PrtScn (full screen, auto-saved)

1. Press Windows key + PrtScn together
2. Open File Explorer → This PC → Pictures → Screenshots
3. Your screenshot is saved there automatically as a .png

Method 3 — Win + Shift + S (capture part of the screen)

1. Press Windows key + Shift + S together
2. Choose a mode from the toolbar: Rectangle, Freeform, Window, or Fullscreen
3. Drag to select the area (or click a window for Window mode)
4. Click the notification that pops up in the corner
5. Edit if needed, then click Save

Method 4 — Alt + PrtScn (capture only the active window)

1. Click the window you want to capture
2. Press Alt + PrtScn together
3. Paste (Ctrl + V) into Paint or any editor
4. Save the file

Method 5 — Snipping Tool app (for delayed capture or extra editing)

1. Press Windows key, type Snipping Tool, open it
2. Click New
3. Choose snip type: Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Fullscreen
4. Capture, then edit (crop, annotate) if needed
5. Click Save

Method 6 — Win + Alt + PrtScn (for games and full-screen apps)

1. Press Windows key + Alt + PrtScn together
2. Screenshot saves automatically to Videos > Captures

Method 7 — Tablets and 2-in-1s without a keyboard (e.g., Surface)

1. Press the Windows button + Volume Down button at the same time
2. Screen dims briefly to confirm capture
3. Find it in Pictures > Screenshots

Good to know

1. Windows 10 calls the region-capture app "Snip & Sketch"; Windows 11 calls it "Snipping Tool" — same shortcut, same steps, just a name change
2. To make PrtScn open the Snipping Tool directly instead of an instant full-screen capture: Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > toggle "Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping"