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If you want to take a screenshot on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, there are several methods you can use. Whether you want to save the entire screen or just a piece of it, we've rounded up all the best ways to take a Windows screenshot. The Print Screen buttonThe Print Screen key is on the top row of keys. William Antonelli/InsiderThe easiest way to take a screenshot of your entire screen on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is by pressing the Print Screen (PrtScn) button on your keyboard. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard. To save the file, paste the screenshot into any program that allows you to insert images, like Microsoft Word or Paint. Paste your screenshot into a program like Paint to save and edit it. William Antonelli/InsiderThe Windows key + Print ScreenYou can automatically save screenshots by pressing the Windows Key along with Print Screen. William Antonelli/InsiderTo take a screenshot on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and automatically save the file to the Screenshots folder, press the Windows key + PrtScn. Your screen will go dim and a screenshot of your entire screen will be saved to the folder. Alt + Print ScreenTo only capture the active window you're working in, press Alt + PrtScn. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, and you'll need to paste it into another program to save it. The Snip & Sketch tool in Windows 10Windows 10 Snip & Sketch is the best way to screenshot on Windows if you're looking to customize, annotate, or share your screen captures. To activate Snip & Sketch, use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will go dim and a mini menu will appear at the top of your screen, giving you the option to take a rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen capture. This keyboard combo works in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. William Antonelli/InsiderWith these Snip & Skitch options, you can choose how you'd like to take a screenshot: Click the menu to take a rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen capture (from left to right). William Antonelli/InsiderAfter you capture the screenshot, it'll be saved to your clipboard and a preview notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Click on the preview notification to open the Snip & Sketch app and save, share, or edit the screenshot with the available drawing tools. The Snipping Tool in Windows 11Although the Snipping Tool exists in Windows 10, it's not usually the screenshot tool you'll want to use. In Windows 11, the Snipping Tool got a major upgrade and it's now the best way to take custom screenshots. To start the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, you can search for it or press the Windows Key + Shift + S. Like Snip & Sketch, your screen will go dim and a toolbar of screenshot options will appear at the top of the screen. This toolbar will let you take a rectangular, freeform, full-window, or a full-screen capture. The Snipping Tool looks just like Snip & Sketch. William Antonelli/InsiderOnce you've taken your screenshot, it'll be copied to your clipboard so you can share it right away, and it will be saved to the Screenshots folder. If you click the preview that pops up in the bottom-right corner of your screen, you'll be able to save and edit it. The Game BarThe Game Bar is an overlay you can use within most Windows apps and games to take screenshots and record videos. Follow the steps below to open and use it: 1. Press Windows Key + G. 2. In the overlay menu, click the Capture button – the camera icon – in the top menu to bring up the Capture menu. 3. In the Capture menu, click the camera icon to take a screenshot. You can also record a video clip by pressing the record button, with the option to include audio by clicking the microphone icon. Screenshots and video clips captured by the Game Bar are saved in PNG and MP4 format and you can find them in the Videos > Captures folder in File Explorer. You can also find them through the Game Bar's Gallery, by clicking Show my captures > See my captures underneath the screenshot and recording buttons in the Capture menu. Power + Volume UpTo take a screenshot on Windows 10 with a Microsoft Surface device, press the Power Button + Volume Up Button. The screen will go dim, and your screenshot will save to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. Third-party screenshot apps for WindowsIf you're unsatisfied with any of the built-in Windows methods, there are third-party screenshot tools worth considering, each with its own extra offerings. Screenshot apps like Lightshot are useful for social sharing. William Antonelli/Insider
William Antonelli Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at . Read more Read less How do I take a screenshot on my Microsoft Surface laptop?Here's how: Step 1: Hold down the *Power *button. Step 2: Press the Volume Up button. Again, the screen will flicker, and the screenshot saves to the same location.
How do I take a screenshot on my Surface 3 laptop?Press the Print Screen key, abbreviated as PrtScn, to take a screenshot on any Surface laptop immediately. The screenshot is copied to the Windows Clipboard.
How do I screenshot on my surface laptop without a keyboard?To take a screenshot on a Surface Pro 8 or Surface Pro X tablet without a keyboard attached: Press and hold the Power button. While you hold down the Power button, press and release the Volume Up button on the side of the device.
Where are Screenshots on Microsoft Laptop?Use the Windows Key-Print Screen Shortcut
This or Windows Key-Print Screen key combo will momentarily darken the screen to show you it worked, and instantly save a PNG image file to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
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