The quickest way: Press the Windows button and Volume Down together

On a Surface tablet, the fastest way to take a screenshot is to hold down the Windows button (on the left side of the device) and press the Volume Down button at the same time. Hold both for about a second, then release. Your screen will dim briefly to confirm the screenshot was captured.

The screenshot is automatically saved to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. You can open the Photos app or File Explorer to find it right away. The file name will start with "Screenshot" followed by the date and time.

This method works on all Surface models — Surface Pro, Surface Go, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book — because they all have the same button layout on the side or keyboard.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the Windows button and Volume Down button at the same time to capture your screen when ready.
  • Screenshots save automatically to your Pictures > Screenshots folder without any extra steps.
  • The Snipping Tool lets you capture only part of the screen if you do not want the whole display.
  • If you have a keyboard attached, you can use Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen as an alternative method.
  • You can paste a screenshot directly into an email, document, or messaging app right after you take it.

Using the Snipping Tool to capture part of your screen

If you only need to capture a portion of your screen — a single window, a paragraph of text, or a specific area — the Snipping Tool gives you more control. Open it by typing "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search box at the bottom left, then press Enter.

Once the Snipping Tool opens, click the "New" button. Your screen will turn slightly gray, and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the snipped area appears in the Snipping Tool window, where you can save it, copy it, or edit it with a pen or highlighter.

This method takes a few more seconds than the button combination, but it is useful when you want to share only part of a screenshot or avoid capturing sensitive information on the edges of your screen.

Using Print Screen with a keyboard

If your Surface tablet has a keyboard attached — either the official Surface Keyboard or a third-party Bluetooth keyboard — you can use the Print Screen key. Press Print Screen once to copy the entire screen to your clipboard. The screenshot does not save automatically; instead, you can paste it directly into an email, document, or image editor by pressing Ctrl + V.

You can also press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window (the one you are currently using). This is helpful if you have multiple windows open and want to focus on just one.

The Print Screen method is faster if you plan to paste the screenshot when ready, but slower if you want to save it as a file, because you have to open an image editor or document first.

Finding and organizing your screenshots

All screenshots taken with the Windows button and Volume Down method go to the same place: your Pictures folder. Open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar), then click "Pictures" on the left side. You will see a folder called "Screenshots" — open it to see all your captured images.

From here, you can rename the files, move them to another folder, delete them, or right-click to open them with a different app. If you take many screenshots, consider creating subfolders by date or project to keep them organized.

If you use the Snipping Tool, you choose where to save each screenshot when you click the save button, so you have more control over the location from the start.

Pasting and sharing screenshots when ready

One advantage of the Windows button and Volume Down method is that the screenshot is copied to your clipboard at the same time it is saved to your Pictures folder. This means you can paste it directly into an email, Teams message, OneNote, or any document without opening File Explorer first.

Open the app where you want to paste the screenshot, click in the text area, and press Ctrl + V. The image will appear when ready. This is much faster than finding the file, uploading it, or attaching it separately.

The same clipboard trick works with Print Screen and the Snipping Tool — both copy the screenshot so you can paste it anywhere without saving a file first.

Troubleshooting: Screenshot buttons not working

If the Windows button and Volume Down combination does not work, the most common reason is that your Volume Down button is stuck or not registering. Try pressing it a few times on its own to see if it responds. If it does not, the button may need service.

Another possibility is that a third-party app has claimed the button combination for its own use. Check your installed apps — especially accessibility or gaming software — to see if any of them have custom shortcuts assigned. You can also try the Snipping Tool or Print Screen method instead, which use different buttons.

If none of the methods work, restart your Surface tablet. Sometimes a software glitch prevents the screenshot function from responding, and a restart clears it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots go when I use Windows button and Volume Down?

They save automatically to your Pictures > Screenshots folder. The screenshot is also copied to your clipboard, so you can paste it into an email or document right away without opening File Explorer.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window instead of the whole screen?

Yes. Use the Snipping Tool for a custom area, or press Alt + Print Screen if you have a keyboard attached. Both let you capture only the active window or a specific portion of the screen.

What if I want to edit the screenshot before saving it?

Use the Snipping Tool, which opens the screenshot in an editor where you can draw, highlight, or crop before you save. The Windows button method saves the full screenshot first, but you can open it in the Photos app or Paint afterward to edit it.

Can I change where screenshots are saved?

The Windows button method always saves to Pictures > Screenshots and cannot be changed. If you want a different location, use the Snipping Tool and choose where to save when you click the save button.

Do I need to do anything special to paste a screenshot into an email?

No. After you take a screenshot, open your email app, click in the message body, and press Ctrl + V. The image will paste directly. You do not need to open File Explorer or attach it separately.