The fastest way to screenshot on Acer

On most Acer computers running Windows, press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn) to capture your entire screen. The image goes into your clipboard — you won't see it saved anywhere yet. Open Paint, Word, or any program that accepts images, then press Ctrl+V to paste it.

If you want the screenshot to save automatically as a file instead of going to the clipboard, press Windows key + Print Screen together. Windows will save the image to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. The file appears when ready; you don't need to paste it anywhere.

For Acer computers running older versions of Windows (Windows 7 or earlier), Print Screen still works the same way — it copies to the clipboard only, and you'll need to paste it into a program to save it as a file.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen alone to copy your full screen to the clipboard, then paste it into Paint or another program.
  • Press Windows key + Print Screen to save a full-screen screenshot directly to your Pictures/Screenshots folder as a file.
  • Windows 10 and 11 include Snipping Tool, which lets you select just part of the screen before capturing.
  • If Print Screen doesn't work, check that your keyboard isn't in a special mode or that a function key isn't blocking it.

Capturing only part of your screen with Snipping Tool

If you need to screenshot just a portion of your screen rather than the whole thing, use Snipping Tool, which comes built into Windows 10 and 11. Press Windows key + Shift + S to open it. Your screen will dim slightly 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 image appears in a small window. From there you can annotate it with a pen or highlighter, then save it or copy it to the clipboard. If you don't save it when ready, the image stays in your clipboard for pasting.

Snipping Tool also has a menu option to capture a full screen, a window, or a freehand shape — click the Mode button in the tool window to switch between them.

Saving a screenshot as a file

The quickest way to save a screenshot as a file is Windows key + Print Screen, which automatically creates a PNG image in your Pictures/Screenshots folder. You can open that folder by pressing Windows key + E to open File Explorer, then clicking Pictures in the left sidebar.

If you've already copied a screenshot to your clipboard using Print Screen alone, open Paint (search for "Paint" in the Windows search box), press Ctrl+V to paste, then press Ctrl+S to save. Choose a location and filename, and make sure the file type is set to PNG or JPG before saving.

You can also paste a clipboard screenshot into Word, Google Docs, or email — the image will embed directly in the document without needing a separate file.

Troubleshooting when Print Screen doesn't work

If pressing Print Screen produces no result, check whether your Acer keyboard has a function lock. Some Acer laptops require you to hold the Fn key while pressing Print Screen (so Fn + PrtScn). Look for a key labeled Fn with a light next to it — if the light is off, press Fn + Esc or Fn + the key with a lock symbol to turn function mode on.

On some Acer models, Print Screen might be combined with another key. Look at your keyboard for PrtScn printed above or below another key — if so, you may need to hold Shift or Fn while pressing it. Your Acer manual or support page will show the exact combination for your model.

If Windows key + Print Screen still doesn't save a file, make sure your Pictures folder exists and has write permission. You can also use Snipping Tool (Windows key + Shift + S) as an alternative, which works on nearly all Acer computers.

Using the Game Bar for screenshots and video

Windows 10 and 11 include a Game Bar designed for recording gameplay, but it also works for regular screenshots. Press Windows key + G to open it. A small menu appears in the corner of your screen with a camera icon for screenshots and a record button for video.

Click the camera icon to take a screenshot, which saves to your Videos/Captures folder. Game Bar is useful if Print Screen isn't responding or if you want to record a video of your screen activity at the same time. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Alt + Print Screen to screenshot with Game Bar without opening the menu.

Screenshots on Acer tablets and touchscreen devices

If you have an Acer tablet or 2-in-1 device running Windows, the screenshot methods are the same as a laptop — Print Screen and Windows key + Print Screen both work. However, if your device doesn't have a physical Print Screen key, you can use Snipping Tool (Windows key + Shift + S) or Game Bar (Windows key + G) instead.

On Acer tablets running Android, press the power button and volume-down button at the same time to capture the screen. The screenshot saves to your Photos app. Hold both buttons for a moment until you see a flash or hear a camera sound, then release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go when I press Print Screen?

Print Screen copies the image to your clipboard only — it doesn't create a file. You must paste it into Paint, Word, email, or another program to see it or save it. If you want a file created automatically, use Windows key + Print Screen instead, which saves to Pictures/Screenshots.

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

Yes. Use Snipping Tool (Windows key + Shift + S) and select the rectangular mode, then drag around just the window you want. Alternatively, press Alt + Print Screen to copy only the active window to your clipboard, then paste it into Paint or another program.

What format are my screenshots saved in?

Windows key + Print Screen saves as PNG, which preserves quality and works on any device. If you save manually through Paint, you can choose PNG, JPG, or other formats. PNG is best for screenshots because it doesn't lose detail.

Why does my Print Screen key not work on my Acer laptop?

Check if your Fn (function) key is active — you may need to press Fn + PrtScn instead. Some Acer models also combine Print Screen with another key. If that doesn't work, use Snipping Tool (Windows key + Shift + S) or Game Bar (Windows key + G) as alternatives.

Can I take a screenshot of just my mouse cursor?

Standard screenshot tools capture the cursor by default. If you need to hide the cursor, open Snipping Tool, take your screenshot, then use Paint to crop or edit it. Some third-party tools let you remove the cursor after capture, but the built-in Windows tools don't have this option.