The fastest way to capture your screen on ASUS

On an ASUS computer running Windows, press Print Screen (often labeled PrtScn) to capture your entire screen, or press Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot tool and select just the part you want. The Print Screen method copies the image to your clipboard so you can paste it into an email, document, or image editor. The Windows key + Shift + S method lets you draw a box around what you want to capture before saving it.

If your ASUS keyboard has a dedicated screenshot button or uses function keys, check the key labels — some ASUS models print the screenshot function on the F-key row. You may need to hold the Fn key while pressing the labeled key to set up it.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to copy your entire screen to the clipboard, then paste it into any document or image editor.
  • Press Windows key + Shift + S to open a tool that lets you select and save just part of your screen without copying to clipboard first.
  • If your ASUS keyboard has function keys, hold Fn and press the key labeled with a screenshot icon to use that shortcut instead.
  • Screenshots taken with Print Screen go to your clipboard only — you must paste them somewhere to save them as a file.
  • The Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch are built into Windows and offer more control over where and how your screenshot is saved.

Using Print Screen for a full-screen capture

The Print Screen key is the simplest method and works on every ASUS computer. Locate the key on your keyboard — it is usually in the upper right area, often next to the Scroll Lock and Pause keys. Press it once. Nothing visible happens on your screen, but the image is now in your clipboard.

To save or use the screenshot, open an image editor like Paint (search for "Paint" in your Start menu), paste the image with Ctrl + V, and then save the file. You can also paste directly into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, email, or any other program that accepts images. If you want to edit the screenshot before saving — crop it, draw on it, or highlight something — use Paint or a more advanced editor like Photoshop or GIMP.

One common mistake: pressing Print Screen and then closing your browser or program without pasting first. The clipboard clears when you shut down your computer, so paste your screenshot somewhere before you turn off your ASUS machine.

Using Windows key + Shift + S to select part of your screen

This method is faster if you only need to capture a portion of your screen. Press and hold the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo, usually between Ctrl and Alt on the left side of your keyboard), then press Shift and S at the same time. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair.

Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse button, a small toolbar appears at the top of your screen with options to save, copy, or edit the screenshot. Click the save icon (usually a folder or disk symbol) to choose where to store the file on your ASUS computer. The image is also copied to your clipboard, so you can paste it when ready if you prefer.

This method is faster than Print Screen if you are taking many screenshots in a row, because you do not have to open Paint or another editor each time. The tool remembers your last selection, so if you need to capture the same area again, you can use the same box without redrawing it.

Finding the screenshot function on ASUS keyboards with Fn keys

Some ASUS laptops and keyboards have a dedicated screenshot key or print screen function printed on the F-key row (F1 through F12). Look at the top row of keys and check for an icon that looks like a camera, window, or overlapping rectangles. If you see one, that key has the screenshot function built in.

To use it, hold down the Fn key (usually in the lower left corner of your keyboard, near Ctrl) and press the F-key with the screenshot icon. This activates the screenshot function instead of the standard F-key action. On some ASUS models, you may not need to hold Fn — the screenshot key works on its own. Test by pressing just the key once; if nothing happens, try holding Fn and pressing it again.

Check your ASUS manual or visit the ASUS support website for your specific model to confirm which method your keyboard uses. The model number is usually printed on the bottom of your laptop or on a sticker on the back of your monitor.

Saving screenshots to a specific folder

By default, screenshots taken with Windows key + Shift + S are saved to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. To find them, open File Explorer, click Pictures on the left side, then double-click the Screenshots folder. All your recent screenshots appear there as image files with names like "Screenshot (1).png".

If you use Print Screen instead, the image only lives in your clipboard until you paste it somewhere. To save it as a file, paste it into Paint, then go to File and click Save As. Choose a location on your ASUS computer (Desktop, Documents, or a custom folder), give the file a name, and click Save. Paint saves it as a .png or .bmp file by default.

For more control over where screenshots go, use the built-in Snipping Tool. Search for "Snipping Tool" in your Start menu, open it, click New, and select the area you want to capture. A window opens with your screenshot, and you can click File and Save As to choose exactly where to store it and what to name it.

Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work

If Print Screen does not seem to work, the key may be disabled or mapped to a different function on your ASUS keyboard. Try pressing Fn + Print Screen instead. If that does not work, open Settings (press Windows key + I), go to Ease of Access, then Keyboard, and scroll down to find Print Screen settings. Make sure Print Screen is not turned off.

If Windows key + Shift + S does not open the screenshot tool, your Windows version may be older. Update Windows by going to Settings, clicking Update & Security, and then Check for Updates. Windows 10 and later versions include this tool by default, but older versions do not.

If you can take a screenshot but cannot find where it was saved, check your Downloads folder and your Pictures folder first. If you used Print Screen, the image is in your clipboard but not saved to disk — you must paste it into an editor and save it manually. If you used Windows key + Shift + S, look in Pictures > Screenshots.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Print Screen and Windows key + Shift + S?

Print Screen copies your entire screen to the clipboard only — you must paste it into a program to save it as a file. Windows key + Shift + S lets you select just part of your screen and saves it directly to your Screenshots folder without pasting. Use Print Screen for quick copies you will paste when ready, and Windows key + Shift + S when you want to save the image right away.

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

Yes. Press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window (the one you are currently using). This copies to your clipboard just like regular Print Screen, so paste it into Paint or another editor to save it. Alternatively, use Windows key + Shift + S and draw a box around just the window you want.

Where do my screenshots go when I use Print Screen?

They go to your clipboard, which is temporary storage in your computer's memory. You must paste the image into Paint, Word, email, or another program within the same session, or the clipboard clears when you restart your ASUS computer. To save a Print Screen screenshot as a permanent file, paste it into Paint and use File > Save As.

Why does my screenshot look blurry or cut off?

If your screenshot is blurry, your display scaling may be set too high. Go to Settings, click System, then Display, and lower the scale percentage. If it is cut off, you may have multiple monitors connected — Print Screen captures all of them. Use Windows key + Shift + S instead to select just the area you need.

Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?

Yes. After you press Windows key + Shift + S and select your area, a toolbar appears with a pen icon. Click it to draw or write on your screenshot before saving. If you used Print Screen, paste the image into Paint and use the drawing tools there to add marks, crop, or resize before saving.