The fastest way to screenshot on HP: Print Screen and Snipping Tool

On an HP computer running Windows, you have two quick methods. The simplest is to press the Print Screen key (labeled PrtScn or PrtSc, usually in the upper right of your keyboard), which copies your entire screen to the clipboard. You can then paste it into any program—Paint, Word, email—by pressing Ctrl+V. If you want to capture only part of your screen or edit it before saving, use the Snipping Tool, which is built into Windows and lets you draw a box around the area you want.

The Snipping Tool is faster than Print Screen for most people because it saves the image directly instead of making you paste it somewhere first. To open it, press the Windows key and type "snipping tool," then click the result. A small toolbar appears; click New, then drag your cursor to select the part of the screen you want to capture. The image opens in the Snipping Tool window, where you can annotate it with a pen or highlighter, then save it as a PNG or JPG file to your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to copy your entire screen to the clipboard, then paste it into any program with Ctrl+V.
  • Use the Snipping Tool (search for it in Windows) to capture only part of your screen and save it directly as a file.
  • On newer HP laptops, you can press Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot menu without opening Snipping Tool first.
  • Screenshots are saved to your clipboard or directly to your Pictures folder, depending on which method you use.

Using Print Screen for a full-screen capture

The Print Screen key captures everything visible on your monitor at that moment. Look for it on your keyboard—it is usually near the top right, sometimes labeled PrtScn or PrtSc. Press it once. Nothing visible happens, but the image is now in your clipboard, ready to paste.

Open any program where you can paste an image: Paint (search "paint" in Windows), Microsoft Word, email, or even a web browser. Press Ctrl+V, and your screenshot appears. From there, you can crop it, draw on it, or save it. If you want to save it as a file right away, open Paint, paste the screenshot, then go to File > Save As and choose where to store it and what to name it.

Capturing part of your screen with Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is built into Windows and works on all HP computers. Press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo), type "snipping tool," and click the result when it appears. A small window opens with a toolbar at the top.

Click the New button. Your screen will dim slightly, and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the part of the screen you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the captured area opens in the Snipping Tool window. You can use the pen or highlighter tools to mark it up, then click File > Save As to save it as a file. Choose your Pictures folder or Desktop so you can find it easily later.

Using Windows Screenshot shortcut on newer HP laptops

If your HP laptop is running a recent version of Windows (Windows 10 or later), you can use a faster keyboard shortcut: press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen dims, and a small menu appears at the top with four options for how to capture: rectangular, freeform, window, or full screen.

Click the shape you want, then drag to select the area. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard automatically. A small notification appears in the bottom right corner; click it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool, where you can edit and save it. If you do not click the notification, the image stays in your clipboard and you can paste it into any program with Ctrl+V.

Where your screenshots are saved

Screenshots behave differently depending on which method you used. If you pressed Print Screen or Windows+Shift+S, the image goes to your clipboard—it is not saved as a file until you paste it somewhere and save it manually. If you use the Snipping Tool and click Save, you choose the location yourself; most people save to Pictures or Desktop so they can find the file later.

To find your saved screenshots, open File Explorer (press Windows key + E), then click Pictures or Desktop in the left sidebar. Look for files with names like "Screenshot" or the date and time. If you are not sure where you saved something, you can search for it: press Windows key + E, type "screenshot" in the search box at the top right, and Windows will show you every screenshot file on your computer.

Troubleshooting if Print Screen is not working

If you press Print Screen and nothing happens, check whether your HP keyboard has a special function key. Some HP laptops require you to hold Fn (usually in the bottom left corner) and press Print Screen at the same time. Try Fn + PrtScn. If that does not work, your Print Screen key may be mapped to a different function; check your keyboard's manual or HP's support page for your specific model.

If Snipping Tool does not open when you search for it, make sure Windows is up to date. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, click Update & Security, then click Check for Updates. Install any updates and restart your computer. After that, Snipping Tool should be available. If you still cannot find it, use Print Screen instead—it works on every Windows computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Use the Snipping Tool and select the "Window" option from the menu, or press Windows+Shift+S and click the window icon. Then click the window you want to capture. Alternatively, press Alt+Print Screen to copy only the active window to your clipboard, then paste it with Ctrl+V.

How do I screenshot on an HP laptop without a Print Screen key?

Use the Snipping Tool (search for it in Windows) or press Windows+Shift+S. Both work on any HP laptop regardless of keyboard layout. If your keyboard has an Fn key, try Fn+PrtScn; some HP models hide Print Screen behind the Fn key.

What format are my screenshots saved in?

The Snipping Tool saves as PNG by default, which preserves quality and is good for most uses. You can also save as JPG. If you paste a Print Screen capture into Paint and save it, you can choose PNG, JPG, BMP, or GIF depending on what you need.

Can I edit my screenshot after I take it?

Yes. If you use the Snipping Tool, you can draw on it with the pen or highlighter before saving. If you used Print Screen, paste it into Paint (search "paint" in Windows) and use Paint's drawing tools to add marks, crop it, or resize it before saving.

Where do I find my screenshots if I forgot where I saved them?

Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer, then type "screenshot" in the search box at the top right. Windows will show every screenshot file on your computer. You can also check your Pictures and Desktop folders, which are the most common places people save them.