The fastest way to screenshot on a ThinkPad

On most ThinkPad models, 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 area 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.

Which method you use depends on what you're capturing and where you want to send it. If you need the whole screen fast, Print Screen is quickest. If you only need part of the screen or want to save it directly as a file, the Windows key + Shift + S tool is more flexible.

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 draw a box around just the part of the screen you want to capture.
  • On older ThinkPad models, Fn + Print Screen may be required instead of Print Screen alone.
  • Screenshots go to your clipboard by default and must be pasted into a program; they do not automatically save as files.
  • The Snipping Tool (search for it in the Start menu) offers more options like delay timers and annotation if you need them.

Using Print Screen for a full-screen capture

Press the Print Screen key once. You will not see a notification or hear a sound — the image straightforward copies to your clipboard. Open the program where you want to use the screenshot: Outlook, Word, Paint, Photoshop, or any other process that accepts images. Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.

If you want to save the screenshot as a file instead of pasting it directly, open Paint (search for "Paint" in the Start menu), press Ctrl + V to paste, then press Ctrl + S to save. Paint will ask you to choose a file name and location. This method works on all ThinkPad models running Windows.

Using Windows key + Shift + S to capture part of the screen

Press Windows key + Shift + S together. 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, then release the mouse button. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard.

A small notification will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool, where you can annotate it, crop it further, or save it directly as a file. If you do not click the notification, the image stays in your clipboard and you can paste it into any program using Ctrl + V.

When Fn + Print Screen is required

On some older ThinkPad models, the Print Screen key shares space with another function and requires the Fn key to work. If pressing Print Screen alone does not capture a screenshot, try pressing Fn + Print Screen instead. This is most common on ThinkPad X, T, and L series laptops from 2015 and earlier.

You can check your keyboard to see if Print Screen has a secondary label. If it does, Fn + Print Screen is the correct combination for your model. Once you confirm which works, you can use it the same way as Print Screen alone — the image copies to your clipboard.

Using the Snipping Tool for more control

The Snipping Tool is built into Windows and offers more options than the keyboard shortcuts. Search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu and open it. Click New to start a capture, then draw a box around the area you want. The screenshot opens in the Snipping Tool window where you can draw on it, erase parts, or add text before saving.

The Snipping Tool also has a delay timer, which is useful if you need to capture a menu or tooltip that disappears when you click. Click the arrow next to New, select Delayed Snip, choose how many seconds to wait, then click New. The tool will wait before letting you draw your selection box.

Saving screenshots as files

Screenshots captured with Print Screen or Windows key + Shift + S go to your clipboard by default and do not automatically save as files. To save one, you must paste it into a program first. Paint is the simplest option: open Paint, paste with Ctrl + V, then press Ctrl + S and choose a file name and location.

If you use the Snipping Tool, you can save directly from the tool window. After you capture and annotate your screenshot, click File and select Save As. Choose where to save it and what file name to use. The file will be saved as a PNG image by default, which works on all ThinkPad computers and most other devices.

Troubleshooting screenshots that do not work

If Print Screen does not capture anything, first check whether your ThinkPad requires the Fn key — try Fn + Print Screen. If that does not work, the Print Screen key may be disabled in your BIOS settings. Restart your ThinkPad and press F1 or Enter during startup to enter BIOS setup (the exact key varies by model). Look for a setting called "Print Screen Key" or "Hot Keys" and make sure it is enabled.

If you are not comfortable changing BIOS settings, use Windows key + Shift + S or the Snipping Tool instead — both work on all ThinkPad models and do not depend on BIOS configuration. If Windows key + Shift + S does not work, your version of Windows may be older than Windows 10. Update Windows through Settings > Update & Security > Check for Updates, or use the Snipping Tool, which is available on all Windows versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go after I press Print Screen?

They go to your clipboard, which is temporary storage in your computer's memory. You must paste them into a program like Word, Paint, or Outlook using Ctrl + V before you close any programs, or the image will be lost. To keep a screenshot permanently, save it as a file using Paint or the Snipping Tool.

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

Yes. Press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the window that is currently active (the one you are using). This copies to your clipboard the same way a full-screen capture does. Paste it with Ctrl + V into any program.

What file format should I save screenshots in?

PNG is the best choice for most uses — it keeps the image quality high and works on all computers and phones. Paint and the Snipping Tool both save as PNG by default. If you need a different format like JPG, open the file in Paint, click File > Save As, and choose the format from the dropdown menu.

How do I take a screenshot if my Print Screen key is broken?

Use Windows key + Shift + S or open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu. Both methods work without the Print Screen key and give you the same result. The Snipping Tool is the most reliable option if your keyboard is damaged.