The fastest way to capture your screen 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 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 combination opens a snipping tool that lets you draw a rectangle around the area you need before saving it.

Which method you use depends on whether you want the whole screen or just a portion. Print Screen is faster if you need everything. The Windows key shortcut is better when you only need part of the screen and want to save it directly instead of pasting it somewhere first.

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 the snipping tool, which lets you draw a box around just the part of the screen you need.
  • On ThinkPad laptops with a function key row, you may need to hold Fn + Print Screen if Print Screen alone does not work.
  • Screenshots taken with Print Screen go to your clipboard and disappear if you copy something else, so paste them quickly or use the snipping tool to save directly.

Using Print Screen for a full-screen capture

The Print Screen key is the simplest method. Locate it on your keyboard—it is usually in the upper right area, often sharing space with another label. Press it once. Nothing visible happens, but your entire screen is now copied to your clipboard.

Open the program where you want to paste the screenshot. This could be Microsoft Word, Paint, Outlook, or any other process that accepts images. Right-click and select Paste, or press Ctrl + V. The screenshot appears when ready. If you are using Paint, go to Edit menu and choose Paste, or press Ctrl + V.

One important limitation: the screenshot stays in your clipboard only until you copy something else. If you copy a block of text or an image before pasting your screenshot, the screenshot is lost. For this reason, paste when ready after taking the screenshot, or use the snipping tool method instead if you need to do other things first.

Using Windows key + Shift + S for partial screenshots

This method opens the Snipping Tool, which lets you capture only the part of the screen you need. Press and hold the Windows key (usually at the bottom left of your keyboard), then press Shift and S at the same time. Your screen dims slightly and your cursor changes to a crosshair.

Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. Start at one corner of the area and drag to the opposite corner. When you release the mouse button, the snipped area is copied to your clipboard and a small notification appears in the lower right corner of your screen. Click that notification to open the snip in the Snipping Tool, where you can save it as a file on your computer.

This method is better than Print Screen when you only need part of the screen, because you can save the image directly to your computer instead of having to paste it into another program first. The image stays available even if you copy other things afterward.

What to do if Print Screen does not work

On some ThinkPad models, especially newer ones, the Print Screen key shares space with other functions. If pressing Print Screen alone does nothing, try holding the Fn key (usually in the lower left corner) and pressing Print Screen at the same time. This tells your ThinkPad to use the Print Screen function instead of whatever else that key is set to do.

If Fn + Print Screen still does not work, check your ThinkPad's function key settings. On many models, you can press Fn + Esc to toggle whether the function keys work as printed or as their secondary functions. Try toggling this setting and then attempt Print Screen again.

If neither method works, the Windows key + Shift + S shortcut will always work on any Windows ThinkPad, so use that as your backup method.

Saving screenshots to your computer

If you use Print Screen and paste into Paint, you can save the image as a file. Open Paint (search for it in your Start menu), paste your screenshot with Ctrl + V, then go to File menu and click Save As. Choose a location on your computer, give the file a name, and select a format like PNG or JPG. PNG keeps the image quality highest.

The snipping tool method is faster for saving. After you take the snip with Windows key + Shift + S, click the notification that appears and the Snipping Tool opens with your image ready. Click the Save button (or press Ctrl + S), choose where to save it, name it, and you are done.

You can also use the built-in Screenshots folder. When you use the snipping tool, Windows automatically saves a copy to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. Check there if you took a snip but forgot where you saved it.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is pressing Print Screen and then doing other things before pasting. Your screenshot disappears from the clipboard as soon as you copy anything else—a web address, a sentence of text, even a single image. Paste when ready, or use the snipping tool instead.

Another mistake is not knowing whether you need Fn + Print Screen or just Print Screen. If one does not work, try the other. It takes two seconds and saves frustration. On most newer ThinkPads, Fn + Print Screen is the correct combination.

A third mistake is taking a screenshot of your entire screen when you only need part of it, then having to crop it later. Use Windows key + Shift + S from the start if you know you only need a portion. It is faster than capturing everything and editing it down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots go when I press Print Screen?

They go to your clipboard, which is temporary storage in your computer's memory. You must paste the screenshot into a program like Paint, Word, or Outlook within a few seconds, before you copy anything else. If you want the screenshot saved as a file automatically, use Windows key + Shift + S instead.

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 just like regular Print Screen, so paste it when ready. Alternatively, use Windows key + Shift + S and draw a box around just the window you need.

What format should I save my screenshot in?

PNG is the best choice for most screenshots because it keeps the image sharp and clear without making the file size huge. JPG works if you need a smaller file, but it can make text look slightly blurry. Use PNG unless you have a specific reason not to.

Why does my Print Screen key not work even with Fn?

Some ThinkPad models have the Print Screen function disabled in BIOS settings, or the key may be mapped to something else. Try Windows key + Shift + S, which works on all Windows computers. If you need Print Screen specifically, restart your ThinkPad and enter BIOS setup (usually by pressing F1 or Fn + F1 during startup) to check the keyboard settings.

Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen including multiple monitors?

Yes. Print Screen captures all monitors connected to your ThinkPad. If you use Windows key + Shift + S, you can draw across multiple monitors to select the area you want. The snipping tool will capture whatever area you draw, even if it spans two screens.