The fastest way: Print Screen and Snipping Tool

On a Samsung computer running Windows, the quickest screenshot method is to press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn) on your keyboard. This copies the entire screen to your clipboard — you won't see anything happen, but the image is ready to paste into an email, document, or image editor.

For more control, use the Snipping Tool, which lets you capture just the part of the screen you need. Press Windows key + Shift + S together. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture, then release. The snipped image goes to your clipboard and a small notification appears in the bottom right corner — click it to open the image or save it.

If you're running Windows 11, you have a newer version called Snipping Tool that works the same way but with a cleaner interface. The keyboard shortcut is identical: Windows key + Shift + S.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Print Screen to copy your entire screen, then paste it into any document or image editor.
  • Use Windows key + Shift + S to open Snipping Tool and select only the part of the screen you need.
  • Screenshots go to your clipboard by default — you must paste them somewhere or they will be lost when you copy something else.
  • Windows 11 includes a built-in screenshot history accessible through Windows key + V, which stores recent screenshots for a short time.
  • Third-party tools like ShareX or Greenshot offer more features like automatic saving and cloud upload, but the built-in tools cover most everyday needs.

Where your screenshot goes and how to save it

When you press Print Screen or use Snipping Tool, the image goes to your clipboard — a temporary holding area in your computer's memory. It stays there until you paste it somewhere or copy something else. If you close your computer or restart it, the clipboard clears and your screenshot is gone.

To keep your screenshot, paste it into a program that can save files. Open Paint (search for it in the Windows Start menu), press Ctrl + V to paste, then go to File and click Save As. Choose a folder, give it a name, and select a file format — PNG works for most purposes and keeps the image quality high. You can also paste into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any image editor.

If you want screenshots to save automatically without pasting, use the Windows key + Print Screen shortcut instead. This saves a full-screen screenshot directly to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. The file names include the date and time, so each one is unique.

Using Snipping Tool for partial screenshots

Snipping Tool is more useful than Print Screen when you only need part of your screen — a single window, a paragraph of text, or a specific image. Press Windows key + Shift + S and wait for the screen to dim and your cursor to change.

You have four capture modes, shown as icons at the top of the dimmed screen. Rectangle (the default) lets you drag a box around what you want. Freeform lets you draw any shape with your mouse. Window snaps to the edges of the active window — just click the window you want. Full screen captures everything, the same as Print Screen.

After you release the mouse, a small window appears showing your screenshot. Click the save icon (looks like a floppy disk) to open the save dialog, or click the copy icon to put it on your clipboard for pasting. If you don't click anything, the screenshot stays in the notification area for a few hours and you can retrieve it later.

Screenshot history in Windows 11

Windows 11 added a feature called clipboard history that keeps the last 25 items you copied or screenshotted. This means if you took a screenshot an hour ago and forgot to save it, you can still get it back. Press Windows key + V to open the history panel.

Your recent screenshots appear as thumbnails. Click any one to copy it to your clipboard again, then paste it into Paint or another program to save it. The history clears when you restart your computer, so this is a temporary safety net, not permanent storage.

If you want to keep a screenshot permanently in clipboard history, click the small pin icon on its thumbnail. Pinned items stay until you unpin them, even after restart.

Third-party screenshot tools for advanced features

The built-in tools handle everyday screenshots, but some people prefer third-party programs that offer automatic saving, cloud upload, or annotation tools. ShareX and Greenshot are both free and let you set up a hotkey that captures and saves directly to a folder you choose, skipping the clipboard step entirely.

These tools are optional — they do the same job as Snipping Tool, just with different workflows. If you find yourself taking many screenshots and saving them manually each time, a third-party tool might save you steps. read them from their official websites, not from random app stores, to avoid bundled software you don't want.

Troubleshooting when screenshots don't work

If Print Screen or Snipping Tool isn't working, check whether your keyboard has a special function key. Some Samsung laptops require you to hold Fn + Print Screen instead of just Print Screen alone. Look for a small Fn label on your keyboard, usually in the bottom left corner.

If Snipping Tool opens but won't let you select an area, your graphics driver may need an update. Go to Settings (Windows key + I), click System, then About, and scroll down to Advanced system settings. Click Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Update driver. Let Windows search for updates automatically.

If you're trying to screenshot a video or protected content, some programs block screenshots for copyright reasons. In that case, no tool will work — it's a deliberate restriction built into the video player or website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just one window?

Yes. Open Snipping Tool with Windows key + Shift + S, then click the Window mode icon (third from the left). Click the window you want to capture and it will be selected automatically. This is faster than dragging a rectangle around a specific window.

Where do my screenshots go if I use Windows key + Print Screen?

They save automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. Each file is named with the date and time, like "Screenshot (1).png". You can open this folder anytime to see all your saved screenshots.

What's the difference between PNG and JPG for screenshots?

PNG keeps the image quality exactly as it was and works best for screenshots of text or windows. JPG compresses the image to make the file smaller, which can make text look blurry. For screenshots, PNG is the better choice.

Can I edit a screenshot right after I take it?

With Snipping Tool, yes. After you capture, a small window shows your screenshot with a pencil icon. Click it to open the image in Snipping Tool's editor, where you can draw, highlight, or crop before saving. With Print Screen, you have to paste into Paint or another editor first.

How long does Windows keep my clipboard history?

Clipboard history clears when you restart your computer. If you pin an item, it stays until you unpin it. For permanent storage, save screenshots to a folder or cloud service instead of relying on clipboard history.