The fastest way: Press the Print Screen key
The simplest method is to press the Print Screen key (often labeled PrtScn or PrtSc) on your keyboard. This copies an image of your entire screen to your clipboard. You won't see anything happen on screen — that's normal. The screenshot is now ready to paste.
To use it, open any program that accepts images: Notepad, Word, Paint, or an email. Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot. If nothing appears, the Print Screen key didn't register — try pressing it again and make sure you're in a window that accepts pasted images.
This method captures everything on your screen, including taskbars, windows, and background. If you need to capture only part of your screen or save the image directly as a file, use one of the methods below instead.
Key Takeaways
- Press Print Screen to copy your entire screen to the clipboard, then paste it into any program with Ctrl + V.
- Use Windows + Shift + S to open the Snip tool, which lets you select just the part of the screen you want and saves it automatically.
- Press Windows + Print Screen to save a full-screen screenshot directly to your Pictures folder without opening another program.
- Alt + Print Screen captures only the window you are currently using, not the entire screen.
- The Snip tool is built into Windows 10 and later and works faster than older screenshot methods.
Capture part of your screen with the Snip tool
The Snip tool (called Snipping Tool in older Windows versions) lets you draw a box around the exact area you want to capture. Press Windows + Shift + S to open it. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair.
Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part of the screen you want. When you release the mouse, the screenshot is copied to your clipboard and a small notification appears in the bottom right corner. Click that notification to open the image, or press Ctrl + V in any program to paste it.
The Snip tool also has a menu with other capture shapes: you can select a freehand shape, capture a window, or capture the full screen. Press Windows + Shift + S again and look for the icons at the top left of the dimmed screen to choose a different shape.
Save a screenshot directly to your Pictures folder
If you want the screenshot saved as a file right away instead of copied to the clipboard, press Windows + Print Screen. The screen will flash briefly — that's the signal that the screenshot was taken. The image is automatically saved to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots.
Open File Explorer and navigate to Pictures > Screenshots to find it. The file will be named something like "Screenshot (1).png", "Screenshot (2).png", and so on. You can rename it, move it, or open it with any image viewer or editor.
This method is faster than Print Screen + paste if you plan to keep the screenshot as a file. It captures your entire screen, including all windows and the taskbar.
Capture only the active window
If you have multiple windows open and want to screenshot only the one you're currently using, press Alt + Print Screen. This copies just that window to your clipboard — the background and other windows are not included.
Paste it the same way you would a full-screen screenshot: press Ctrl + V in Notepad, Word, Paint, or any program that accepts images. The window will appear with its title bar and borders included in the image.
This is useful when you're troubleshooting a specific program or want to share just one window without showing your desktop or other open applications.
Use the Game Bar for video or screenshots
Windows 10 and later include the Game Bar, which can record video or take screenshots. Press Windows + G to open it. A menu will appear in the top left corner of your screen with options to take a screenshot or start recording.
Click the camera icon to take a screenshot, or click the record button to start recording video. Screenshots taken this way are saved to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The Game Bar works on any window or game, not just games.
The Game Bar is less commonly used than Print Screen or the Snip tool, but it's useful if you want to record what's happening on your screen rather than just capture a still image.
Where screenshots are saved and how to find them
Screenshots taken with Print Screen are not automatically saved — they exist only in your clipboard until you paste them. If you close a program without pasting, the screenshot is lost.
Screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen are saved to Pictures > Screenshots. Screenshots taken with the Game Bar are saved to Videos > Captures. You can move these files anywhere on your computer, rename them, or delete them like any other file.
If you want to keep a Print Screen screenshot, paste it into Paint (search for "Paint" in the Start menu), then press Ctrl + S to save it as a file. Choose a location and give it a name, and it will be saved as a PNG or JPG image.
Troubleshooting: Screenshot didn't work
If you pressed Print Screen and nothing happened, the key may not have registered. Try pressing it again, making sure you press it fully. On some laptops, you may need to hold the Fn key at the same time: Fn + Print Screen.
If you pasted and got nothing, make sure you're in a program that accepts images. Notepad, Word, Paint, and email programs all work. Some programs like web browsers or text editors may not accept pasted images.
If Windows + Print Screen didn't save a file, check your Pictures folder to see if a Screenshots subfolder exists. If it doesn't, create one manually: open File Explorer, go to Pictures, right-click in the empty space, select New > Folder, and name it "Screenshots". Then try Windows + Print Screen again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just my second monitor?
Print Screen captures all monitors at once. To capture only one monitor, use the Snip tool (Windows + Shift + S) and draw a box around only the area you want. Alternatively, use Paint or another image editor to open the full screenshot and crop it to show only one monitor.
What's the difference between Print Screen and Windows + Print Screen?
Print Screen copies the screenshot to your clipboard so you can paste it. Windows + Print Screen saves it directly to your Pictures > Screenshots folder as a file. Use Print Screen if you're going to paste it into another program; use Windows + Print Screen if you want to keep it as a saved image.
Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?
Screenshots are saved at your monitor's native resolution. If the image looks blurry when you open it, you may be zooming in too much. Open it in an image viewer or editor and view it at 100% zoom. If it's still blurry, your monitor resolution may be set lower than its maximum — check your display settings.
Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?
Yes. Open the screenshot in Paint (search for "Paint" in the Start menu) or any image editor. You can crop it, draw on it, add text, or change colors. Press Ctrl + S to save your changes. The Snip tool also has a built-in editor that opens when you click the notification after taking a screenshot.
How do I take a screenshot on a laptop without a Print Screen key?
Most laptops have Print Screen, but it may be combined with another key. Look for PrtScn or PrtSc on your keyboard — it's usually in the top right area. You may need to hold Fn + PrtSc. If your laptop doesn't have it, use Windows + Shift + S to open the Snip tool instead.