How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 [Easy]

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Ben Jacklin Edited by Ben Jacklin

There are multiple ways to take a screenshot on your Windows 11 PC or laptop. This quick tutorial will guide you how to take a screenshot on Windows 11.

Quick summary

For taking simple full-screen screenshots: Windows hotkeys

For taking a screenshot without using any external software: Snipping Tool

Our goal is to provide you with only verified information. To ensure this, Movavi Content Team does the following:

  • The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.

  • When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.

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How to print screen on Windows 11 using hotkeys

Hotkeys, also known as shortcut keys, are keyboard combinations that allow you to do everything from copying and pasting to inserting links and much more. Not surprisingly, there are several screenshot shortcuts in Windows 11 that let you take different types of screenshots. Below, you’ll learn how to screenshot on Windows 11.

Capture the whole screen

The Windows 11 Print Screen button

  1. Press and hold the PrtSc (Print Screen) key. This key will take an entire screenshot of your desktop and copy it to the clipboard.

  2. You’ll need to use a program like Paint or Word to paste your image into and then save it.

It’s important to note that an upcoming Windows update (KB5025310 to be exact) will change your system so that if you press the PrtSc key, it brings up the Snipping Tool instead.

If the update has already been applied and you want to roll it back, you’ll need to navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and look for the toggle that says Use the Print Screen button to open Snipping Tool or something similar. 

Windows key + PrtScn

Pressing both the Windows key and the Print Screen key together at the same time will take a screenshot of your entire screen.  Where do screenshots go on Windows 11? Your screenshots will be saved automatically to your Screenshots subfolder in the Pictures directory. 

Capture an active window

Alt + PrtScn

Pressing Alt + PrtScn together will take a screenshot of the active window and save it to the clipboard. Here again, you can paste it into Word, Paint, or another image-editing program to resize or edit it. 

Windows key + Alt + PrtScn

Pressing this combination will take a screenshot of the active window and save it to the Screenshots folder, located within the Pictures folder

Capture a part of the screen

If you want to take a screenshot of a specific region, use the following Windows 11 screenshot shortcut combination: Windows + Shift + S. A small overlay will appear where you can choose the shape you want and draw the region you want to have captured. 

How to use Snipping Tool with the Windows 11 screenshot shortcut

Snipping Tool is a free built-in utility that lets you take a screenshot on Windows 11. Simply follow the steps below to learn how to print screen on Windows 11.

Step 1. Open the program

To open Snipping Tool on Windows 11, go to the Start menu and type Snipping Tool to access the app. You can access Snipping Tool by pressing the Windows key + S if you’d rather use hotkeys instead of searching for the app. 

Step 2. Select the screenshot type

Click New and you’ll see the screenshot overlay. There will be icons at the top of the screen: 

  • A rectangular shape that you can select and then left-click and drag to create the area you want to snip

  • A free-form shape where you can left-click and drag to create a screenshot of a given area

  • A screenshot of a specific window

  • A full-screen screenshot

Step 3. Save or share your screenshot

Once you take your screenshot, you’ll see a thumbnail in the lower-right corner of your screen. You can click on it to open the Snipping Tool app to add text or crop your screenshot. From the app, you can also share the image or save it as a JPG, PNG, or GIF file.

How to screenshot on Windows 11 with Movavi Screen Recorder

If you want a more advanced screenshot tool, then Movavi Screen Recorder is a great option. With this program, you can take screenshots of your whole screen, part of the screen, or a window. Additionally, you can even take scrolling screenshots. You can also edit your pictures right in the program – draw on your screenshots and add annotations. Follow the steps below to learn how to take a screenshot in a laptop with Windows 11.

Step 1. Download and install the program

Download the installation file for Windows 11. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 2. Capture your screenshot

With the program open, click the Screenshot button. From here, you can select the area to screen capture on Windows 11.

  • To capture the whole screen, click on any open space on your screen.

  • To take a screenshot of the part of your screen, click and drag the cursor over the area you want to capture.

  • To capture a window, click and hold on the window you want to capture until a frame appears around it.

Step 3. Edit and save your screenshot

If you need to edit the screenshot, click the Editor button. You can use the built-in editing tools to add text, lines, arrows, and other enhancements. Next, click the Save screenshot button to save the result.

How to screen capture on Windows 11 with Game Bar

Windows 11 comes with Xbox Game Bar, which you can use for making screenshots. Originally designed for gamers to take screenshots and recording of their gameplay, it’s also the built-in way to capture any other screen activities. To take the Windows 11 screen capture with Game Bar:

Step 1. Open Game Bar

Press the Windows key + G to open Game Bar. In the top left corner, click Capture (it looks like a camera) on the main toolbar.

Step 2. Take a screenshot

From here, the toolbar gives you different options. You can take a screenshot, start recording a video, and turn the microphone on or off while recording. Click the Screenshot button or use the shortcut Windows + Alt + PrtScn to take a full-screen screenshot.

Note that there are some limitations with using Game Bar: most notably that you can’t record the desktop or File Explorer.

Tips on making screenshots on Windows 11

If you want to get the most out of making screenshots on Windows 11, you’ll need to keep a few tips in mind:

Customize your screenshot saving location

You can change the default location for storing screenshots in Windows 11 by going to Settings > System > Storage. Here you can set a different folder for your screenshots if desired.

Edit and annotate your screenshots

You may need to edit your screenshots in more detail than what Windows’ default programs offer. For this, you can use third-party tools, like Paint.NET or GIMP. Another option is to use a screenshot capture program with the built-in editing tools, like Movavi Screen Recorder.

Keep your screenshots organized

If you take multiple screenshots or take them regularly, it’s a good idea to periodically review and organize them. Consider creating folders or subfolders and giving them meaningful names or categorize them according to the date taken, the subject, or the name of the project.

Share your screenshots with others

Windows 11 gives you several ways to share your screenshots with others. Use the sharing feature in Snipping Tool or right-click a screenshot and choose Share to send it via email, social media, or other apps. 

Summary

As you can see, there are several different ways to take a screenshot on a Windows 11 PC, including scrolling screenshots, full-screen screenshots, or screenshots of a specific area. Try different methods discussed in this article and choose what works best for you.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I screenshot on my Windows 11? 

If your Print Screen key isn’t working, there may be several reasons, including: 

  • Missing or outdated keyboard drivers

  • Windows update conflicts

  • Conflicts with other software programs

It’s recommended you close all background programs, check your keyboard settings, and update your drivers.

Is Snipping Tool not on Windows 11? 

Microsoft’s old Snip & Sketch app and Snipping Tool have been combined into a singular app called Snipping Tool, so it does exist, just with the different name.

You can still download Snip & Sketch as a standalone app from the Microsoft Store. The Windows 11 Snipping Tool allows you to access Snip and Sketch options after you’ve clicked to open the tool.

Have questions?

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