Take Screenshot in Windows 10  

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    Take Screenshot in Windows 10

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10

    How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    30 Jun 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10


    Sometimes it's simpler to show someone what's on your screen than it is to explain it. Windows lets you take a picture of the screen so you can save, print, or share what you see. This is referred to as taking a screenshot or screen capture.

    You can take a screenshot and automatically save it as a file, take a screenshot without saving it as a file, or take a screenshot of only one window (instead of the whole screen).

    See also: How to take a screenshot on your Windows 10 Surface device

    This tutorial will show you different ways on how to take a screenshot in Windows 10 and of the lock screen.


    Contents

    • Option One: How to Instantly Take Screenshot of Display(s) and Save as File
    • Option Two: How to Take Screenshot of Display(s) without Saving
    • Option Three: How to Take Screenshot of Single Window without Saving
    • Option Four: How to Take Screenshot using Snipping Tool
    • Option Five: How to Take Screenshot using Xbox app Game bar
    • Option Six: How to Take Screenshot of Screen Region and Save to Clipboard
    • Option Seven: How to Take Screenshot using Windows Ink and Snip & Sketch
    • Option Eight: How to Take Screenshot of Lock Screen
    • Option Nine: How to Take Screenshot with Screen Snip






    OPTION ONE

    How to Instantly Take Screenshot of Display(s) and Save as File


    1 Do step 2, step 3, or step 4 below for how you would like to take a screenshot depending on what type of PC you have.'

    2 On all PCs, press the + PrtScn keys, and go to step 5 below.

    On some laptops and other devices, you may need to press the + Ctrl + PrtScn or + Fn + PrtScn keys instead.

    Certain laptops and other devices don't have a PrtScn key or might use a different key combination to take screenshots. Check the manual that came with your laptop or device for more info.


    3 On a Surface tablet with a Type Cover, press the Fn + + Space keys on the Type Cover and release, and go to step 5 below.


    4 On tablets (including Surface), press and hold the capacitive Windows button on the front of the tablet, press the volume down button on the volume rocker once, release both, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshots below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-surface_pro_2_screenshot.jpg
    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-surface_pro_3_screenshot.jpg

    5 You will now notice the screen(s) quickly dim and return back to normal as a snapshot of your display(s) is captured as a screenshot.

    You will only see your screen(s) dim if you have the Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing turned on (checked) in your visual effects settings.
    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-visual_effects.png


    6 The screenshot is now saved in your C:\Users\(user-name)\Pictures\Screenshots folder with a file name of Screenshot (#).png with # indicating the screenshot index counter. Each screenshot you take increases the counter # by one. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-screenshots_folder.png






    OPTION TWO

    How to Take Screenshot of Display(s) without Saving


    1 Press the PrtScn key.

    On some laptops and other devices, you may need to press the Ctrl + PrtScn or Fn + PrtScn keys instead.

    Certain laptops and other devices don't have a PrtScn key or might use a different key combination to take screenshots. Check the manual that came with your laptop or device for more info.


    2 A screenshot of your display(s) is now copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it where you like. For example, in Paint (mspaint.exe).






    OPTION THREE

    How to Take Screenshot of Single Window without Saving


    1 Click on the title bar of the window that you want to take a screenshot of to make it the active window.

    2 Press the Alt + PrtScn key.

    On some laptops and other devices, you may need to press the Alt + Fn + PrtScn keys instead.

    Certain laptops and other devices don't have a PrtScn key or might use a different key combination to take screenshots. Check the manual that came with your laptop or device for more info.


    3 A screenshot of your currently active window is now copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it where you like. For example, in Paint (mspaint.exe).






    OPTION FOUR

    How to Take Screenshot using Snipping Tool


    Starting with Windows 10 build 17704, you’ll see a note about consolidating and modernizing snipping experiences in the Snipping Tool. Currently, we are not planning to remove the Snipping Tool in the next update to Windows 10 and the consolidation work underway will be a feedback and data-driven decision. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to try out the Screen Sketch app and let us know how it’s working for you. Screen Sketch gives you all of the functionality of the Snipping Tool with additional improvements.

    See also: A basic guide to using the Snipping tool

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool_removal.jpg


    1 Type Snipping Tool in the search box (Windows+S) on Start or taskbar, and press Enter to open the Snipping Tool.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool-1.png

    2 Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to take a screenshot of.


    3 To Capture a Snip of a Menu

    A) Open the menu that you want to take a screenshot of.

    B) Press the Ctrl + PrtScn keys, and go to step 5 below.


    4 To Capture a Snip

    A) Open what you want to take a screenshot of, and go to step 5 below.

    5 In Snipping Tool, press the Alt + N keys or click/tap the arrow next to the New button, and choose the type of snip you want. (see screenshot below)

    Starting with Windows 10 build 15014, Microsoft has updated Snipping Tool by moving the mode options under New over to a new Mode button.

    In build 15014, you will need to first click/tap on the Mode button, choose the type of snip you want, then click/tap on the New (Alt+N) button instead.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool_build_15014.png

    You can capture the following types of snips:

    - Free-form Snip - Draw any shape around an object with your finger, mouse, or tablet pen.
    - Rectangular Snip - Drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
    - Window Snip - Choose a window—like a browser window or a dialog box.
    - Full-screen Snip - Capture the entire screen.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool-2.png

    6 Select the area of your screen that you want to capture. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-rectangular_snip.jpg

    7 The snip is automatically copied to the Snipping Tool window. Click/tap on the Save Snip button after making any edits you wish to the snip. (see screenshot below)

    You can add notes to a snip by writing or drawing on or around the snip.

    When you capture a snip from a browser window and save it as an HTML file, the URL appears below the snip. To prevent the URL from showing up:

    1. Click/tap on Tools (menu bar), and click/tap on Options.

    2. Uncheck the Include URL below snips (HTML only) box, and click/tap on OK.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool-3.png

    8 Browse to the location where you want to save the screenshot to, type a name you want for the screenshot, select what file type (ex: .png) you want to save the screenshot as, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-snipping_tool-4.png

    9 If you would like to take another screenshot, then click/tap on the New button, and go to step 5 above.

    10 When finished, you can close the Snipping Tool if you like.






    OPTION FIVE

    How to Take Screenshot using Xbox app Game bar







    OPTION SIX

    How to Take Screenshot of Screen Region and Save to Clipboard


    The feature in this option was added starting with Windows 10 build 15002.

    Capture a region of your screen: OneNote 2016’s popular screenshot feature is now built into Windows 10! You can use Win + Shift + S to capture a region of your screen and copy it to the clipboard for pasting into OneNote for Windows 10 or any other app. Please note that this feature replaces the one in OneNote 2016.


    1 Press the Win + Shift + S keys.

    2 The screen will be hazed over, and the mouse cursor will turn into a cross sign. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-screenshot_of_screen_region-1.jpg

    3 Select the area you want to capture with the cross sign. When you release, the screenshot will be saved to the clipboard. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-screenshot_of_screen_region-2.jpg

    4 You can now paste (Ctl+V) the screenshot from the clipboard into OneNote or any other app (ex: "mspaint.exe"), and then save it to file.






    OPTION SEVEN

    How to Take Screenshot using Windows Ink and Snip & Sketch


    1 Click/tap on the Windows Ink Workspace button in the taskbar of the display you want to take a screenshot of, and click/tap on Snip & Sketch. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-windows_ink_screenshot-1.jpg

    2 You can now use any of the tools (ex: crop) in Screen sketch to draw, crop, and mark up the image how you like. (see screenshots below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-windows_ink_screenshot-2.jpg
    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-windows_ink_screenshot-3.jpg

    3 When finished, click/tap on the Save as button in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-windows_ink_screenshot-4.jpg

    4 Browse to the location (ex: Desktop) you want to save the screenshot, enter a file name (ex: "Sketch") you want for the screenshot, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-windows_ink_screenshot-5.png

    5 You can now close the Snip & Sketch app if you like.






    OPTION EIGHT

    How to Take Screenshot of Lock Screen


    1 Lock the computer (Win+L) to go to the lock screen.

    2 While on the lock screen, press the Print Screen (PrtSc/SysRq) key to copy a screenshot of the lock screen background to the clipboard. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-lock_screen.jpg

    3 Press Enter on the lock screen to dismiss it and go to the sign-in screen, and sign in to your account.

    4 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type mspaint into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Paint.

    5 Click/tap on the Paste button in the ribbon of Paint to paste the lock screen screenshot into Paint. (see screenshot below)

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10-paint.jpg

    6 Click/tap on File and Save or Save as in Paint as to save it to where you like as the screenshot of your lock screen.






    OPTION NINE

    How to Take Screenshot with Screen Snip


    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 17661.



    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 12
    Windows 10
       #1

    Thanks for the added knowledge ....
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 219
    10 (Free upgrade)
       #2

    Option 4 - The Snipping Tool. What a beautiful utility that is.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #3

    I can't get it to work in W10. It worked perfect in W8.1. The ScreenShot folder was not there, so I created it. I have tried Print screen, Win Key+Print screen, Ctrl+Print screen, Shift+Print screen. None worked.
    I get a popup here.Take Screenshot in Windows 10-screen.png
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hey Clint, :)

    "Moving a folder into one of its subfolders will lead to recursion, and is therefore prohibited." is what Microsoft says about that error.

    Cannot copy . Destination folder is a subfolder of the source folder.

    3003 - Cannot paste : The destination folder is a subfolder of the source folder

    As a test, delete the Screenshots folder you created, and try creating a screenshot to see if it may work then.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #5

    As a test, delete the Screenshots folder you created, and try creating a screenshot to see if it may work then.
    Thanks Brink
    I deleted the folder that I created, I tried all of the above Keys again and it did not create the Screenshots folder.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Mmm, ok. Did you move the Pictures folder to another location by chance?

    In addition, double check the default location of the Screenshots folder using the tutorial below to see if it's set properly.

    Screenshots - Change Default Folder Location in Windows 8
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #7

    Brink said:
    Mmm, ok. Did you move the Pictures folder to another location by chance?

    In addition, double check the default location of the Screenshots folder using the tutorial below to see if it's set properly.

    Screenshots - Change Default Folder Location in Windows 8
    Did you move the Pictures folder to another location by chance?
    No.
    In addition, double check the default location of the Screenshots folder using the tutorial below to see if it's set properly
    . I did.
    None of that worked either Brink
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Odd. How does it work in another user account?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #9

    Odd. How does it work in another user account?
    I don't know, I don't have another account.
      My Computers


 

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