How to Reset the Screenshot Index Counter 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).
These screenshots are 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 # in the file name incrementally by one.
This tutorial will show you how to reset the screenshot index counter back to 1 for the Screenshot (#).png files for your account in Windows 10.
The screenshot index counter is stored as the data value of the ScreenshotIndex DWORD in the Explorer key in the registry location below. The .bat file and context menu in this tutorial sets the ScreenshotIndex DWORD value back to 1 in order to reset it.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Contents
- Option One: To Reset Screenshot Index Counter using a BAT File
- Option Two: To Reset Screenshot Index Counter using Desktop Context Menu
EXAMPLE: Screenshots folder
1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, then run it.
2 If prompted, click/tap on Run.
If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.
3 You will now notice a command prompt quckly open and close while applying the changes to your registry.
4 The screenshot index counter will now be reset.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the "Reset Screenshot Index Counter" context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu for their accounts.
1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Reset_Screenshot_Index_Counter_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Reset_Screenshot_Index_Counter_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10
- How to Change or Restore Default Location of Screenshots Folder in Windows 10