No affiliate links or sponsorship, and BravoTech isn’t affiliated with Microsoft. The steps follow Microsoft Support and the Windows Learning Center, checked October 15, 2026. We didn’t take screenshots on a Windows PC for this guide. More how-to guides.
Quick answer
To screenshot on Windows 11 or 10, press Windows logo key + Shift + S for a selection (copied to the clipboard, with a Snipping Tool notification), or Windows logo key + Print Screen to save a full-screen PNG to Pictures > Screenshots. You can also use Alt + Print Screen for the active window, Xbox Game Bar for a capture saved to Videos > Captures, or open Snipping Tool from Start.
Key takeaways
- Windows + Shift + S opens the Snipping Tool overlay for rectangle, freeform, window, or full-screen snips.
- Windows + Print Screen saves a full-screen PNG under Pictures > Screenshots.
- Print Screen alone may copy the screen or open snipping, depending on Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- No Print Screen key? Microsoft documents Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar on some devices.
- OneDrive: the old “Save screenshots to OneDrive” toggle is gone; back up your Pictures folder instead.
How we wrote this guide
Built from Microsoft’s documentation, read on October 15, 2026 (PKT): the Windows Learning Center screenshot and Snipping Tool pages, Microsoft Support’s Snipping Tool and Print Screen articles, Xbox Game Bar help, and OneDrive backup help. We didn’t capture a Windows screen for this guide and use no screenshots of our own. Menu and shortcut names are quoted from Microsoft.
Windows screenshot shortcuts
Use this cheat sheet for the built-in shortcuts Microsoft documents for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Sources: Windows Learning Center, Snipping Tool support, and Xbox Game Bar help.
| Keys | What it captures | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | Rectangle, freeform, window, or full-screen snip (overlay) | Clipboard; notification opens Snipping Tool to edit/save |
| Windows logo key + Print Screen | Entire screen | PNG file in Pictures > Screenshots |
| Print Screen (PrtSc / PrtScn) | Full screen to clipboard, or opens screen snipping if that setting is on | Clipboard (and Snipping Tool if enabled) |
| Alt + Print Screen | Active window only | Clipboard (paste with Ctrl + V) |
| Windows logo key + Alt + Print Screen | Active game or app (Xbox Game Bar) | PNG in Videos > Captures |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R | Video snip of a region (Snipping Tool) | MP4 under Videos > Screen Recordings (by default) |
Laptop tip
On many laptops the Print Screen key shares a row with Fn. You may need to hold Fn with the shortcuts above. Exact Fn behavior varies by maker; Microsoft’s no-PrtScn tip is covered below.
How to use Snipping Tool on Windows
Snipping Tool is the built-in app for still snips and short recordings. On Windows 11 it combines the older Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch (Learning Center).
Open Snipping Tool
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + S to open the snipping overlay for an image (Microsoft Support).
- Or select Start, type snipping tool, and open Snipping Tool.
- Or press Print Screen if “Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping” is turned on in Settings.
Rectangle, window, full screen, freeform, and delay
From the overlay or the app, Microsoft lists these image modes:
- Rectangle: drag a box around the area.
- Freeform: draw any shape around the area.
- Window: click the window you want.
- Full screen: captures the entire screen at once.
- Delay: in the Snipping Tool app, choose Delay (for example 5 seconds), pick a mode, then New, so you can open a menu before the capture (Microsoft Support).
After a snip, a notification appears. Open it to annotate with pen, highlighter, shapes, crop, or Text actions (OCR), then save or share. Microsoft also documents Perfect screenshot and Color picker on Copilot+ PCs only.
Record the screen with Snipping Tool
Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, select the area, then Start. Stop when finished. Microsoft says recordings are saved as MP4 files under Videos > Screen Recordings by default, and you can edit further in Clipchamp (Snipping Tool support; Learning Center FAQ).
Where screenshots are saved on Windows 11 and 10
It depends which shortcut you used:
- Windows + Print Screen: File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots (PNG). Microsoft also says you can open File Explorer, select Pictures, then Screenshots (Print Screen shortcut article).
- Windows + Shift + S / Snipping Tool: the snip is copied to the clipboard. On current Windows 11 Snipping Tool, Microsoft says captures are also automatically saved to your Screenshots folder; change that under See more > Settings in the app (Microsoft Support). The Learning Center FAQ notes screenshots go to the clipboard and to Pictures > Screenshots when auto-save is enabled.
- Xbox Game Bar (Windows + Alt + Print Screen): Videos > Captures as a PNG (Game Bar help).
- Alt + Print Screen or Print Screen alone (clipboard mode): nothing is written to disk until you paste (Ctrl + V) into an app and save.
OneDrive and screenshots
Microsoft’s page “Save screenshots to OneDrive automatically” now says that feature is no longer available in OneDrive settings. To keep screenshots backed up, make sure your Pictures folder is backed up with OneDrive (OneDrive screenshots page; Back up your folders with OneDrive). For what OneDrive is and how backup works in plain language, see our What is OneDrive? guide.
How to screenshot on a laptop without a Print Screen key
Microsoft’s Print Screen shortcut article says: if your device does not have the PrtScn button, you may use Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar to take a screenshot, then print or save it as needed. Find the file under Pictures > Screenshots (Microsoft Support).
You can always use Windows logo key + Shift + S or open Snipping Tool from Start, which does not need a Print Screen key. Some laptop makers also map Print Screen behind an Fn key combination; check your maker’s keyboard legend if Fn + Windows + Space Bar isn’t available.
Can you take a scrolling screenshot on Windows?
Microsoft’s Snipping Tool Learning Center FAQ states that Snipping Tool cannot capture scrolling webpages natively (Learning Center FAQ, checked October 15, 2026). For a long page, capture visible sections with Windows + Shift + S, or use another Microsoft-documented tool if you already rely on one. We don’t recommend third-party screenshot apps here.
Print Screen not working: fixes
Print Screen opens Snipping Tool instead of saving a file
On current Windows, Print Screen often opens screen snipping rather than saving a file by itself. Microsoft’s keyboard-shortcut notes say you can turn that off: Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then set Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping to Off. To save a full-screen file in one step, use Windows logo key + Print Screen (Learning Center; Snipping Tool FAQ).
Windows + Shift + S does nothing
The Learning Center FAQ suggests making sure Snipping Tool isn’t blocked and that another app isn’t overriding the shortcut. Check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard for the Print Screen / snipping options (Learning Center).
You took a screenshot but can’t find the file
If you used Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen alone, the image is on the clipboard until you paste it. If you used Windows + Print Screen, look in Pictures > Screenshots. Game Bar captures live under Videos > Captures.
Windows 10 differences
Microsoft’s Snipping Tool support page applies to both Windows 11 and Windows 10. The same core shortcuts (Windows + Shift + S, Windows + Print Screen, Alt + Print Screen) are documented for both. On Windows 10, open Snipping Tool from Start the same way; some older Windows 10 builds still show “Mode” instead of “Snipping Mode” in the classic app UI (Microsoft Support). Xbox Game Bar screenshot (Windows + Alt + Print Screen) is also documented for Windows 10.
FAQ
Where do screenshots go on Windows 11?
Windows + Print Screen saves PNG files to Pictures > Screenshots. Snipping Tool snips go to the clipboard and, with auto-save, to the Screenshots folder. Game Bar screenshots go to Videos > Captures.
How do I screenshot only one window?
Press Alt + Print Screen to copy the active window to the clipboard, then paste with Ctrl + V. Or press Windows + Shift + S and choose Window snip, then click the window.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot on Windows?
Microsoft says Snipping Tool cannot capture scrolling webpages natively. Capture visible sections with Windows + Shift + S, or use another method Microsoft documents for your browser if you have one.
Why doesn’t Print Screen save a file?
Print Screen alone usually copies to the clipboard (or opens snipping). To save a full-screen PNG automatically, press Windows logo key + Print Screen.
How do I screenshot on an HP, Dell, or Lenovo laptop?
Try Windows + Shift + S first. If there is no Print Screen key, Microsoft documents Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar on some devices. Maker-specific Fn labels vary; use Snipping Tool if a key combo fails.
How do I screen record on Windows?
Press Windows logo key + Shift + R to start a Snipping Tool video snip, or use Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G, or Windows + Alt + R) for a clip saved under Videos > Captures.
Sources
Every step in this guide is linked to Microsoft’s documentation. All pages were checked on October 15, 2026 (PKT).
Show all 8 sources
- Windows Learning Center: How to take screenshots on Windows 11
- Windows Learning Center: How to use Snipping Tool (screenshots, shortcuts, screen recording)
- Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots (Windows 11 / 10)
- Microsoft Support apps hub: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots
- Microsoft Support: Keyboard shortcut for print screen
- Microsoft Support: Use a screen reader to record your screen with Xbox Game Bar (includes Win+Alt+PrtScn)
- Microsoft Support: Save screenshots to OneDrive automatically
- Microsoft Support: Back up your folders with OneDrive
Changelog
- October 15, 2026: First version from Microsoft Support and the Windows Learning Center. Covers Win+Shift+S, Win+PrtScn, Alt+PrtScn, Game Bar, Snipping Tool recording, no-PrtScn laptop tip, and OneDrive Pictures backup (legacy screenshot toggle removed). No hands-on testing and no screenshots of our own.
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