Ever tried to capture something on your PC screen and ended up with a blank image or nothing at all? Yeah, that happened to me last week when I was trying to save an error message. Windows screenshot methods aren't always obvious, especially with all the different keyboard shortcuts and tools. Whether you're using Windows 10 or Windows 11, I'll walk you through every possible way to do a print screen on Windows without the headache.
The Classic Print Screen Key (PrtScn)
Most keyboards have that mysterious PrtScn key hiding near the function keys. Here's what it actually does:
| Key Combo | What It Does | Where It Goes |
|---|---|---|
| PrtScn | Captures entire screen | Copies to clipboard only |
| Alt + PrtScn | Captures active window | Copies to clipboard only |
| Win + PrtScn | Captures entire screen | Saves as PNG in Pictures > Screenshots |
| Fn + PrtScn | For some laptops (Lenovo/Dell) | Same as regular PrtScn |
The problem? That clipboard thing trips people up. You have to immediately paste Ctrl+V into Paint, Word, or email before copying something else. Lost count how many times I forgot and copied a meme over my screenshot!
Pro tip: On newer keyboards, holding Fn + Windows + PrtScn sometimes saves directly to OneDrive.
Snipping Tool: Your Precision Weapon
Microsoft's Snipping Tool is my go-to for selective screenshots. Search for it in Start menu or press Win + Shift + S for quick access. You get four options:
- Rectangular Snip (draw a box with mouse)
- Freeform Snip (draw any shape around content)
- Window Snip (click on any open window)
- Full-screen Snip
A notification pops up after capture - click it to open the editor. You can then:
- Draw arrows or highlight text
- Crop or resize
- Save as PNG, JPEG, or GIF
- Copy to clipboard
- Share directly
Annoying quirk: The editor sometimes lags if you have too many apps open. And there's no default timer for capturing pop-up menus.
The New Kid: Snip & Sketch
In Windows 10/11, Snip & Sketch replaced the old Snipping Tool (though both exist temporarily). Same Win+Shift+S shortcut, but with:
- Touchscreen pen support (great for Surface users)
- Dark mode compatibility
- Slightly faster editing tools
Honestly? Unless you need ruler/protractor tools, it's nearly identical to Snipping Tool in daily use.
Game Bar for Gamers (And Everyone Else)
Press Win + G to open Xbox Game Bar. Even if you don't game, it has a killer screenshot feature:
- Captures in 4K resolution
- Auto-saves to Videos > Captures
- Records screen videos too
Customize the shortcut in Settings > Gaming > Game Bar. I set mine to Ctrl + Shift + G because the default conflicts with some apps.
Power User Bonus: Command Line Screenshots
Yes, you can capture screens via PowerShell! Open Terminal and type:
Start-Process "$env:windir\system32\SnippingTool.exe"
Why bother? Useful for remote IT support or automation scripts. Though honestly, I've only used this twice in five years.
Third-Party Tools Worth Installing
When built-in tools don't cut it, these save hours:
| Tool | Price | Best For | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShareX | Free | Power users needing workflows | Steep learning curve but insane customization |
| Greenshot | Free | Quick annotations | Lightweight and gets the job done |
| Snagit | $49.99 | Professionals/teams | Expensive but best scrolling captures |
| Lightshot | Free | Instant sharing | Ads can be annoying |
Last month I tested all four for scrolling webpage captures. Snagit won, but Greenshot's free version did surprisingly well. ShareX made me want to throw my keyboard though - too many options!
Where Do My Screenshots Go?
This causes endless confusion. Default save locations:
- Win + PrtScn: Pictures > Screenshots folder
- Game Bar: Videos > Captures folder
- Snipping Tool/Snip & Sketch: Asks location when saving
To change default folder for Game Bar screenshots:
- Open Xbox Game Bar (Win+G)
- Go to Settings > Captures
- Change "Save captures to" path
For other tools, you'll need to manually choose save locations each time.
Print Screen Not Working? Try These Fixes
- Keyboard issues: Test if physical key is damaged. Connect external keyboard to check.
- Fn lock: On laptops, press Fn + Esc to toggle function lock.
- OneDrive conflict: Open OneDrive settings > Backup > Manage backup > disable "Screenshots".
- Outdated drivers: Update keyboard drivers in Device Manager.
- Game Mode interference: Go to Settings > Gaming > disable Game Mode.
When my Surface Pro stopped capturing screens last year, it was OneDrive hijacking the Win+PrtScn function. Took me three hours to figure that out!
Advanced Print Screen Scenarios
Capturing Context Menus
Can't right-click and screenshot simultaneously? Use Snipping Tool's delay feature:
- Open Snipping Tool
- Click Delay > choose 3-5 seconds
- Click New > open menu during countdown
Multiple Monitors
Win+PrtScn captures all displays. To grab one monitor:
- Use Snipping Tool's Window Snip
- Or Alt+PrtScn while focus is on target screen
Scrolling Webpages
Built-in tools can't do this. Options:
- Snagit (paid): Best scrolling capture
- ShareX (free): Capture > Scrolling capture
- Browser extensions like GoFullPage
Print Screen FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered
How to do a print screen on Windows without the Print Screen key?
Use Win+Shift+S for Snip & Sketch, or enable On-Screen Keyboard and click PrtScn button there.
Why is my print screen saving black images?
Usually happens when capturing protected content (DRM videos) or certain full-screen apps. Try windowed mode or use Snipping Tool.
How to change print screen format from PNG to JPG?
For Win+PrtScn screenshots, you can't - they're always PNG. With Snipping Tool/Snip & Sketch, choose format when saving.
Can I set print screen to automatically save to cloud?
Yes! Install OneDrive > right-click cloud icon > Settings > Backup > check "Screenshots". Now Win+PrtScn saves locally AND to cloud.
How to take screenshot only on external monitor?
Disconnect other monitors temporarily, or use Snipping Tool in Window Snip mode and select the external display's content.
Which Method Should You Use?
After testing all these options for years, here's my cheat sheet:
- Quick full-screen capture: Win+PrtScn
- Partial screenshot: Win+Shift+S
- Capturing error messages: Snipping Tool with delay
- Frequent screenshots with markup: Greenshot
- Scrolling webpage capture: Snagit or ShareX
Ultimately, mastering how to do a print screen on Windows boils down to practice. Set up the shortcuts that match your workflow. For most people, learning Win+Shift+S covers 90% of needs. Just don't be like me who kept hitting Ctrl+PrtScn for months wondering why nothing happened!
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