How to Take Screenshot on Windows? (Laptop and Desktop)
Windows provides several ways to take screenshots – making it easy to capture your screen whether you want the whole thing or just a part of it.
No matter what you are using, laptop or desktop. Here’s how to take screenshot on Windows.
1) Print Screen Key (PrtScn)
The most straightforward way to capture the entire screen is by pressing the PrtScn key. This copies the image of your screen to the clipboard.
To save it as a file – open an image editor like Paint- paste the screenshot (press Ctrl + V), and save it.
2) Windows Key + Print Screen
For a more direct method – press the Windows key + PrtScn at the same time. This captures your entire screen and automatically saves the image to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
3) Alt + Print Screen
If you want to capture only the active window press Alt + PrtScn.
This will snap a screenshot of just the window you’re using and copy it to your clipboard. Again – you’ll need to paste it into an editor to save it.
4) Snipping Tool
Windows has a built-in app called Snipping Tool. This tool allows you to capture a specific area of the screen – a free-form shape – or the entire window.
- To open it – search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu.
- Once you’ve captured your screenshot – you can annotate, save, or share it.
5) Windows + Shift + S
On newer versions of Windows (like Windows 10 and 11) – you can use the Windows + Shift + S shortcut to open the Snip & Sketch tool. The screen will dim – and you can drag your mouse to select the spot you like to capture.
The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard – ready to paste wherever needed.
Frequesntly Asked Questions
Punch PrtScn to capture the full screen – or use Win + Shift + S to capture a specific area on Windows.
Popular apps for taking screenshots include – Snagit, Lightshot, and Greenshot. Each offers unique features for editing and sharing images.
Screenshots of copyrighted content, private conversations, or sensitive information without permission can be illegal and may violate privacy laws or copyright rules.
Posting screenshots can be risky. Always ensure that you remove sensitive or private information – as it can lead to privacy breaches or misuse.
How to take a screenshot: