Ways to take screenshots on Windows computers

There are many ways to take screenshots on Windows computers, you can take them using keyboard shortcuts or using third-party software. We will suggest some ways to take screenshots below.

Using the Print Screen (PrtScn) key on Windows

The Print Screen key, abbreviated as PrtScn, is the fastest way to capture the entire computer screen. When you press this key, the entire content displayed on the screen will be saved to the temporary memory (clipboard). You can then paste the image into software such as Word , Paint or email using the key combination Ctrl + V. However, the image will not be automatically saved to a file, so you will need to paste and save it manually if you want to use it later. This is a popular method and does not require installing any additional software.

Windows + PrtScn key combination

The Windows + PrtScn key combination allows you to capture the entire screen and automatically save the image. After pressing this combination, the screen will flash slightly to indicate that the image has been captured. The image file will be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder on your computer in PNG format.

This is an extremely convenient way if you need to take multiple screenshots without having to manually paste them like the method using the PrtScn key alone. Images are saved in order, easy to manage and retrieve when needed.

Alt + PrtScn to capture the open window

If you want to capture only the active program window and not the entire screen, the Alt + PrtScn combination is the right choice. After pressing this combination, the contents of the currently displayed window are copied to the clipboard.

You can paste the image into Paint or Word to save it. This saves you time cropping the image after taking it, and is especially useful when you need to illustrate a specific software or window. Here are some other less commonly used capture methods:

• Windows Key + Alt + PrtScn: This combination will take a picture of the active window (similar to Alt + PrtScn), but instead of saving it to the clipboard, the image will be saved directly to the "Videos" > "Captures" folder on your computer.
• Fn + PrtScn: On many laptops, especially compact or ultrabook models, the Print Screen key may be integrated with another function key. You need to press the Fn (Function) key to activate it.
• Windows Key + Vol Down : This shortcut only works on Windows tablets or 2-in-1 devices. It will take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it directly to the "Screenshots" folder.

Windows + Shift + S: Snip & Sketch tool

When you press Windows + Shift + S , your computer will launch the Snip & Sketch tool (or the new Snipping Tool on Windows 11 ). The screen will dim and you can choose one of four capture types: rectangular area, free-form area, open window, or full screen.

After selecting the area, the image will be saved to the clipboard and you can make some preliminary edits before saving. This is a flexible and convenient tool for office users and students.

Use the Snipping Tool built into Windows

Select the Search tool and find Snipping Tool , Snipping Tool is a built-in tool in Windows versions, helping you take screenshots in many different modes. Users can choose to capture the entire screen, capture a window or select a region as desired.

In addition, after taking a photo, you can take notes, mark up and save it in many formats such as PNG, JPEG. The Snipping Tool interface is easy to use and suitable for beginners. On Windows 11, this tool has been updated with a screen recording feature.

Use Game Bar (Windows + G) to capture and record screen

Game Bar is a tool designed by Microsoft specifically for gamers but is also very useful for ordinary users. When you press the Windows + G combination , the Game Bar interface will appear.

Here, you can click on the camera icon to take a screenshot or the recording icon to record your computer usage. The files will be saved in the Videos > Captures folder. This tool works well on Windows 10 and 11 devices, especially with computers with modern graphics cards.

Using 3rd party software

Lightshot

Download Lightshot

This is a lightweight tool and very easy to use. Once installed, you just need to press the PrtScn key, then select an area of ​​the screen to capture. You can add text, arrows or other shapes before saving or sharing the image. Great for quick editing and sharing.

Greenshot

Download Greenshot

It is free, open source, and very powerful. It supports multiple capture modes (full screen, window, region) and has a very powerful editor that allows you to annotate, blur sensitive information, and export to a variety of file formats or applications.

ShareX

Download ShareX

This is a comprehensive, free tool for power users. It can do more than just take screenshots, including recording video and creating animated GIFs. It has a long list of automatic options after you capture it, such as automatically uploading it to a cloud service (like Imgur) and copying the URL to your clipboard.

There are many ways to take screenshots on Windows, but the above methods are enough for you to use. If you like more customization, you can use third-party software. If you don't take screenshots often, you can just use the shortcut keys available on your computer.