One of the tricks for PC users is to take a display or partial screenshot of the PC. But there are at least seven ways to take this screenshot on Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. There are similar ‘built-in tools’ and different ‘keyboard shortcuts’ in both operating systems. However, if one of the keys does not work properly, then it is difficult to know the alternative measures. So, let’s find out the alternative methods.
Screenshot, also known as screen capture or screen grab, is a digital image that shows the contents of a computer display. Screenshots create display capabilities by the software running on the operating system or device.
Snipping tool
The snipping tool was first introduced during Windows Vista. Windows has been talking about removing the tool for the past two years, but the tool is still in Windows 11. The ‘default snip’ of the tool is rectangular.
To take a screenshot, the user has to click on the ‘New’ button in the tool’s ‘Box’. However, the tool does not automatically ‘save’ the screenshot, the user has to save it manually. However, the tool can automatically copy the captured screenshot to the clipboard.
Snip and sketch
Compared to the old ‘Sniping Tool’, the new ‘Snip and Sketch’ tool allows users to easily insert, share and mark screenshots. In addition, it allows users to capture any ‘window’ on the desktop.
The keyboard shortcut to bring the tool to display is ‘Windows Key + Shift + S’.
In addition, users can easily find the tool from Windows’s ‘Start Button’. There is a tool called ‘Screen Snip’ in the alphabetical list.
Print screen
To take a picture of the full screen of the display, you have to press the ‘Print Screen’ key on the keyboard. Even if the image is not saved as a screenshot file, it will be copied to the clipboard.
After that, the user can save the image as a file by pasting the screenshot in the clipboard by entering any image editing tool like ‘Microsoft Paint’.
In addition, the ‘Print Screen’ can be used as a shortcut to open the ‘Snip and Sketch’ tool.
Windows key + print screen
If the user wants to capture the full screen and save it automatically, he has to press ‘Windows Key + Print Screen Key’ simultaneously.
This will make the screen a bit ‘dim’ and will indicate to the user whether the screenshot has been taken or not. This will be saved in the ‘Screenshot’ folder in ‘Pictures’.
Alter + print screen
Users need to use the ‘Alter + Print Screen’ keyboard shortcut to quickly take a screenshot of the active window. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard by ‘snaping’ the active window. You will need an image editor to save it.
Game Bar
Users can take screenshots using the game bar. To bring the game bar on the screen, the user has to press ‘Windows key +’ G ‘key’.
In addition, to take a full screen screenshot, you have to press ‘Windows Key + Alter + Print Screen’.
To turn on the screenshot’s own keyboard shortcut in the game bar, go to the gaming option in the user settings and click on the game bar.
Windows logo + volume down
It will only work on ‘Microsoft Surface’ devices. Two presses of the device ‘Windows Logo + Volume Down’ will capture the screenshot and the screenshot of ‘Pictures’ will be saved in the folder.
The shortcuts mentioned above are not new for the users who have been taking screenshots for a long time using PC. However, shortcuts are useful at any time if new users need to know.