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Windows 10 includes Snip & Sketch, Microsoft’s built-in tool for capturing part or all of the screen, marking up the result, and saving or sharing it. You normally do not need to download it: open Start, type Snip & Sketch, and select the app.
You can also start a capture immediately with Windows + Shift + S. If you are using Windows 11, the equivalent app is now called Snipping Tool; “Snip & Sketch” is the Windows 10 name.
Open Snip & Sketch in Windows 10
- Select Start.
- Type Snip & Sketch.
- Select Snip & Sketch from the search results.
The app opens with options for taking a new snip, opening an existing image, changing the delay, and adjusting its settings.
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Take a screenshot with Snip & Sketch
- Open Snip & Sketch, or press Windows + Shift + S.
- Choose a capture type from the toolbar.
- Select the area or window you want to capture.
- Select the notification that appears in the lower-right corner to open the captured image in Snip & Sketch.
Windows 10 provides these capture options:
| Option | What it captures |
|---|---|
| Rectangular snip | A rectangular area that you draw with the mouse or touchpad. |
| Freeform snip | An irregular shape that you outline manually. |
| Window snip | A selected application window, including its visible border. |
| Fullscreen snip | The entire display. |
With a rectangular or freeform snip, click and drag across the area to capture. For a window snip, point to the required window and select it. A fullscreen snip is taken as soon as you select the fullscreen option.
Use the New button and capture delay
If Snip & Sketch is already open, select New to begin a capture. The drop-down arrow beside New lets you choose whether the capture starts immediately or after a delay.
Windows 10 commonly provides delays of 3 seconds and 10 seconds. A delay is useful when you need to open a menu, display a tooltip, or arrange a window before the screenshot is taken.
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- Select the arrow beside New.
- Choose Snip now, Snip in 3 seconds, or Snip in 10 seconds.
- Set up the screen while the countdown runs.
- Select the capture area when the screen dims.
Edit and mark up a screenshot
After opening a snip in the editor, use the toolbar to annotate it. Available tools can vary slightly by Windows 10 build, but normally include:
- Ballpoint pen and pencil for drawing.
- Highlighter for marking text or areas.
- Eraser for removing pen or highlighter marks.
- Ruler or protractor for straighter lines and measured annotations.
- Crop for trimming unwanted parts of the image.
- Touch writing when using a touchscreen or pen.
Select a pen or highlighter a second time to change its color or thickness. Use the undo button if you make a mistake. The editing tools do not alter the original screen or application; they modify the copy captured by Snip & Sketch.
Save, copy, or share the snip
When you finish editing, use the controls in the upper-right corner:
- Select Save as or press Ctrl + S to choose a file name, location, and format.
- Select Copy or press Ctrl + C to place the image on the clipboard.
- Select Share to send it to an available Windows sharing destination.
For a quick paste, take a snip with Windows + Shift + S, then open the destination application and press Ctrl + V. This works in email, Word, image editors, chat applications, and many web forms.
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A capture started with the keyboard shortcut is copied to the clipboard immediately. Select the notification if you also want to crop or annotate it before saving.
Change Snip & Sketch settings
- Open Snip & Sketch.
- Select the More button, shown as three dots.
- Select Settings.
Depending on your Windows 10 version, settings can control whether Snip & Sketch automatically copies captures to the clipboard, asks whether to save changes when closing, and adds an outline around the snip. If the application behaves differently from these instructions, install the latest Windows updates before troubleshooting.
Use Print Screen instead
The Print Screen key can copy the entire desktop to the clipboard. Press it, open Paint or another image application, and press Ctrl + V to paste the result.
On some Windows 10 installations, you can make Print Screen open the screen-selection toolbar:
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- Open Settings.
- Select Ease of Access.
- Select Keyboard.
- Turn on Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping.
After that setting is enabled, pressing Print Screen works more like Windows + Shift + S.
Install or restore Snip & Sketch
Snip & Sketch is normally included with Windows 10. If it is absent, search the Microsoft Store for Snip & Sketch and install the Microsoft-published app. Store listings can change over time, and Windows 11 now uses the name Snipping Tool for the successor app.
If the app is installed but will not open:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Apps & features.
- Find Snip & Sketch.
- Select it, choose Advanced options, and select Repair.
- If Repair does not help, return to the same screen and select Reset.
Resetting can remove the app’s stored data and settings, but it does not remove the screenshots you have already saved as files.
Fix the Windows shortcut when nothing happens
If Windows + Shift + S does not display the capture toolbar, try these checks:
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- Search for Snip & Sketch from Start and open it manually.
- Restart Windows, particularly after a recent update.
- Check Settings → System → Notifications & actions and make sure notifications are not completely disabled. The capture can still occur, but the editor notification may be hidden.
- Repair or reset the app through Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
- Install pending updates under Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
If the screen is captured but you cannot find the image, check the clipboard by pressing Windows + V, if Clipboard history is enabled. A shortcut capture is not necessarily saved as a file until you open it in Snip & Sketch and select Save as.
Snip & Sketch versus Snipping Tool
The names are easy to confuse because Microsoft changed the product name. Snip & Sketch is the Windows 10 app covered here. In Windows 11, Microsoft’s current app is called Snipping Tool, and it combines the screenshot features with newer capabilities. Microsoft’s current Store listing is titled Snipping Tool, not “Snip & Sketch.”
That distinction matters if you follow a Windows 11 guide: its buttons and menus may not match the Windows 10 interface. The shared shortcut, Windows + Shift + S, remains the quickest way to start a screen capture on supported Windows versions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Is Snip & Sketch free in Windows 10?
Yes. It is a built-in Windows 10 app, so most users do not need to download it. If it has been removed or damaged, look for the Microsoft-published app in Microsoft Store.
Where are Snip & Sketch screenshots saved?
A capture started with Windows + Shift + S is copied to the clipboard first. Open the notification in Snip & Sketch and select Save as to choose a folder and filename.
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How do I take a screenshot of only one window?
Press Windows + Shift + S, select Window snip on the toolbar, and then select the window you want to capture.
Can Snip & Sketch record video?
The Windows 10 Snip & Sketch app is primarily a screenshot and markup tool. Video recording is associated with the newer Windows 11 Snipping Tool, not the standard Windows 10 Snip & Sketch workflow.
What replaced Snip & Sketch?
Windows 11 uses Snipping Tool as Microsoft’s current name for the successor app. Microsoft’s Store listing and current support instructions use “Snipping Tool,” not “Snip & Sketch.”
The Bottom Line
For a fast Windows 10 screenshot, press Windows + Shift + S, choose a snip type, select the screen area, and open the notification to edit or save it. Search for Snip & Sketch from Start when you need the full editor or its delay and annotation tools.
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