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Windows 11 does not provide a general “default screenshot app” menu like it does for web browsers or image files. Instead, it controls the Print Screen key through an accessibility setting. By default, pressing PrtScn can open the Snipping Tool capture overlay.
If you want another app, such as ShareX or Greenshot, to handle screenshots, turn off that Windows shortcut and configure the third-party app to use its own hotkey.
Make Snipping Tool the default app for Print Screen
- Open Settings with Windows + I.
- Select Accessibility in the left sidebar.
- Choose Keyboard.
- Turn on Use the Print screen key to open screen capture.
Now press PrtScn. Windows should open the Snipping Tool capture bar, where you can choose rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen capture.
On some keyboards, the key is labelled PrtSc, PrtScn, or Print Screen. Laptops may require Fn as well, such as Fn + PrtScn.
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Turn off Snipping Tool as the Print Screen handler
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Turn off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture.
This stops the Print Screen key from opening the Snipping Tool overlay. It does not uninstall Snipping Tool, and the keyboard shortcuts Windows + Shift + S and Windows + Print Screen are separate.
Use ShareX, Greenshot, or another screenshot app instead
Windows 11 cannot normally assign an arbitrary screenshot program directly from the Settings app. Set up the replacement in two stages:
- Disable Use the Print screen key to open screen capture using the steps above.
- Open the third-party screenshot app and assign PrtScn as its capture shortcut in that app’s settings.
The exact menu differs by program. In ShareX, open the application, select Hotkey settings, and assign a capture action such as Capture region or Capture entire screen. Greenshot provides similar hotkey controls in its preferences.
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If the program refuses to register PrtScn, another application may already be using the key. Check that the Windows Print Screen toggle is off, then review the screenshot app’s hotkey list. Avoid assigning the same shortcut to two capture tools.
Choose what happens after a Snipping Tool capture
To change Snipping Tool’s own behavior, open it from the Start menu, select the three-dot menu, and choose Settings. Depending on your Windows 11 version, available options can include automatically saving original screenshots, asking whether edits should be saved, and opening captures in the Snipping Tool editor.
For a normal snip, press Windows + Shift + S, select a capture mode, and drag over the area you want. The capture is copied to the clipboard. Select the notification that appears to edit or save it in Snipping Tool.
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Useful Windows 11 screenshot shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| PrtScn | Opens screen capture when the Print Screen accessibility toggle is enabled. Otherwise, behavior depends on the keyboard and installed software. |
| Windows + Shift + S | Opens the Snipping Tool capture overlay. |
| Windows + PrtScn | Captures the entire screen and normally saves the image in PicturesScreenshots. |
| Alt + PrtScn | Copies the active window to the clipboard on supported Windows configurations. |
| Windows + G | Opens Xbox Game Bar, which includes its own capture controls. |
What to do if the setting does not work
Print Screen still opens Snipping Tool
Confirm that the toggle is off, then close any third-party screenshot utilities from the notification area and test again. Some utilities intercept the key independently of Windows.
The key does nothing
Test Windows + Shift + S. If that works, the keyboard’s Print Screen key may require Fn, or the key may be assigned to a manufacturer utility. On a laptop, try Fn + Windows + Space only if the manufacturer documents that combination; keyboard layouts vary.
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- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Snipping Tool.
- Select its three-dot menu, then Advanced options.
- Select Repair. Test the app before using Reset, which can remove its local app data.
You can also update it through Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates.
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Do not change the default image viewer by mistake
Changing the default app for .png or .jpg files only changes which program opens screenshots after they are saved. It does not change which application responds to PrtScn.
To change image-file associations, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for .png or .jpg, and select a different viewer. Use the Accessibility keyboard setting or the screenshot program’s own hotkey settings to change capture behavior.
FAQ
Can I set ShareX as the default screenshot app in Windows 11?
Not through a built-in default-app selector. Turn off Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Use the Print screen key to open screen capture, then assign the Print Screen key in ShareX’s hotkey settings.
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Why does pressing Print Screen open Snipping Tool?
Windows 11 has a setting that uses the key to open screen capture. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture if you prefer another program or the older clipboard behavior.
Where are screenshots saved in Windows 11?
Full-screen captures made with Windows + PrtScn are normally saved in Pictures > Screenshots. Captures made with Windows + Shift + S are initially copied to the clipboard and may also be saved automatically depending on Snipping Tool settings.
How do I make the screenshot open in Paint instead?
Paint cannot normally replace Snipping Tool as the handler for the Windows screenshot overlay. Capture the screen first, then open Paint and press Ctrl + V, or use a screenshot utility that supports Paint or another editor as a post-capture action.
What is the quickest screenshot shortcut in Windows 11?
Use Windows + Shift + S for a selectable area, or Windows + PrtScn for an immediate full-screen file.
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For Snipping Tool, enable Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. For ShareX, Greenshot, or another utility, disable that option and configure the replacement app’s own Print Screen hotkey. Changing the default viewer for PNG or JPG files will not change which app takes screenshots.
