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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Print Screen captures both monitors because Windows treats your displays as one virtual screen. To capture only one monitor, press Windows + Shift + S, choose Rectangle, and drag within that display, or choose Window to capture a single application. Use Alt + Print Screen for the active window, and Windows + Print Screen to save the entire two-monitor desktop directly to a file.
What Print Screen does on a two-monitor PC
Windows combines connected displays into a virtual desktop. The legacy Print Screen (PrtSc) command captures that entire virtual screen, including both monitors and the space created by their arrangement. Microsoft describes PRINTSCRN as taking a snapshot of the entire virtual screen, unless Windows is configured to open a snipping app instead (Microsoft Learn).
The result is normally copied to the clipboard. Open Paint, an email, Word, or another image-capable app and press Ctrl + V to paste it. If you need a file immediately, use Windows + Print Screen instead.
Choose the shortcut that matches your goal
| Goal | Shortcut or setting | What happens | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture both monitors | Print Screen | Copies the complete virtual desktop | Clipboard |
| Save both monitors | Windows + Print Screen | Captures the complete virtual desktop | Pictures > Screenshots |
| Capture the active window | Alt + Print Screen | Captures only the focused window, wherever it is | Clipboard |
| Capture one monitor or a region | Windows + Shift + S | Opens Snipping Tool selection controls | Clipboard and Snipping Tool editor |
| Make Print Screen open capture controls | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Use the Print screen key to open screen capture | Print Screen launches the installed snipping-tool interface | Selection overlay |
Windows labels can vary slightly by release. In Windows 11, the setting is under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard; in some Windows 10 builds it appears under Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard.
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#1 Best Overall
- DUAL MONITOR SETUP - Curved monitors in a dual setup provide a seamless viewing experience with reduced peripheral distortion, ideal for immersive gaming or detailed work.
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN - The 1500R curved design provides a more comfortable viewing experience by reducing eye strain and neck fatigue, allowing for longer periods of use with less discomfort.
- FAST RESPONSE TIME - Fast response times reduce ghosting & blurring while transitioning pixels, always keeping the enemy & terrain precisely in focus during chaotic moments.
- TRUE TO LIFE COLORS - Experience vibrant and true-to-life colors with a 98% sRGB color gamut performance, ensuring accurate and stunning visuals for all your creative and multimedia tasks.
- ENHANCED 75HZ REFRESH RATE - Enjoy unparalleled responsiveness and seamless visuals that will take your gaming experience to the next level.
Capture only one monitor
- Move the pointer to the monitor containing the content you want.
- Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims and Snipping Tool appears.
- Select Rectangle, then drag from one point to another entirely inside the target monitor. Keep the selection within that display’s edges; crossing the boundary includes part of the other screen.
- Release the mouse. Windows copies the snip to the clipboard and displays a notification.
- Select the notification to open Snipping Tool, where you can annotate, crop, save, or share the image. You can also paste it directly with Ctrl + V.
For a complete display, start at a corner and drag to the opposite corner of that monitor. A rectangular snip gives you precise control even when the monitors have different resolutions, scaling percentages, or orientations. Microsoft lists rectangle, freeform, window, full-screen, and video snips for Snipping Tool (Microsoft Support).
Use Window mode for an application
In the Windows + Shift + S toolbar, choose Window, then click the application window. This captures the window rather than the whole monitor, so the second display is excluded even when the window is on the other screen. Window mode is preferable for documentation because it avoids desktop icons, taskbars, and unrelated content.
Capture both monitors as one image
- Open Settings > System > Display and choose Identify if you need to match the numbered displays to their physical positions.
- Drag the monitor diagrams so their arrangement matches your desk. This affects the virtual desktop geometry and therefore the screenshot’s layout.
- Press Print Screen to copy the full virtual desktop. Paste it into Paint or another editor.
- Alternatively, press Windows + Print Screen. Windows saves the image automatically in Pictures > Screenshots (or OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots if OneDrive redirects that folder).
If one monitor is above, below, or offset from the other, the capture reflects that arrangement and may contain unused background areas. This is expected: the image represents the rectangular virtual-screen coordinate space, not a cropped collage.
Rank #2
- DUAL MONITOR SETUP - Curved monitors in a dual setup provide a seamless viewing experience with reduced peripheral distortion, ideal for immersive gaming or detailed work.
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN - The 1500R curved design provides a more comfortable viewing experience by reducing eye strain and neck fatigue, allowing for longer periods of use with less discomfort.
- FAST RESPONSE TIME - Fast response times reduce ghosting & blurring while transitioning pixels, always keeping the enemy & terrain precisely in focus during chaotic moments.
- TRUE TO LIFE COLORS - Experience vibrant and true-to-life colors with a 98% sRGB color gamut performance, ensuring accurate and stunning visuals for all your creative and multimedia tasks.
- ENHANCED 75HZ REFRESH RATE - Enjoy unparalleled responsiveness and seamless visuals that will take your gaming experience to the next level.
Capture the active window on either monitor
- Click the window you want so it has focus.
- Press Alt + Print Screen.
- Paste with Ctrl + V into Paint, an editor, or a message.
This method works regardless of which monitor contains the window and excludes the second monitor. It captures the window frame and visible content, not portions hidden behind other windows. For a browser page that extends below the viewport, use a full-page capture tool instead; Alt + Print Screen captures only what is currently visible.
Where Windows saves screenshots
Windows + Print Screen
Open File Explorer and go to Pictures > Screenshots. Files are normally PNG images named with a date-based sequence. If your Pictures folder is backed up by OneDrive, check OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots.
Print Screen, Alt + Print Screen, and Snipping Tool
These methods place the image on the clipboard first. They do not create a file until you paste and save it, or open the Snipping Tool notification and choose Save. Clipboard contents can be replaced by the next copy operation, so save important captures promptly.
Rank #3
- CRISP CLARITY: This 23.8″ Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
- WORK SEAMLESSLY: This sleek monitor is virtually bezel-free on three sides, so the screen looks even bigger for the viewer. This minimalistic design also allows for seamless multi-monitor setups that enhance your workflow and boost productivity
- A BETTER READING EXPERIENCE: For busy office workers, EasyRead mode provides a more paper-like experience for when viewing lengthy documents
Why Print Screen opens an overlay instead
If pressing Print Screen dims the screen and opens capture controls, Windows has enabled Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. This is intentional, not a hardware failure. Choose Rectangle, Window, or Full-screen in the overlay. To restore legacy behavior, turn that setting off in the keyboard accessibility settings, then sign out or restart if Windows does not apply the change immediately.
Keyboard and display problems
The keyboard has no obvious PrtSc key
Compact and laptop keyboards may label the key PrtSc, PrtScn, or place it behind an Fn layer. Try the keyboard’s documented Fn combination, such as Fn + PrtSc, and verify the layout supplied by the manufacturer. An external keyboard with a clearly labeled Print Screen key is another option; confirm that it supports your Windows version before buying.
Only one monitor appears in a full-screen capture
Check Settings > System > Display and confirm that Windows detects both displays and uses Extend these displays, not Show only on 1 or Show only on 2. A disconnected, disabled, or duplicated display changes what Windows considers the virtual screen.
Rank #4
- Compatible with Wide Screens - To ensure compatibility with the dual monitor mount, your each monitor must meet three conditions at the same time: First, computer screens size range: 13 to 32 inches. Second, screen weight range: 4.4 to 19.8 lbs. Third, the back of the monitor screen must have VESA mounting holes with a pitch of 75x75mm or 100x100mm.
- Regarding the compatibility with desks - Your desk must meet three conditions at the same time: First, desk material: Only wooden desks are recommended, plastic or glass desks cannot be used. Second, desk thickness range: 0.59" - 3.54". Third, the bottom of the desk should not have any cross beams or panels, as this will interfere with installation. We recommend carefully checking that your desk and monitors meets all above conditions before purchasing.
- Dual C-Clamp Hold - Worried your dual monitors might wobble or slip? Our upgraded base uses a larger platform plus a dual C-clamp structure to lock the dual monitor arm firmly to your desk. Each arm safely keeps your screens steady while you type, click and game—no shaking, no sliding, just a clean and secure setup you can trust every day. It also provides Grommet Mounting installation choice, both options ensure stable and secure fixation for your 0.59" - 3.54" desk.
- Full-Motion Adjustment For Comfortable View - Pull the screen closer when you’re deep in a spreadsheet, push it back to watch videos, or rotate to portrait for coding — moving everything smoothly with just one hand. The monitor stand offers +85°/-50° tilt, ±90° swivel and 360° rotation. Raise your monitor up to 15.75″ to support a healthy sitting posture. Whether you’re working from home, gaming through the night, or switching between video calls and documents, getting the screens to your natural line of sight helps relieve neck, shoulder and back strain so you can stay focused longer with less fatigue.
- Keep Your Desk Organized: By lifting both screens off the desktop, this dual monitor stand opens up valuable space for your keyboard, notebook, docking station or a simple, clutter-free work area. Built-in cable management guides wires along the arms, keeping cords out of sight and out of the way. Enjoy a tidy, modern workstation that looks as good as it feels to use.
The snip is the wrong size
Different DPI scaling values can make pointer movement and apparent pixel dimensions confusing. In Display settings, review each monitor’s Scale and Display resolution. For a precise region, use Rectangle mode and rely on the visible selection boundary rather than estimating pixels.
The shortcut does nothing
- Press and hold the Windows key before pressing Shift and S; do not use the right Alt key as a substitute.
- Check that another utility has not remapped Print Screen.
- Update or reset Snipping Tool from Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Snipping Tool > Advanced options.
- On managed work PCs, an administrator policy may restrict screenshot functions.
Quality, privacy, and workflow tips
- Use PNG when text or interface edges must remain sharp; save a JPEG only when smaller files matter more.
- Before sharing a two-monitor capture, inspect both displays for passwords, private messages, customer data, and browser tabs.
- Use Window mode or a tightly drawn Rectangle snip when the recipient does not need your full desktop.
- For repeatable documentation, keep monitor arrangement, scaling, and browser zoom consistent so captures have predictable dimensions.
- Snipping Tool can delay a capture, which helps when a menu or tooltip appears only after a short pause.
Or skip the browser setup
When the target is a web page rather than your local desktop, ScreenshotNeo provides a one-request screenshot API. It accepts cookie and consent banners as a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing result.
See the parameter reference in the ScreenshotNeo documentation. The following cURL request captures a page as WebP:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);ScreenshotNeo also offers an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. Its Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
Best Value
- DUAL MONITOR SETUP - Flat monitors in a dual setup provide a seamless viewing experience with reduced peripheral distortion, ideal for immersive gaming or detailed work.
- FAST RESPONSE TIME - Fast response times reduce ghosting & blurring while transitioning pixels, always keeping the enemy & terrain precisely in focus during chaotic moments.
- TRUE TO LIFE COLORS - Experience vibrant and true-to-life colors with a 99% sRGB color gamut performance, ensuring accurate and stunning visuals for all your creative and multimedia tasks.
- ENHANCED 75HZ REFRESH RATE - Enjoy unparalleled responsiveness and seamless visuals that will take your gaming experience to the next level.
- CUSTOM GAMING MODES - Experience enriched gaming with Sceptre's custom display settings tailored for gamers. Dive into the heart-pounding action of First Person Shooters (FPS) or master the strategic gameplay of Real-Time Strategy (RTS) titles, all optimized for peak performance on our monitor.
FAQ
Can Print Screen capture only monitor 1?
Not by itself. Legacy Print Screen captures the entire virtual screen. Use Windows + Shift + S and draw a rectangle on monitor 1.
Does Alt + Print Screen work when the window is on monitor 2?
Yes. It captures whichever window currently has focus, regardless of its display.
Can I change which monitor is primary?
Yes. In Settings > System > Display, select a monitor and enable Make this my main display. This changes taskbar and app-launch behavior, but full virtual-screen capture still includes both extended displays.
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