Use Windows’ built-in Snipping Tool from the Start menu. Press the Start button, type Snipping Tool, open the app, choose a capture mode, and select New when prompted. This works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 whether your keyboard lacks a Windows logo key, a Print Screen key, or both. You can then annotate, save, copy, or share the result.
The familiar Windows + Shift + S shortcut is not a solution when the Windows key is unavailable because it requires that key. The menu-based method avoids the shortcut entirely. Microsoft’s instructions are documented in Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots.
First, identify which key is missing
People often use “Windows key” and “Print Screen key” interchangeably, but they are different keys with different shortcuts.
- Windows logo key missing: Start Snipping Tool with the mouse by opening Start and searching for it.
- Print Screen (PrtScn) key missing: Snipping Tool still works from Start. A hardware-specific Microsoft shortcut may exist on some devices, but it still requires a Windows key.
- Both keys missing: The same Start-menu method works; no special keyboard shortcut is needed.
- Windows key is present but hard to press: Use the built-in On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) with a mouse or other pointing device.
Separating these cases matters because replacing a missing Print Screen key with an Fn shortcut will not help if the Windows logo key itself is absent.
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- Easy to Use: This wireless keyboard and mouse combo features 8 multimedia hotkeys for instant access to the Internet, email, play/pause, and volume so you can easily check out your favorite sites
Capture a screenshot with Snipping Tool
- Open Start with the mouse. On Windows 10, select the Start button in the lower-left corner. On Windows 11, select the centered or left-aligned Start button, depending on your taskbar settings.
- Type Snipping Tool into the search box.
- Select the Snipping Tool app from the results.
- Choose a capture mode from the toolbar: Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Full-screen.
- Select New if the app is waiting for you to begin. For a rectangular or freeform snip, drag around the area you need. For a window snip, select the target window. Full-screen mode captures the entire display.
- When the image opens in the editor, use the available annotation tools if needed.
- Select the save button, use the copy control, or choose the share option for the destination you need.
This route does not depend on a Windows-key shortcut. Snipping Tool’s four capture modes cover a single region, an irregular shape, one application window, or the whole screen. Microsoft lists the same capabilities for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its Snipping Tool guidance.
Which capture mode should you choose?
| Mode | Use it when | What you select |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular | You need a clean, predictable portion of the screen | Drag a rectangle around the content |
| Freeform | The subject has an irregular outline | Draw a custom shape around it |
| Window | You want one app window without surrounding desktop content | Select the window |
| Full-screen | You need everything visible on a display | Nothing; the display is captured automatically |
Save, copy, annotate, or share the image
After the capture, Snipping Tool opens an editing view. Use its pen or markup controls to point out an error, add a note, or obscure information before sending the image. Save the finished file when you need a permanent copy, or copy it to the clipboard when you plan to paste it into an email, document, chat, or issue tracker.
If the screenshot contains passwords, authentication codes, personal messages, customer records, or other private data, inspect it before sharing. Crop or cover sensitive areas in the editor, and avoid posting the unedited file publicly.
What to do if Snipping Tool does not appear
Search from the Start menu
Open Start with the mouse and search for Snipping Tool rather than relying on a shortcut. If search returns several results, choose the app named exactly “Snipping Tool,” not a web result or a similarly named third-party program.
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Use the Start app list
On Windows 11, select All apps and scroll to the S section. On Windows 10, open the alphabetical app list and look under Windows Accessories or search again. The exact grouping can vary with Windows updates.
Check that you are using a supported Windows edition
The documented Snipping Tool instructions apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. If a managed work computer has removed or restricted the app, contact the administrator rather than installing an unapproved capture utility.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard when a key is difficult to press
If the Windows logo key is physically present but inaccessible, Windows includes a virtual keyboard that you can operate with a mouse. Open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then turn on On-Screen Keyboard. Select keys in the virtual layout with the pointer. Microsoft notes that “You don’t need a touchscreen to use the OSK.” Its documentation also explains that “The OSK has two different layout options, Nav and General.” See Use the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) to type.
The OSK is an accessibility fallback, not a prerequisite for taking a screenshot. You can still launch Snipping Tool entirely through Start search and use a mouse to make the selection.
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Why Windows + Shift + S is not the answer here
Windows + Shift + S is a fast regional-capture shortcut when the Windows logo key is available. It opens the screenshot overlay and places the selected image on the clipboard. Because the shortcut explicitly includes the Windows key, it cannot solve a missing-Windows-key problem. Microsoft lists it among the shortcuts in Keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
If you later connect a keyboard that has a functioning Windows key, the shortcut becomes a convenient alternative; until then, use Start and Snipping Tool.
What if the Print Screen key is also missing?
Print Screen is a separate hardware key normally labeled PrtScn, PrtSc, or a similar abbreviation. Its absence does not prevent Snipping Tool from working. Some devices support Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar as a Print Screen-related shortcut, but Microsoft describes that combination as device-dependent. It still requires the Windows logo key, so it is not useful for a keyboard that lacks that key. See Keyboard shortcut for print screen.
Choose the method that fits your situation
| Method | Windows key required? | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start search > Snipping Tool | No | Any keyboard missing the Windows key or Print Screen key | Requires selecting the app and capture area with the mouse |
| Windows + Shift + S | Yes | Fast regional capture on a keyboard with the key | Unavailable when the Windows key is absent |
| On-Screen Keyboard | No physical key required | Keys that are difficult to reach or press | It is a virtual-input fallback, not a separate capture tool |
| Fn + Windows + Space Bar | Yes | Some devices without a Print Screen key | Hardware-dependent and useless without a Windows key |
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting checklist
The capture is blank or shows the wrong window
- Choose Window mode and select the target application again.
- For a page or app that changes while you select it, use Full-screen or Rectangular mode instead.
- Confirm that the content was visible before selecting New; Snipping Tool captures what is rendered at capture time.
The screenshot is in the clipboard, but you cannot find a file
Copying and saving are separate actions. Return to the Snipping Tool editor and use its save control to create an image file. If you only copied the image, paste it into Paint, an email, or another editor and save it there.
The mouse cannot select the desired area
Switch from Freeform to Rectangular mode for a more controlled selection. If the pointer is difficult to use, enable an alternative pointing device or the accessibility settings under Start > Settings > Accessibility.
The shortcut works on one keyboard but not another
Check whether the second keyboard actually has a Windows logo key and whether an Fn layer changes its behavior. Do not assume a Print Screen shortcut will work on every model; Microsoft describes the Fn-based combination as hardware-dependent.
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- Durable and reliable: Built for quality, K250 offers long-lasting keys, a spill-resistant design (2)
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The image includes private information
Open the result in Snipping Tool, cover or crop confidential areas, then save a sanitized copy. Delete the original if it is no longer needed and check the destination’s sharing permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot with only a mouse?
Yes. Open Start, search for Snipping Tool, launch it, select a capture mode, and use the mouse to choose the area. No keyboard shortcut is required.
Does Snipping Tool work if my keyboard has no PrtScn key?
Yes. The Start-menu Snipping Tool method does not depend on Print Screen. The Fn-based shortcut documented by Microsoft is optional, device-specific, and still requires a Windows key.
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Can I capture just one application window?
Yes. Select the Window mode in Snipping Tool, then click the application window you want to capture.
Is the On-Screen Keyboard required to take screenshots?
No. It is useful when a physical key is hard to reach, but Start search and Snipping Tool are sufficient on their own.
The Bottom Line
Open Start, search for Snipping Tool, choose a capture mode, and select New. That method works without a Windows logo key and without a Print Screen key.
Quick Recap
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