On Windows, press Windows + Shift + S to take a screenshot without a dedicated Print Screen, PrtSc, or PrtScn key. Choose Rectangle, Freeform, Window, or Full screen, then make the capture. It is copied to the clipboard and, in the current Snipping Tool experience, automatically saved in your Screenshots folder.
Fastest Windows method: Windows + Shift + S
For a full-screen hardware shortcut, try Fn + Windows + Spacebar, although that combination depends on the laptop or keyboard. If the physical key is genuinely missing, use the On-Screen Keyboard with Windows + Ctrl + O.
Despite its name, “Print Screen” normally means capture the screen; it does not send the display directly to a printer.
Choose the method that fits what you need
These are the most useful options for Windows 11 and Windows 10:
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| What you want to do | Use this method | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Capture a selected area | Windows + Shift + S | Choose Rectangle or Freeform, then select the area. |
| Capture one open window | Windows + Shift + S, then Window | Click the window you want instead of dragging around it. |
| Capture the entire screen | Snipping Tool > Full screen | This is the most broadly compatible option when there is no Print Screen key. |
| Try a direct full-screen keyboard shortcut | Fn + Windows + Spacebar | Microsoft documents it for devices without a PrtScn key, but hardware support varies. |
| Use a virtual Print Screen key | On-Screen Keyboard > PrtScn | Works with a mouse or touchpad, but is slower. |
| Create a permanent shortcut | PowerToys Keyboard Manager | Remap an unused key to Print Screen; PowerToys must remain running. |
The best general method: use Snipping Tool
Microsoft’s current Snipping Tool instructions support Windows + Shift + S on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Press Windows + Shift + S.
- When the capture bar appears at the top of the screen, select a mode: Rectangle, Freeform, Window, or Full screen.
- Make the capture. For Rectangle, drag around the area. For Freeform, draw an irregular outline. For Window, click the open window. For Full screen, Windows captures the display without requiring you to draw a selection.
- Use the notification that appears to open the snip in Snipping Tool, or open Snipping Tool yourself if you want to edit it.
What each Snipping Tool mode does
- Rectangle: The practical choice for part of a web page, document, dialog box, or desktop.
- Freeform: Draw a non-rectangular outline around an object or region.
- Window: Captures a particular application window. This is usually better than Full screen when you have multiple monitors or want to exclude the taskbar and other applications.
- Full screen: Captures the screen or display using Snipping Tool’s full-screen mode. The exact result with multiple monitors can depend on the Windows build and display arrangement.
The capture is copied to the clipboard, so you can immediately press Ctrl + V in Paint, Word, an email, a chat, or another image-capable application. Current Snipping Tool documentation also says that captures are automatically saved to the Screenshots folder. Older Windows builds and older versions of the tool may behave differently, so check the save setting if no file appears.
How to capture the entire screen without selecting an area
Option 1: Choose Full screen in Snipping Tool
- Press Windows + Shift + S.
- Click the Full screen icon in the capture bar.
- Open the notification if you want to edit, share, or save another copy.
This is the safest first choice because it does not depend on whether a laptop manufacturer assigned Print Screen to a particular function key.
Option 2: Try Microsoft’s hardware-dependent shortcut
On some Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops and keyboards without a PrtScn button, try:
Fn + Windows + Spacebar
Microsoft documents this as a replacement shortcut for devices without a Print Screen key, but it is not universal. The keyboard firmware, laptop model, and function-key design determine whether it works. If nothing happens, use Snipping Tool or the On-Screen Keyboard rather than assuming the shortcut is broken in Windows.
How to capture only the active window
The traditional shortcut is Alt + PrtScn, but it is not useful when the key is absent. Snipping Tool provides a key-independent alternative:
- Press Windows + Shift + S.
- Select Window.
- Click the application window you want to capture.
This avoids guessing whether your laptop uses Fn + F10, Fn + Insert, or another manufacturer-specific combination. It also lets you capture a single application when several windows or monitors are visible.
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Use the On-Screen Keyboard as a virtual Print Screen key
Windows includes an accessibility keyboard that can be operated with a mouse or touchpad. It is different from the touch keyboard: the On-Screen Keyboard is the full keyboard interface and includes standard keys such as PrtScn.
- Press Windows + Ctrl + O to open the On-Screen Keyboard. Microsoft also documents this shortcut and other access methods in its keyboard accessibility guidance.
- If the keyboard opens in the Nav layout, use its layout control and switch to General. The General layout contains the full set of standard keys.
- Click the virtual PrtScn key.
- Paste the result with Ctrl + V into Paint, Snipping Tool, or another application.
Depending on your Windows settings, clicking the virtual key may copy the capture directly or invoke the Windows screenshot behavior. If Snipping Tool opens, use its notification or save controls. This method is dependable when the physical keyboard lacks the key entirely, but Windows + Shift + S is usually faster.
Microsoft’s On-Screen Keyboard documentation explains the General and Nav layouts and how to use the tool on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It does not require a touchscreen.
Find, save, or paste the screenshot
A screenshot can be copied to the clipboard, saved as a file, or both. That is why a capture may appear to have disappeared even though it worked.
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Paste the screenshot into another app | Open Paint, Word, email, chat, or another image-capable app and press Ctrl + V. |
| Save an open snip manually | In Snipping Tool, select the Save button or press Ctrl + S. Choose a filename and folder. |
| Find an automatically saved capture | Open File Explorer and check Pictures/Screenshots. |
| Find a capture after the notification disappears | Check Pictures/Screenshots, then try Windows + V for clipboard history. |
| Print the image on paper | Open the saved image, press Ctrl + P, or right-click the image and select Print. |
The automatic-save location and behavior can be changed in Snipping Tool’s settings. If you do not find the file in the default folder, open Snipping Tool and inspect its settings, then paste the clipboard copy into Paint and save it manually.
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How to print the screenshot on paper
Capturing the screen and printing it are separate actions. To produce a paper copy:
- Open the screenshot from the Screenshots folder, or paste it into Paint and save it as an image.
- Right-click the image and choose Print. In Windows 11, you may need to choose Show more options first. Alternatively, open the image and press Ctrl + P.
- Select the printer, paper size, orientation, scaling, and number of copies.
- Print the image.
Snipping Tool’s Microsoft documentation also describes printing a saved image snip from its folder.
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Look for a hidden screenshot key on a compact keyboard
A 60% or 65% keyboard, laptop, or Surface keyboard may have the screenshot function without printing PrtSc on a dedicated key. Inspect the small secondary legends on:
- the function row;
- Insert, Home, End, or navigation keys;
- the arrow-key cluster; and
- keys marked with a camera, scissors, or screen icon.
Then try the marked key with Fn. Some keyboards also have an Fn Lock; the key combination for toggling it varies by model and is usually printed on the keyboard or documented by the manufacturer.
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There is no universal Fn + function-key combination. For example, Dell documents that some of its laptops use a function key, often F10, but that does not mean Fn + F10 works on every Dell—or on every laptop generally. Check the manual or keyboard utility for the exact model. Dell’s Print Screen guidance illustrates why manufacturer-specific layouts matter.
Create your own screenshot shortcut with PowerToys
If you use a compact keyboard frequently, Microsoft PowerToys can turn an unused physical key into a Print Screen key.
- Install and open Microsoft PowerToys.
- Open Keyboard Manager.
- Select Remap a key.
- Add a mapping for an unused physical key.
- Set the output key to Print Screen.
- Apply the mapping and test the key. If Windows is configured to open Snipping Tool when Print Screen is pressed, the remapped key will follow that behavior.
PowerToys is a customization, not a built-in keyboard setting. Keep these limitations in mind:
- PowerToys Keyboard Manager must be running in the background for the mapping to work.
- The mapping does not work at the Windows sign-in screen.
- An elevated application may require PowerToys itself to run with administrator privileges.
- Microsoft warns that Keyboard Manager can interfere with some games.
- The Fn key generally cannot be remapped because it is handled by keyboard hardware or firmware.
- PowerToys provides Windows tools; it does not provide Mac or Linux keyboard profiles.
For a one-off screenshot, use Snipping Tool instead. PowerToys makes sense when you want a repeatable one-key workflow and accept the background-software trade-off.
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Surface hardware has several device-specific screenshot options. Microsoft’s Surface screenshot instructions should take priority if the generic Windows shortcuts do not match your device.
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- Surface tablets: On many Surface devices, use Power + Volume Up. Microsoft notes that this combination does not work on Surface Laptop.
- Surface keyboards: Some have a dedicated Snipping key even though they do not have a traditional PrtScn label.
- Supported Surface keyboard shortcut: Fn + Spacebar can capture the active window to the Windows clipboard on supported Surface keyboards.
- Devices with the key: Windows + PrtScn saves a screenshot to
Pictures/Screenshotswhen that key is available.
Surface models differ, so do not assume that a button combination documented for a Surface tablet will work on a Surface Laptop or every Surface keyboard.
Capture menus, tooltips, and delayed interface elements
If you need to capture a context menu, tooltip, or another element that disappears when you move the pointer, open Snipping Tool from Start rather than using only the quick overlay. Set the capture delay to between 1 and 5 seconds, open the menu or position the pointer, and let the timer reach zero. Microsoft documents the delay feature in its Snipping Tool help.
Troubleshooting when the screenshot shortcut does nothing
1. Launch Snipping Tool directly
Search Start for Snipping Tool and open it. Select New and try a capture from the app. If this works but Windows + Shift + S does not, the problem is probably a shortcut conflict, a disabled Windows key, or a keyboard utility rather than the capture tool itself.
2. Check the Windows key and keyboard settings
- Confirm that a gaming mode or keyboard utility has not disabled the Windows key.
- On Windows 11, check Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Windows 10 uses the corresponding keyboard settings under its accessibility or Ease of Access section.
- Restart Snipping Tool, then restart Windows if the app is unresponsive.
- Check whether another screenshot, clipboard, gaming, or keyboard application has claimed the shortcut.
3. Test with the On-Screen Keyboard
Open the On-Screen Keyboard with Windows + Ctrl + O and click PrtScn. If that works, Windows can capture the screen and the issue is likely the physical keyboard, its function layer, or its utility software. If it does not work, try launching Snipping Tool directly and check whether the computer is managed by a work or school policy.
4. Check the file and clipboard separately
A capture does not always open in a new window. Check Pictures/Screenshots first. Then press Windows + V to inspect Clipboard history, if it is enabled, and paste the image into Paint with Ctrl + V.
Clipboard history may not be enabled. Microsoft says you can turn it on from the Windows + V panel or under Settings > System > Clipboard. The relevant Windows keyboard-shortcut documentation covers clipboard history and screenshot shortcuts.
5. Consider the environment
- On a managed work or school computer, administrators may restrict screenshot tools.
- In Remote Desktop or a virtual machine, test the shortcut inside the remote session and again on the local computer. The session may intercept or reinterpret the Windows key.
- Some games, secure desktop screens, streaming services, protected video surfaces, and other applications intentionally restrict or alter screen capture. No keyboard shortcut guarantees a visible screenshot from protected content.
- With multiple monitors, use Window mode when you want one application rather than the whole desktop.
Capture a long webpage instead of only the visible screen
Snipping Tool captures what is on the screen; it does not automatically create a full-page capture of a long webpage. In Microsoft Edge, use the browser’s Screenshot or Web Capture feature from the browser menu, or try Ctrl + Shift + S. This is a browser-only feature, and an administrator can disable it through the Edge WebCaptureEnabled policy. For other browsers, the menu name and shortcut may differ.
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If you are using a Mac, Chromebook, or Linux
The answer changes outside Windows. These systems generally do not use a Print Screen key.
Mac
- Shift + Command + 3: capture the entire screen.
- Shift + Command + 4: select an area.
- Shift + Command + 4, then Spacebar: capture a window or menu.
- Shift + Command + 5: open screenshot and screen-recording controls.
By default, keyboard-shortcut screenshots are saved as PNG files on the desktop. Hold Control with the shortcut to copy the capture to the clipboard instead. The Screenshot panel can change the save location. See Apple’s Mac screenshot documentation for the current controls.
Chromebook
On a Chromebook without a dedicated Screenshot key, press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows, then choose full-screen, partial, or window capture. If an external keyboard does not have a Show windows key, Google documents Ctrl + Shift + F5 as the alternative. Captures are saved to Downloads by default and can be moved. See Google’s Chromebook screenshot instructions.
GNOME Linux
GNOME provides a screenshot control in the system menu. Its screenshot overlay supports the entire screen, a window, or a selected area. GNOME documents Alt + Print for the focused window and Shift + Print for the entire screen. If your keyboard has no Print key, use the system-menu screenshot control. These shortcuts are GNOME-specific, not universal to every Linux desktop environment. See the GNOME screenshot help.
Windows 10 support note
The shortcuts in this guide may continue to work on Windows 10, but Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. As of August 10, 2026, Windows 10 is out of support, so supported hardware and security guidance should be checked before continuing to use it. Microsoft’s support-status information is available in its Windows support documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Print Screen print the screen directly to paper?
No. Print Screen is the name of a screenshot function. Capture the image first, save it, then open the file and choose Print or press Ctrl + P.
Where is a screenshot saved when I use Windows + Shift + S?
In the current Snipping Tool experience, it is automatically saved in Pictures/Screenshots and copied to the clipboard. You can also open the snip in Snipping Tool and press Ctrl + S. Older Windows builds or changed Snipping Tool settings may use different save behavior.
Why does Fn + Windows + Spacebar not work on my laptop?
Microsoft documents that shortcut for devices without a PrtScn key, but it depends on the laptop’s hardware and firmware. Use Windows + Shift + S or the On-Screen Keyboard instead, and check your manufacturer’s manual for a model-specific function-layer shortcut.
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The Bottom Line
For most Windows users, Windows + Shift + S is the best replacement for a missing Print Screen key. Choose Full screen for the entire display, Window for one application, or Rectangle/Freeform for a specific area. If you want a hardware shortcut, try Fn + Windows + Spacebar; if that is unsupported, use the On-Screen Keyboard or create a PowerToys remap.
