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On a Windows touchscreen PC, open Start, search for Snipping Tool, and tap the app. Tap New, choose a capture mode, then drag your finger across the screen to select an area. You do not need a physical keyboard for this method.
Which screenshot method should you use?
| Method | Best for | What you need | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snipping Tool from Start | Touch-only use, selected areas, windows, or full-screen captures | Touchscreen; no physical keyboard needed to open it | Offers several capture modes and lets you edit, save, or share a capture. |
| Windows + Shift + S | Starting a quick selection capture | Keyboard | Opens the Snipping Tool capture overlay. |
| Windows + PrtScn | Saving a full-screen capture as a file | A keyboard with the relevant keys | Key availability depends on the device; check Pictures > Screenshots for the file. |
| Power + Volume Up | Quick capture on supported Surface devices | Physical device buttons | Microsoft lists supported Surface families, with Surface Laptop as an exception. |
How to take a screenshot using only the touchscreen
- Tap Start, search for Snipping Tool, and tap the search result.
- Tap New. Choose a mode: rectangle, freeform, window, or full screen.
- For a selected area, drag your finger over the part of the screen you want to capture. Follow the on-screen prompt for the mode you chose.
- When the capture appears in Snipping Tool, annotate it if needed. Choose Save as to pick a specific folder, or use the app’s sharing options.
Microsoft describes Snipping Tool as a way to copy words or images from all or part of a PC screen. The app’s documented capture modes and save options are covered in Microsoft’s Snipping Tool guide.
How to start a capture with a keyboard shortcut
Capture a region or window
Press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool capture overlay, then choose the capture mode and select the content. This is the keyboard shortcut for an image capture; Windows + Shift + R starts a video snip instead.
Save the whole screen
Press Windows + PrtScn to capture the full screen to a file if your keyboard and device support the shortcut. On compact keyboards, a function-key combination may be required. Microsoft also documents Fn + Windows + Space as a possible alternative when the keyboard has no PrtScn key. Look in Pictures > Screenshots for the saved capture. See Microsoft’s Print Screen shortcut guidance for hardware-dependent details.
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How to screenshot on a supported Surface
On Surface models that support the hardware shortcut, hold the Power button and press Volume Up. Microsoft identifies Surface Laptop as an exception, so do not assume the button combination works on every Surface. Check the model-specific guidance in Microsoft’s Surface screenshot instructions.
Where Windows saves screenshots
A full-screen image made with Windows + PrtScn is saved in Pictures > Screenshots. Snipping Tool captures appear in the app, where you can use Save as to choose the exact destination. Some current settings save captures automatically to the Screenshots folder, so use Save as when you need control over the location.
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Do you need tablet mode or the touch keyboard?
No. You can use Snipping Tool from Start without enabling tablet mode or opening the on-screen keyboard. Windows 11 changes tablet behavior automatically when a touch device’s keyboard is detached or it is converted to tablet form; it does not provide a manual tablet-mode toggle. Tablet mode is not a prerequisite for taking a screenshot. Details are in Microsoft’s tablet-mode guidance.
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The touch keyboard is available for typing on a touchscreen, but it is not needed for the Start-based Snipping Tool steps. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; these instructions describe the Windows features, but Windows 10 is no longer a supported, maintained platform. See Microsoft’s touch keyboard information.
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Can a pen start a screenshot?
On Windows devices with a supported pen, the pen menu can include Snipping Tool. Availability depends on the device and pen configuration. Microsoft explains the pen menu in its Windows pen guide.
Quick Recap
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