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On Windows 10, use Snip & Sketch to capture screenshots; on Windows 11, use the replacement app, Snipping Tool. On either system, press Windows + Shift + S to open the screen-snipping toolbar, choose a capture mode, and select the area or window you want.

This guide covers Snip & Sketch on Windows 10 and the equivalent Snipping Tool features on Windows 11. Microsoft ended standard Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so ordinary installations no longer receive free Windows Update security fixes, software updates, or technical support.

Check which screenshot app you have

Windows version App name Open it from Start
Windows 10 Snip & Sketch Search for Snip & Sketch
Windows 11 Snipping Tool Search for Snipping Tool

The names and controls differ between versions, but both support rectangular, freeform, window, and full-screen captures.

Take a screenshot with Windows + Shift + S

This is the quickest way to capture part or all of the screen.

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  1. Press Windows + Shift + S.
  2. The desktop dims and a capture toolbar appears.
  3. Choose a capture mode.
  4. Capture the required area, window, or screen.
  5. Windows copies the image to the clipboard. A notification normally appears; select it to open the capture in Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool.

The available modes are:

Mode What it captures
Rectangle or Rectangular Snip A rectangular area that you draw.
Freeform or Freeform Snip An irregular shape that you outline manually.
Window or Window Snip A complete application window. Select the window after choosing the mode.
Full screen or Fullscreen Snip Everything visible on the selected display.

Microsoft has changed these labels between Windows 10, Windows 11, and app versions. The function is the same even when the wording differs.

Open the screenshot app directly

Windows 10: Snip & Sketch

  1. Select Start.
  2. Type Snip & Sketch.
  3. Select the app from the search results.

Choose New to begin a capture. Select the mode control beside it if you need a window, full-screen, or freeform snip. Older versions may also show a Delay control.

Windows 11: Snipping Tool

  1. Select Start.
  2. Type Snipping Tool.
  3. Select the app.
  4. Choose Snipping Mode, then select Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform.
  5. Select New and make the capture.

In full-screen mode, Windows captures the screen immediately. Rectangle, Window, and Freeform modes require you to make a selection after selecting New.

Capture a drop-down menu or tooltip

A menu can disappear when you click New. Use a delay or the keyboard shortcut for open menus.

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Use a delay

  1. Open Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool.
  2. Select Delay.
  3. Choose a delay from one to five seconds.
  4. Select the capture mode and choose New.
  5. Open the menu or move the pointer over the tooltip during the countdown.
  6. When the screen dims, capture the menu or tooltip.

Use Ctrl + Print Screen

  1. Open the menu you want to show.
  2. Press Ctrl + PrtSc.
  3. When the screen dims, choose the capture mode and select the menu.

Copy a screenshot into another app

The Windows + Shift + S workflow copies the result to the clipboard automatically. To paste it into an email, document, chat, or image editor:

  1. Take the screenshot.
  2. Open the destination app.
  3. Press Ctrl + V.

You do not have to open the notification to paste the image. The clipboard is temporary, so paste the capture promptly if you do not intend to save it as a file.

Save a screenshot as an image file

Windows 10 Snip & Sketch

Open the capture in Snip & Sketch and select the Save button, or press Ctrl + S. Choose the folder, filename, and file type in the save dialog.

Windows 11 Snipping Tool

Current Snipping Tool versions automatically save captures to the Screenshots folder. To change automatic saving or the default folder:

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  1. Open Snipping Tool.
  2. Select See More (…).
  3. Select Settings.

To create a deliberately named copy, open the capture and select Save as. The traditional default location is %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots.

If OneDrive is backing up or redirecting your Pictures folder, the actual path may be under your OneDrive folder instead. If you cannot find the file, open File Explorer and paste the path into the address bar, or search for PNG files in your Pictures folder.

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Annotate and edit a capture

Open the captured image in the editor to mark it up before sharing. Depending on your Windows and app version, the toolbar includes:

  • Pen for freehand writing and drawing
  • Highlighter for translucent emphasis
  • Shapes for lines, rectangles, and other marks
  • Eraser to remove annotations
  • Crop to trim the image
  • Undo and Redo

Current Windows 11 Snipping Tool also has Text actions. Its on-device OCR detects text in the image so you can select Copy all text. It can also offer Quick redact for detected email addresses and phone numbers. Older Snip & Sketch installations do not necessarily have these controls.

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Useful keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Windows + Shift + S Open the screen-snipping overlay.
Ctrl + PrtSc Start a capture while keeping an open menu visible.
Ctrl + C Copy the open capture.
Ctrl + S Save the open capture.
Alt + M Choose a snipping mode in current Snipping Tool.
Alt + N Create another snip using the last mode.
Alt + D Set a one-to-five-second delay in current Snipping Tool.
Shift + Arrow keys Move through snip types in current Snipping Tool.

Other Windows screenshot shortcuts

Shortcut Result
Windows + PrtScn Captures the entire screen and saves it in the Pictures\Screenshots folder.
Alt + PrtScn Copies the active window to the clipboard.
PrtScn Opens or invokes the configured screen-capture behavior; it may open Snipping Tool or copy the full screen.
Fn + Windows + Spacebar Alternative documented by Microsoft for keyboards without a dedicated Print Screen key.

To change the Print Screen behavior, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and review Use the Print Screen key to open screen capture.

Fix common Snip & Sketch and Snipping Tool problems

The screenshot notification does not appear

The capture may still have worked. Notifications can be hidden by disabled notifications or Focus Assist. Open an app and press Ctrl + V. You can also open Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool directly.

Print Screen opens the wrong tool

Check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Turn Use the Print Screen key to open screen capture on or off depending on whether you want the key to open Snipping Tool or copy the full screen.

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The image was copied but not saved

Windows + Shift + S is primarily a capture-to-clipboard shortcut. On Windows 10, use Ctrl + S in Snip & Sketch. On Windows 11, open the capture and choose Save as, or check the automatic-save setting in See More > Settings.

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Snipping Tool is missing or broken

In Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Snipping Tool > … > Advanced options. Select Repair. If that does not solve the problem, select Reset. These options may not be available for every installation; Reset may remove local app data and settings.

In Windows 10, use Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Snip & Sketch > Advanced options, then try Repair or Reset if available.

The capture is black

A black capture can be caused by protected video, a particular website, an application that blocks screen capture, or a display-driver problem. Test an ordinary desktop window. If only one website or video is black, the content may be protected. If ordinary Windows apps also capture incorrectly, update or reinstall the display driver and repair or reset the screenshot app.

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Windows 11: record the screen instead

Current Windows 11 Snipping Tool also supports video recording, but this is not a Snip & Sketch feature in Windows 10.

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  1. Open Snipping Tool.
  2. Select Record.
  3. Select New.
  4. Drag around the area to record.
  5. Select Start.
  6. Select Stop when finished.

You can also press Windows + Shift + R to open the recording overlay. The resulting recording can be saved or opened with Edit in Clipchamp.

Some Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs have additional Snipping Tool features, including Perfect screenshot for tightening the capture around visible content and a Color picker. These features are not available on every Windows 11 computer.

FAQ

Is Snip & Sketch available in Windows 11?

No. Windows 11 uses the replacement Snipping Tool app. The Windows + Shift + S shortcut still opens the basic screen-snipping workflow.

Where does Snip & Sketch save screenshots?

Snip & Sketch on Windows 10 does not have the same automatic-save behavior as current Windows 11 Snipping Tool. Open the capture and press Ctrl + S, then choose a filename and folder. The traditional Windows Screenshots location is %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots; OneDrive folder redirection or app settings may change the actual location.

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How do I screenshot only one window?

Press Windows + Shift + S, choose Window or Window Snip, and select the application window. Alternatively, Alt + PrtScn copies the active window to the clipboard.

Why did my screenshot not save?

The shortcut copies the capture to the clipboard first; it does not always create a named file. Press Ctrl + V in an app to recover it, or open the capture in Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool and use Save or Save as.

Can Snip & Sketch capture a drop-down menu?

Yes. Set a one-to-five-second delay, select New, open the menu during the countdown, and capture it. You can also open the menu first and press Ctrl + PrtSc.

The Bottom Line

For Windows 10, open Snip & Sketch or press Windows + Shift + S, select a capture mode, and save the result with Ctrl + S when you need a file. For Windows 11, use Snipping Tool; it supports automatic saving, OCR text actions, and screen recording in current versions.

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