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Windows saves screenshots in different places depending on the shortcut or app used. A full-screen capture made with Windows logo key + PrtScn is normally saved automatically, while PrtSc, Alt + PrtSc, and some Windows logo key + Shift + S captures may be held in the Clipboard until you paste or save them.
On a standard local Windows profile, the automatic screenshot folder is:
C:Users<username>PicturesScreenshots
If OneDrive manages your Pictures folder, check this location instead:
C:Users<username>OneDrivePicturesScreenshots
Where Windows 10 and Windows 11 save screenshots automatically
When you press Windows logo key + PrtScn, Windows captures the entire screen and saves an image file automatically in the Screenshots subfolder of your Pictures folder.
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Open it from File Explorer by selecting:
- This PC
- Pictures
- Screenshots
The usual local path is:
C:Users<username>PicturesScreenshots
This shortcut and location apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The files are normally named sequentially, such as Screenshot (1).png, although the exact filename can vary if files have been moved or renamed.
When OneDrive changes the screenshot location
If OneDrive backs up or contains your Pictures folder, the effective Screenshots folder is usually inside OneDrive:
C:Users<username>OneDrivePicturesScreenshots
In File Explorer, check:
- OneDrive
- Pictures
- Screenshots
Also check This PC > Pictures > Screenshots. The exact path depends on how your Pictures folder is configured, whether OneDrive is using a different folder name, and which Microsoft account is signed in.
Older instructions often say to open OneDrive settings and enable Save screenshots to OneDrive. That switch is no longer available in current OneDrive versions. If you want screenshots included in OneDrive, make sure the Pictures folder is included in OneDrive backup or is otherwise located inside the OneDrive folder.
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Where screenshots go for each Windows shortcut
| Shortcut or method | What it captures | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows logo key + PrtScn | The entire screen | Automatically saved in Pictures > Screenshots, or the equivalent OneDrive Pictures folder |
| PrtSc or PrtScn | The entire screen | Copied to the Clipboard; paste it into an app and save it |
| Alt + PrtSc | The active window | Copied to the Clipboard; it does not create a file by itself |
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | A selected rectangle, window, full screen, or freeform area | Copied to the Clipboard; current Snipping Tool versions also normally auto-save image snips to Screenshots |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R | A screen video recording | Saved separately from still-image screenshots by Snipping Tool |
PrtSc and Alt + PrtSc do not normally save files
Pressing PrtSc—also labeled PrtScn or PrntScrn, sometimes with SysRq—copies the full screen to the Windows Clipboard. It does not normally create a PNG in the Screenshots folder.
To save it:
- Press PrtSc.
- Open Paint, Word, an email, or another application that accepts images.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the capture.
- Use the application’s save command. In Paint, select File > Save as and choose a folder, filename, and format.
Alt + PrtSc works the same way, except it copies only the currently active window. Switch to the window you want first, press the shortcut, and then paste the result into an application before saving it.
Where Windows logo key + Shift + S screenshots go
Windows logo key + Shift + S opens the Snipping Tool capture overlay. Its current image modes are:
- Rectangle
- Window
- Full screen
- Freeform
After you make a snip, the image is copied to the Clipboard. A notification also opens the capture in the Snipping Tool editor. In current versions of Snipping Tool, image snips are also automatically saved to the Screenshots folder unless automatic saving or the folder has been changed in Snipping Tool settings.
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If you do not see a file, use Ctrl + V in Paint or another image-capable application. You can also select the notification to open the snip in Snipping Tool, then save it manually.
Check Snipping Tool’s save settings
To inspect or change Snipping Tool’s automatic-save behavior or default folder:
- Open Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- Select See More (…) .
- Choose Settings.
- Review the screenshot saving options and the configured folder.
The available wording and options can vary with the installed Snipping Tool version. If you use Save as Image: Save in the editor, you can choose a different folder and filename manually. That manually selected location does not have to be the automatic Screenshots folder.
How to find a missing screenshot
Use this checklist before taking the screenshot again:
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Identify the shortcut. If you used PrtSc or Alt + PrtSc, look in the Clipboard workflow rather than File Explorer. Open Paint and press Ctrl + V.
- Check the local folder. In File Explorer, open This PC > Pictures > Screenshots.
- Check OneDrive. Open OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots. This is especially important if your Pictures folder is backed up or redirected.
- Check the Snipping Tool notification. A Shift + S capture may be waiting in the notification area or open in the Snipping Tool editor rather than visible as a file where you expect.
- Review Snipping Tool settings. Open Snipping Tool > See More (…) > Settings and check whether automatic saving or the default folder was changed.
- Search by file type. In File Explorer, search the likely folders for
*.png, then sort by Date modified. This can find a screenshot that was renamed or saved manually.
What if the keyboard has no PrtScn key?
On keyboards without a dedicated Print Screen key, Microsoft documents Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar as an alternative screenshot shortcut. Laptop keyboards may also place Print Screen on another key as a secondary function, requiring Fn; check the key labels and the computer manufacturer’s keyboard documentation.
Still images versus Snipping Tool video captures
Snipping Tool also supports screen recording. Select Record > New, or press Windows logo key + Shift + R. A recording is handled separately from still-image screenshots, so do not expect a video to appear as a PNG in the Screenshots folder. Use the save controls in Snipping Tool to determine where the recording is stored.
The AI-only Snipping Tool features called Perfect screenshot and Color picker are restricted to Windows 11 AI PCs, including Copilot+ PCs. They do not change the normal save location for screenshots.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
What is the default screenshot folder in Windows 10?
For a normal local Windows profile, open File Explorer > This PC > Pictures > Screenshots. The path is usually C:Users<username>PicturesScreenshots.
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What is the default screenshot folder in Windows 11?
Windows 11 normally uses the same location: This PC > Pictures > Screenshots, or C:Users<username>PicturesScreenshots. If OneDrive manages Pictures, check OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots.
Why is there no screenshot file after pressing PrtSc?
PrtSc copies the full screen to the Clipboard rather than normally saving a file. Open Paint or another suitable app and press Ctrl + V, then save the pasted image.
Does Alt + PrtSc save a screenshot?
No. Alt + PrtSc copies the active window to the Clipboard. Paste it into Paint, Word, an email, or another app and save it from there.
Where does Windows logo key + Shift + S save screenshots?
The shortcut copies the snip to the Clipboard and opens a Snipping Tool notification. Current Snipping Tool versions also normally auto-save image snips to the Screenshots folder, unless automatic saving or the folder has been changed in Snipping Tool > See More (…) > Settings.
How do I make Windows screenshots go to OneDrive?
The old Save screenshots to OneDrive switch is no longer present in current OneDrive settings. Ensure that the Pictures folder is included in OneDrive backup or configured inside OneDrive, then check OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots.
The Bottom Line
For an automatically saved full-screen image, use Windows logo key + PrtScn and look in Pictures > Screenshots. If OneDrive manages Pictures, look in OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots. If you used PrtSc or Alt + PrtSc, paste the Clipboard image with Ctrl + V and save it yourself. For Windows logo key + Shift + S, check both the Snipping Tool notification and its Settings page.
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