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On a standard Windows 11 installation, Snipping Tool saves automatically captured screenshots in:
C:Users<your-user-name>PicturesScreenshots
Replace <your-user-name> with your Windows account name. You can open the folder quickly by pressing Windows logo key + R, entering %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots, and pressing Enter.
Microsoft’s current documentation does not identify a separate default folder for Snipping Tool video recordings. In particular, do not assume that videos are stored in VideosCaptures; that location is associated with Xbox Game Bar, not a documented Snipping Tool default. For a definite location, use Save as after recording or check the automatic-save settings in Snipping Tool.
Where Snipping Tool saves screenshots
When automatic saving is enabled, Snipping Tool saves captured screenshots to the user’s PicturesScreenshots folder:
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C:Users<your-user-name>PicturesScreenshots
For example, if the Windows account is named Maria, the path is:
C:UsersMariaPicturesScreenshots
The same folder can be opened without knowing the account name:
- Press Windows logo key + R.
- Enter
%USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots. - Press Enter.
You can also open File Explorer and select Pictures in the navigation pane, then open Screenshots. If OneDrive is backing up your Pictures folder, the actual displayed path may include your OneDrive folder, such as C:UsersMariaOneDrivePicturesScreenshots. In that situation, open the folder shown under your Pictures location rather than relying only on the standard path.
Where Snipping Tool saves videos
Windows 11’s Snipping Tool supports screen recording, but Microsoft’s current documentation does not publish a separate, fixed default video directory for it. The documentation describes captured snips as being automatically saved to the Screenshots folder and separately documents video snips, without specifying a different folder for recordings.
That means the safe answer is:
- Do not automatically expect Snipping Tool videos in
C:Users<user>VideosScreen Recordings. - Do not confuse Snipping Tool with Xbox Game Bar, whose recordings are commonly associated with
VideosCaptures. - Use Save as if you need to know exactly where a recording is stored.
- Check Snipping Tool’s current Settings page because automatic-save behavior and available controls can vary by app version.
After recording, Snipping Tool lets you save the video as-is. It may also offer Edit in Clipchamp for further editing.
How to take and save a screenshot
To capture a screenshot from the Snipping Tool window:
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- Open Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- Select Snipping Mode.
- Choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform.
- Select New, where that option is shown.
- Capture the required area.
- In the Snipping Tool window, select Save as if you want to choose the destination yourself.
- Choose a folder, enter a filename, and select Save.
The manually saved file is an explicitly saved copy. It is separate from any automatic copy that Snipping Tool may have placed in the Screenshots folder.
How to record and save a video
Use these current Snipping Tool controls to record part of the screen:
- Open Snipping Tool.
- Select Record.
- Select New.
- Drag over the area to record.
- Select Start.
- When finished, select Stop.
- Select Save as, choose the destination and filename, then select Save.
The keyboard shortcut for opening the recording interface is Windows logo key + Shift + R.
Saving manually is the most dependable way to put the video in a known location—for example, C:UsersMariaVideosSnipping Tool. You can create that folder in the Save As dialog if it does not already exist.
How to change Snipping Tool’s automatic-save behavior or folder
The current Windows 11 route is:
- Open Snipping Tool.
- Select See More (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
Look for the automatic-saving and screenshot-location controls on that Settings page. Microsoft confirms the path to Settings but does not publish the exact control labels for every current build, so the wording may differ between installations. The relevant option may allow you to turn automatic saving on or off and, where supported by your version, choose the Screenshots folder.
If your build does not offer a folder picker, automatic saving cannot be redirected from that page. Use Save as after each capture, or move the resulting files to your preferred folder.
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What happens when you use the keyboard shortcuts?
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|---|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | Opens the screenshot overlay. The capture is placed in the Snipping Tool window. | No. Clipboard or editor availability alone does not prove that a disk file exists. |
| PrtSc | Captures a static full-screen image to the clipboard. | No. Pressing PrtSc alone does not document an automatic file save. |
| Windows logo key + PrtScn | Uses Windows’ separate screenshot function. | Yes, Microsoft documents the output in Pictures > Screenshots. |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R | Opens Snipping Tool’s screen-recording workflow. | Use Snipping Tool’s Save as command or its current automatic-save settings to confirm the destination. |
For Windows logo key + Shift + S, the capture may open from the notification in Snipping Tool and still require a manual save on some configurations. If the image is not in %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots, open the capture and select Save as.
How to find a missing capture
- Open File Explorer.
- Paste
%USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshotsinto the address bar and press Enter. - Sort the folder by Date modified to find the newest file.
- If it is not there, open Snipping Tool with the capture still available and use Save as.
- Search File Explorer for likely extensions such as
*.png,*.jpg, or*.mp4, then sort by date. - Check whether your Pictures folder is redirected to OneDrive or another organization-managed location.
A screenshot visible in the clipboard, notification, or Snipping Tool editor is not necessarily a file you can recover later. Save it explicitly before closing the editor.
Editing a Snipping Tool recording in Clipchamp
After selecting Stop, Snipping Tool may offer Edit in Clipchamp. You can edit the recording there or save the original without editing.
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Clipchamp also supports detaching audio:
- Open the project in Clipchamp.
- Select the Audio tab.
- Select Detach audio.
- To open the downloaded audio location, press Windows logo key + R, enter
downloads, and press Enter.
Older instructions that no longer match Windows 11
Some guides still tell you to open Snipping Tools Options, select Options, use an arrow beside New, or select Save Snip. Those names describe earlier interfaces. Current Windows 11 instructions use:
- Snipping Mode for screenshot types
- Record for video capture
- See More (…) and Settings for preferences
- Save as for a chosen filename and location
Snipping Tool’s standard screenshot and video workflow is supported on Windows 11 and Windows 10; it is not documented as limited to Pro or Enterprise editions. Features such as Perfect screenshot and Color picker are separate features documented for Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs and do not determine where captures are saved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
What is the default Snipping Tool screenshot location in Windows 11?
The documented default is C:Users<your-user-name>PicturesScreenshots. Open it quickly with %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots in the Run dialog.
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Does Snipping Tool save videos to VideosCaptures?
Do not assume that. VideosCaptures is associated with Xbox Game Bar, and Microsoft does not document it as Snipping Tool’s default video location.
How do I change where Snipping Tool saves captures?
Open Snipping Tool, select See More (…) in the upper-right, and select Settings. The exact automatic-save and folder controls depend on the current app build. If a folder picker is unavailable, use Save as for each capture.
Why is my screenshot in Snipping Tool but not in a folder?
A capture can be available in the Snipping Tool window or clipboard without confirming that a file was written to disk. Select Save as, choose a folder and filename, and save it manually.
Where does PrtSc save screenshots?
Pressing PrtSc alone places a static full-screen image in the clipboard; it does not, according to Microsoft’s current documentation, automatically save a file. Windows logo key + PrtScn is a separate shortcut that saves to Pictures > Screenshots.
Can I choose a location for a Snipping Tool video?
Yes. After selecting Stop, select Save as, choose the folder and filename, and select Save. This gives you a known copy regardless of the automatic-save behavior on your build.
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For screenshots, start with %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots. Snipping Tool does not have a Microsoft-documented separate default video folder, so avoid the commonly repeated VideosCaptures claim. To control the result, open Snipping Tool → See More (…) → Settings, or use Save as after every screenshot or recording.
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