How to Use the Snipping Tool to Take Screenshots in Windows 11

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Easily capture anything on your screen with the Snipping Tool

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: December 9, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Snipping Tool Overview
|
• Using Snipping Tool
|
• Disabling PrtScrn Functionality
|
• Snipping Tool Alternatives
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Do you need to take a screenshot or video of your screen? The easiest way to do this is with the built-in Snipping Tool in Windows 11. In this article, we go over the Snipping Tool, including how to use it, how to disable its PrtScrn button integration, and some alternatives if you want to use a third-party app instead.

Using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11

The Snipping Tool is a screen capture app that allows you to take screenshots and record videos of your desktop. To open this built-in Windows app, search for "snipping tool" in the taskbar search bar or press Windows key + Shift + S.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

What is Snipping Tool?

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1. 
   The Snipping Tool allows you to take screenshots and videos of your desktop. You can choose to take a screenshot or video of your entire screen, or you can make a smaller snip of something in just one part of your screen.

   • Snipping Tool comes preinstalled on all Windows 11 computers. However, if you uninstalled it or don't have it for some reason, you can install it from the Microsoft Store.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use the Snipping Tool

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1. 
   1
   Open the Snipping Tool. You can do this one of three ways:

   • Type snipping tool into the taskbar search bar and click on it to open it.
   • Press ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+S.
   • Press PrtScrn.
     • If you want to disable the PrtScrn functionality, jump ahead to learn how.
2. 
   2
   Choose whether you want to take a screenshot or a video. If you want to take a screenshot, click the camera icon to the right of the + New button. If you want to take a video, click the video camera icon instead.
3. 
   3
   Choose what type of snip you want to do. To choose your snipping style, click the drop-down to the right of the screenshot or video toggle. You can choose from the following options:

   • Rectangle: Draw a rectangular box around the item you want to snip.
   • Window: Choose a window and take a screenshot or video of it in its entirety.
   • Full screen: Take a screenshot of the entire screen. (Screenshot only)
   • Freeform: Draw around an object you want to snip. (Screenshot only)
4. 
   4
   Set the delay timer, if needed. If you're taking a screenshot, you can choose to delay the capture for 3, 5, or 10 seconds. This is useful if you need to click something or perform some other kind of task before you take the screenshot. By default, it's set to "No delay."

   • You cannot set a delay timer when taking a video.
5. 
   5
   Click + New once you're ready to take your screenshot or video. Depending on the snip method you chose, you may need to draw a rectangle or freeform shape, or choose a window to take a screenshot of.
6. 
   6
   Save or edit your snip. After you take a snip, you'll see a number of editing options at the top of the screen.

   • Use the buttons at the top of the screen to crop, mark up, highlight, or further edit your screenshot.
   • Click Edit in Paint to open the snip in MS Paint for further editing.
   • Click the floppy disk icon to save your snip.
     • By default, screenshots are saved to the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder, and videos are saved to the Screen Recordings folder in your Videos folder.
   • Click the icon with two rectangles to copy the snip.
     • By default, snips are automatically added to your clipboard once you take them, so you can just go to another window and press Ctrl+V to paste it.
   • Click the icon of a square with an arrow coming out of it to share the snip.
   • Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner for more options.
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Section 3 of 4:

Disabling PrtScrn Functionality

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings menu. There are a few ways to do this:

   • Press ⇧ Shift+I.
   • Right-click the Windows icon and choose Settings.
   • Type Settings into the taskbar search bar and click Settings.
   • Click the Windows icon and choose Settings.
2. 
   2
   Click Accessibility. It's on the left-hand side, and it has an icon of a blue person.
3. 
   3
   Click Keyboard. It's under the "Interaction" header, and it has an icon of a keyboard.
4. 
   4
   Toggle off "Use the Print screen key to open screen capture." Now, when you press the PrtScrn key, it will capture an image of your current screen instead of opening the Snipping Tool.
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Section 4 of 4:

Snipping Tool Alternatives

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1. 
   If you want a program with more functions than the built-in Snipping Tool, there are a few third-party apps you can try instead:

   • Lightshot: Lightshot is a fast and easy-to-use screenshot app that works on both Windows and Mac.
   • ShareX: ShareX is an open-source screenshot app that offers multiple methods for capturing your screen.
   • PicPick: PicPick is an app that offers screen capture capabilities, as well as graphic design and productivity features.
   • Greenshot: Greenshot is a screenshot app that allows you to quickly share your snip to various spots, including Flickr and Picasa.

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