How to Print Screen on Windows 11 (All Methods)

Taking a screenshot on Windows 11 is quick once you know which shortcut does what. You can grab the whole screen, just one window, or a specific area, and save it straight to a file or just copy it to your clipboard. This guide walks through every method, including keyboard shortcuts, the Snipping Tool, and the Xbox Game Bar.

Quick steps

1. Press Windows key + Shift + S to open the snipping toolbar.
2. Drag to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
3. Click the notification that pops up to open, edit, or save the screenshot.

Before you start

Most of these methods work out of the box on any Windows 11 PC, no extra software needed. A few things to keep in mind:

• Some laptops need you to hold the Fn key along with a shortcut, especially if the PrtScn key doubles as a function key.
• Screenshots saved automatically go to a Screenshots folder inside Pictures, unless you’ve changed where that folder points.
• If your Pictures folder is backed up through OneDrive, your screenshots will sync there too. Check out our guide on how to activate OneDrive AutoSave if you want that turned on, or how to disable OneDrive if you’d rather keep things local.
• What happens when you press PrtScn can differ from one PC to another, depending on your settings and how your device is configured. It’s worth testing it once so you know what to expect before you rely on it.
• Surface devices and tablets without a physical keyboard use a different button combination, covered further down.

Keyboard shortcuts for screenshots

These are the fastest ways to capture your screen without opening any app.

1. Press PrtScn (Print Screen) on its own to take a screenshot. On some PCs this copies the full screen to your clipboard, ready to paste into an app like Paint or Word. On others, it may open the Snipping Tool so you can select an area first. If you’re not sure which one your device does, try it once and check your clipboard or your open apps.
2. Press Windows key + PrtScn to capture the whole screen and automatically save it as a PNG file in Pictures > Screenshots. Your screen will briefly dim to confirm it worked.
3. Press Alt + PrtScn to capture only the active window (the one you currently have selected) and copy it to your clipboard.
4. Press Windows key + Shift + S to open the snipping toolbar, which lets you choose a rectangular area, a freeform shape, a specific window, or the full screen. The capture is copied to your clipboard, and you’ll see a notification you can click to edit or save it.

Using the Snipping Tool app

The Snipping Tool on Windows 11 combines screenshot capture and basic editing in one app.

1. Open the Start menu and search for Snipping Tool, then open it.
2. Choose the capture mode you want: rectangular, freeform, window, or fullscreen.
3. Click New to start a capture, then select the area of the screen you want.
4. Once captured, the screenshot opens in the Snipping Tool editor, where you can draw, highlight, or crop before saving.
5. Use the save option in the app to choose a location and file name for your screenshot.

The Snipping Tool also includes a delay option, useful if you need to open a menu or tooltip just before capturing.

Capturing a game or full-screen app with Xbox Game Bar

If you’re trying to screenshot a game or a full-screen app and the usual shortcuts don’t seem to work, the Xbox Game Bar is built for that.

1. Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
2. Find the Capture widget on the overlay.
3. Click the camera icon, or press Windows key + Alt + PrtScn, to take a screenshot.
4. Your capture is saved automatically, and you can find it later through the Captures section of the Game Bar or in your Videos > Captures folder.

Taking a screenshot on a Surface or tablet without a keyboard

If you’re using a Surface device or any Windows 11 tablet without a physical keyboard attached, you can still capture the screen with button presses.

1. Press and hold the Windows logo button on the device, then press the volume down button at the same time.
2. The screen will briefly dim to show the screenshot was taken.
3. Find the saved image in Pictures > Screenshots.

If it doesn’t work

PrtScn doesn’t do anything

On some laptops, PrtScn is a secondary function on another key. Try holding Fn along with PrtScn. If that still doesn’t work, use Windows key + Shift + S instead, since it doesn’t rely on the PrtScn key at all.

Windows key + PrtScn isn’t saving a file

Make sure your Pictures folder hasn’t been moved or disconnected, since that’s where the Screenshots folder lives by default. If you’ve changed your OneDrive setup recently, double check the folder location is still valid. Our guide on removing OneDrive from your PC explains what happens to linked folders if you uninstall it.

The screenshot is blank or black

This sometimes happens with DRM-protected video or certain games running in exclusive full-screen mode. Try switching the game or app to windowed or borderless mode first, or use the Xbox Game Bar capture tool instead of the standard shortcuts.

Windows key + Shift + S doesn’t open the toolbar

Check that the Snipping Tool app is still installed and up to date, since this shortcut relies on it. You can also open the Snipping Tool manually from the Start menu and start a capture from there instead.

PrtScn opens an app instead of copying to the clipboard, or the other way around

This is expected behavior on Windows 11, since what PrtScn does can vary by device and settings. If you want a predictable result every time, use Windows key + Shift + S for a selection, or Windows key + PrtScn to always save a full-screen file automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Windows 11 screenshots get saved?

Screenshots taken with Windows key + PrtScn save automatically to Pictures > Screenshots as PNG files. Screenshots taken with Alt + PrtScn only go to your clipboard until you paste and save them manually. PrtScn on its own may copy to your clipboard or open the Snipping Tool, depending on your device and settings.

How do I take a screenshot of just part of the screen?

Press Windows key + Shift + S and drag over the area you want to capture. You can also open the Snipping Tool app and choose rectangular or freeform snip mode for more control.

Can I screenshot without a PrtScn key?

Yes. The Windows key + Shift + S shortcut and the Snipping Tool app both work without ever needing the PrtScn key, which is handy on laptops that don’t have one.

Why is my screenshot not copying to the clipboard?

If you’re using Windows key + Shift + S, the image is copied to your clipboard by default, and you still need to paste it into an app like Paint or Word to save it as a file. If pasting isn’t working, try the capture again and check the notification that appears after you select an area.

Related guides

• How to Activate OneDrive AutoSave
• How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11
• How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC

Sources

• Windows client documentation (Microsoft Learn)
• Windows Documentation (Microsoft Learn)