Screenshots have now become really popular because they can help to capture images that can be used as references in the future. Almost every computer user needs to take a screenshot from time to time if they want to share what they are seeing on the screen with someone.
According to the report of Microsoft News, there are over 1.4 billion monthly active devices running on Windows 10 or Windows 11. So, if you are using Windows 10 on your desktop, then you should know how to take screenshot in Windows 10.
Because, taking, saving, and sharing screenshots can be extremely helpful for you. That is why the increasing popularity of screenshots is widely spread around the world and has proven to be extremely useful while creating a training or product manuals, or interesting reading content.
In this article, we have shared 5 quick and easy methods how to take screenshot in Windows 10. Also, here we have covered why you need the print screen key to take screenshots on your desktop.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Why You Need Print Screen To Take Screenshot On Windows 10
The Print Screen key on your keyboard is generally used to take a screenshot and store it in the clipboard. When you stored it in the clipboard, then you can paste the image into any image editor.
And this key is found on most computer keyboards and it is sometimes abbreviated as Prscr, PRTSC, PrtScrn, Prt Scrn, or PrntScrn. And it lets you capture exactly what you are seeing on your screen to share with others or use as a reference later.
Also, according to some people, screenshots are one of the most important things on the internet. And there are also a few programs that are designed to use the Print Screen key to start printing.
How To Take Screenshot In Windows 10: 5 Quick Methods
You might want to take a screenshot on a PC for many different reasons. Here we have shared 5 quick methods on how to take screenshot in Windows 10 so that you can make an informed decision on which method works best for you.
1. Take A Screenshot Using The Snipping Tool
Windows 10 comes with an exciting feature known as Snipping Tool. It allows the users to take a screenshot of a part of the current window. You just need to click on the search icon and then type Snipping Tool.
After that, when the Snipping tool is open, just click on New and then click on the drop-down under Mode. Then you can select Rectangular Snip or Free-form Snip as per your requirement.
The Rectangular snip would allow you to drag and select a rectangular portion of the screen that you want to capture. And the Free-form snip provides the user with the flexibility to draw any free form around the screen by dragging the cursor.
Now, when the screenshot is taken, you can easily save this file at any location of your choice. There are two other options in the Mode, which are Window Snip and Full-Screen Snip.
Window snip would allow you to select a particular window on the screen and the full-screen snip can be used to capture the entire screen.
The screenshots captured as a snip are copied to the Snipping tool window and then you can make changes and also save the file.
2. Using Windows Game Bar
One of the most popular ways to take a screenshot in Windows 10 is by using the Game bar.
First, you need to press the Windows key and G together to open the Game bar. You can customize its settings by clicking on Settings and then choosing the desired option.
Windows Game Bar includes an icon that looks like a webcam. Now you need to tap this to open the Capture section, which has a camera icon.
After that, click the camera button to take a screenshot. The shortcut to the camera is Windows key +Alt + PrtScn.
These screenshots are saved in PNG format to the Videos/Captures folder under your main user folder.
The game bar in Windows 10 would allow you to record gameplay footage, record videos, and also take screenshots. And you can take screenshots with the game bar even if you are not in a game and this will be a full-screen image.
3. Use The Snip And Sketch Option
Snip & Sketch app is the best way to screenshot on Windows 10 if want to customize, annotate, or share your screen captures. And it works as a perfect replacement of the Snipping tool for many Windows users.
To open Snip & Sketch, you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + Shift + S or can search for Snip & Sketch app on the Windows search bar. Then, your screen will dim and a mini menu will appear at the top of your screen.
It would give you the option to take a rectangular snip, free-form snip, windows snip, or full-screen snip. So, you can choose how you would like to capture a screenshot.
And taking a screenshot here will copy it to your Clipboard and then you can paste it onto a document or an image processor such as Paint.
4. Take A Screenshot By Using The Print Screen Key
The simplest method to take a screenshot in Windows 10 is by using the Print Screen key (PrtScn). First, you need to keep the window or screen open which needs to be captured. And then press the PrtScn key.
This key is generally available on the top right corner of your keyboard. You can use this option to copy the entire screen and then use tools like MS Paint or MS Word to paste it.
You can easily use Windows shortcuts like Ctrl+ V to paste the content on these tools.
Then you can make desired changes after pasting the copied content, as these tools generally provide you with a variety of features to enhance the quality of the screenshot.
Also, you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + PrtScn key to capture the entire screen and save the capture as an image on your PC in the folder named Pictures> Screenshots.
5. Using Third-Party Screenshot Apps For Windows
If you are not satisfied with any of these above-mentioned built-in Windows methods, then you can use some third-party screenshot tools that are worth considering and each app comes with its own extra features.
Lightshot is a free screenshot tool that is designed for quick social sharing. And Greenshot is another free tool that would allow you to edit and customize screenshots. You would also get the option to capture a complete scrolling web page.
Also, ScreenRec is a free Windows recording tool that gives you the ability to capture and share videos and screenshots.
And you can also use Snagit, which is a screenshot tool that would allow you to create animated GIFs, and take full-page screenshots.
How To Screen Shot On Other Windows Versions
Windows 7 and Windows 11 are two popular versions of Windows OS and are known for their ease and user-friendliness. So, if you use those versions of Windows, then you should know how to take screenshots in Windows 7 and Windows 11.
1. Use The Prt Sc Key To Take A Screenshot Of The Entire Screen
Just like in Windows 10, you can use the PrtSc key on an active window in Windows 11. You just need to tap on the PrtSc key and the screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
However, you would not receive any indication or notification that the screenshot has successfully been taken.
And if you want to view the full-screen screenshot, then you should use Ctrl+V to paste it into an application like Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Word. And you can paste it even into the body of an email according to your requirement.
If you press the Windows key + Print Screen key, it will capture a screenshot of your entire screen on an active window. However, it would also save your full-screen screenshots in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
2. Using The Snip And Sketch Tool
Sometimes, you might want to take screenshots of only a section of your screen. In that case, you will get the option to take only a partial screenshot using the snip and sketch tool in Windows 11.
You just need to press windows keys + Shift + S, and your screen will flash and a small menu will appear at the top of the screen. It would allow you to take a Rectangular Snip, Free-form Snip, Window Snip, and Full-screen Snip.
And when the screenshot is taken, it would be saved to your clipboard and then you can paste it elsewhere to look at it.
You will also get the option to edit the screenshot and save it to your desktop by clicking the screenshot preview that appears at the bottom of your screen.
3. Taking Screenshots Using The Snipping Tool
We have already described how to use the Snipping Tool to capture and edit screenshots in Windows 10. When you are using Windows 7, the only difference is the path to follow to find the Snipping Tool in Windows 7.
First, you need to click on Start Menu and then type Snipping Tool in the search box. Alternatively, you can also click on All Programs and then click on Accessories to find the Snipping Tool option.
Also, you need to press Ctrl + S to save the snip. And it is also possible to take a screenshot of the entire screen in Windows 7 and save it without using the Snipping Tool or any other tool.
You just need to press Windows + PrtScn on the keyboard and your screenshot will be saved in the Pictures library with the folder name Screenshots.
What To Do If Print Screen Is Not Working In Windows 10
Sometimes the print screen key can stop working when you want to capture your screen and you can get very frustrated at that time. But you don’t need to worry, as you can easily fix this problem and print your screen.
In some cases, a few programs such as OneDrive, Dropbox, and the Snipping tool can take over the Print Screen key.
So, you should stop all the running programs on your desktop and then try to press the print screen key again to see if it works.
You can also check if your operating system is up-to-date and if there are any updates available for your Windows, then install the updates and try to press the key again.
If the problem is not still solved, you can also use the snipping tool to take screenshots.
Wrap Up On Screenshot In Windows 10
When you want to take a screenshot on Windows 10 or on other versions of windows, the primary methods remain almost the same irrespective of which version of Windows you are using.
However, there are some differences in the features of the image editing tools you are using and their location on the desktop. And this mainly varies depending on the version of the Windows operating system you use.
We hope that our detailed and informative article has helped to answer all your queries about how to take screenshot in windows 10.
Please let us know in the comments below which method works best for you and which you use the most.
FAQ: Screenshot In Windows 10
As there are a lot of methods to take screenshots in windows 10, sometimes people get confused about which method would be the most effective for them. That is why they have a few questions on their minds, and we have tried to answer some of them.
Q1. Where Do Screenshots Go On Windows 10?
Ans: If you press the Windows key + PrtScn to take a screenshot of the entire screen it saves the screenshot as an image file. You can easily find it in the “Screenshots” subfolder under the “Pictures” folder.
Q2. How Do I Turn On The PrtSc Button On My Laptop?
Ans: First, you need to open Settings on Windows 10 and then Click on Ease of Access. After that, just click on the Keyboard, and under the “Print Screen shortcut” section, you should turn on the “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” toggle switch.
Q3. Why Are My Screenshots Such Low Quality?
Ans: Your screenshots might become blurry due to the software you are using to take the screenshots. A lower-end tool will provide you with blurry screenshots, so you need to ensure that you are using capable software to take screenshots.
