Windows 11 has numerous features that make it possible for you to carry out various activities without obstacles. Among the most basic tasks which users do normally on their computers is screen capturing. Probably, you may need to take a screenshot on Windows 11 to save an error message, document, web page or anything else shown on the screen.
In This Article
How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11
Take a screenshot in Windows 11 using different ways and tools depending on what you want to capture and how you want to save or share it with others. Here are seven easy ways of taking a screenshot in Windows 11 using various tools and keyboard shortcuts.
1: Using Print Screen Key
The simplest way of taking screenshots in Windows 11 would be by utilizing your keyboard’s “Print Screen” key. Normally, this button will be found somewhere along the top row of keys close to F12. It can also be labelled as PrtScn, PrtSc or PrntScrn; the naming depends upon the keyboard or laptop’s type and model.
Follow these steps to take a screenshot using the Print Screen key:
- Press the Print Screen key on your keyboard. This will capture the entire screen and will copy it to the clipboard.
- Now, open an image editing program, such as Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the program.
- Edit the screenshot as you wish, and save it as an image file.
Alternatively, you can also press Windows + Print Screen to take a screenshot on Windows 11. The screenshot will be saved automatically to the Screenshots folder in your Pictures library. The screenshot will be named Screenshot (number).png, where the number is the sequential number of the screenshot.
2: Use of Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a very handy tool for taking a screenshot on Windows 11. This tool is an app built into Windows that allows you to capture any part of the screen in various sizes and formats. You can annotate, save and share your screenshots with Snipping Tool.
Follow these steps to take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool:-
- Click the Start menu and type Snipping Tool in the search bar. Click to launch.
- Click on the New button to launch a new snip window. You can also click the Mode button to select the type of snip. You can also choose from various options like Rectangular Snip, Free-form Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip.
- Drag the cursor to the part of the screen you want to capture and release the mouse button to complete the capturing of the snip.
- Snipping appears in the Snipping Tool window. You can use the Pen, Highlighter, and Eraser tools to create outlines in the snip.
- You can also click the Delay button to set a time frame for the snip, which can be useful for clicking pop-up menus or tooltips.
- To save the snip, click the File menu and select Save As. Select the name, location, and style of the snip. You can also click the Copy button to copy the snip to the clipboard or click the Share button to send the snip via email or other apps.
3: Use of Game Bar
If you want to take a screenshot on Windows 11 of a game or an app that runs in full-screen mode, you can use the Game Bar, which is a feature that lets you record and broadcast your gameplay, as well as take screenshots and access other gaming settings. You can install Game Bar from the Windows Store.
To take a screenshot on Windows 11 using the Game Bar, follow these steps:
- Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay on the screen. You can also press the Xbox button on your controller if you have one connected to your PC.
- Click on the Capture button in the Game Bar toolbar. You can also press Windows + Alt + PrtScn to take a screenshot without opening the Game Bar.
- The screenshot will be saved to the Captures folder in your Videos library. The screenshot will be named as (Game name) – (Date and time).png, where Game name is the name of the game or app that you captured, and Date and time is the date and time of the capture.
- You can also view and manage your screenshots from the Capture widget in the Game Bar. You can click on the Show All Captures link to open the Xbox Game Bar app, where you can edit, delete, or share your screenshots.
4: Use the Windows Ink Workspace
The Windows Ink Workspace is a feature that lets you use a digital pen, touch, or mouse to write, draw, or sketch on your screen. You can also use the Windows Ink Workspace to take screenshots and annotate them with your pen or touch.
To take a screenshot on Windows 11 using the Windows Ink Workspace, follow these steps:
- Press Windows + W to open the Windows Ink Workspace panel on the right side of the screen. You can also click on the Windows Ink Workspace icon in the Taskbar if you have it enabled.
- Click on the Screen Sketch tile to take a screenshot of the entire screen and open it in the Screen Sketch app.
- Use the Pen, Pencil, Highlighter, or Eraser tools to annotate the screenshot. You can also use the Ruler or Protractor icons to draw straight lines or angles. You can also use the Crop icon to trim the screenshot.
- To save the screenshot, click on the Save icon in the top right corner. Choose a name, location, and format for the screenshot. You can also click on the Copy icon to copy the screenshot to the clipboard or click on the Share icon to send the screenshot via email or other apps.
5: Using Third-Party Screenshot Tools
If you are not satisfied with the built-in tools for taking a screenshot on Windows 11, you can also use a third-party screenshot tool that offers more features and options. There are many screenshot tools available online, both free and paid, that you can download and install on your PC.
Some of the most popular tools to take a screenshot on Windows 11 are:
- Snagit: A powerful and versatile screenshot tool that lets you capture any part of the screen. You can easily edit, annotate, and share them with others. With Snagit, you can also record a video and scrolling page. These features lets you capture long web pages or documents. Snagit is a paid tool, but it offers a free trial for 15 days.
Download Snagit. Other famous software for taking screenshots on Windows 11 are TechSmith Camtasia, iTop Screen Recorder, and ScreenHunter.
- Lightshot: A lightweight and easy-to-use screenshot tool that lets you capture any part of the screen, edit and annotate the screenshots, and upload them to the cloud or share them with others. Lightshot also has a search feature that lets you find similar images on the web. Lightshot is a free tool, but it has ads and limited features.
- Greenshot: A simple and efficient screenshot tool that lets you capture any part of the screen, edit and annotate the screenshots, and save them to your PC or upload them to various online services. Greenshot also has an OCR feature that lets you extract text from the screenshots. Greenshot is a free and open-source tool, but it has a basic interface and limited options.
6: Use a Web Browser Extension
If you want to take a screenshot of a web page or a browser tab, you can also use a web browser extension that lets you capture the web page or the browser tab, and save or share it with others. There are many web browser extensions available for different browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera.
Some of the most popular web browser extensions are:
- Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder: A comprehensive and versatile screenshot tool that lets you capture the entire web page, a selected area, or the browser tab, and edit and annotate the screenshots. Nimbus also has a screen video recorder feature that lets you record your screen or webcam, and save or share the videos. Nimbus is a free tool, but it has a premium version that offers more features and options.
- Awesome Screenshot & Screen Recorder: A popular and easy-to-use screenshot tool that lets you capture the entire web page, a visible part, or the browser tab, and edit and annotate the screenshots. Awesome Screenshot also has a screen recorder feature that lets you record your screen or webcam, and save or share the videos. Awesome Screenshot is a free tool, but it has a pro version that offers more features and options.
- Fireshot: A simple and fast screenshot tool that lets you capture the entire web page, a visible part, or the browser tab, and save, print, or share the screenshots. Fireshot also has a built-in editor that lets you annotate and edit the screenshots. Fireshot is a free tool, but it has a pro version that offers more features and options.
These are the seven easy ways to take a screenshot on Windows 11. You can choose the method that suits your needs and preferences, and capture anything on your screen with ease. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to taking a screenshot on Windows 11.
How to take a screenshot of a specific window on Windows 11?
If you want to take a screenshot of a specific window on Windows 11, you can use the Alt + Print Screen keyboard shortcut. Active window will be captured and copied to the clipboard. You can then paste the screenshot into an image editing program, such as Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP, and save it as an image file.
Alternatively, you can also use the Snipping Tool or the Snip & Sketch app to take a screenshot of a specific window on Windows 11. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and type Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch. Click to launch it.
- Click on the Mode button or the Down arrow next to the New button, and select Window Snip.
- Click on the window that you want to capture. The snip will appear in the app window.
- Edit and save the snip as you wish.
How to take a screenshot of a scrolling web page on Windows 11?
If you want to take a screenshot on Windows 11 of a scrolling web page, you can use a third-party screenshot tool or a web browser extension that has a scrolling capture feature. This feature lets you capture the entire web page, including the parts that are not visible on the screen, and save it as an image file.
Already shared screenshot tools and web browser extensions can be used for taking screenshots of a scrolling web page.
How to take a screenshot of a video on Windows 11?
If you want to take a screenshot on Windows 11 of a video, you can use the Print Screen key or the Game Bar to capture the video frame. However, these methods may not work for some videos that have DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. In that case, you may need to use a third-party screen recorder tool to record the video and then take a screenshot from the recorded video.
Already mentioned screen recorder tools and extensions can be used to record videos on Windows 11.
These are some of the screen recorder tools that you can use to record videos on Windows 11. You can choose the tool that suits your needs and preferences, and record anything on your screen with ease.
Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 like a Pro
Taking a screenshot on Windows 11 is a simple and useful task that you can perform with different methods and tools. You can use the built-in screenshot tools, such as the Print Screen key, the Snipping Tool, the Snip & Sketch app, the Game Bar, or the Windows Ink Workspace, to capture any part of the screen with ease. You can also use third-party screenshot tools or web browser extensions to capture more advanced and customized screenshots, such as scrolling web pages, videos, or specific windows.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned how to take a screenshot on Windows 11 in seven easy ways. Share your feedback in the comments below.