7 Ways to Take a Screenshot in Microsoft Windows

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-31 12:32

This article shows you how to take a screenshot using a computer with a Windows operating system. On those with Windows 8 and 10 you can use a keyboard shortcut to automatically capture the entire screen, while for any version of Windows you can perform the same action with the "Print Screen" button. Other methods such as the Snipping Tool program or using a Surface device allow you to customize the way your computer captures the screen and are just as effective.

Steps

Method 1 of 7: Capture a Full Screen in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

Step 1. Go to the screen you want to capture

Before you can capture the screen image, you must make sure that its contents are clearly visible, without obstructions of any kind. This could be a web page or a program window.

Step 2. Find the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard

The ⎙ Print Screen key is often found at the top of the main keyboard (not counting the numeric keypad, if you have one) and below it is usually labeled "SysReq" ("System Requirements").

This key is usually abbreviated with "PrtSc" or something similar ("Stamp", in Italian)

Step 3. Press the key combination ⊞ Win + Stamp

This will take a snapshot of everything visible on the screen. In some cases, you will hear an audible notification, similar to the classic snap of a camera, and the screen brightness may fluctuate for a moment.

• However, the screen brightness will not change if certain graphics settings are turned off. This is a scenario that often occurs when using older computers whose operating system has been upgraded to Windows 10.
• If the screenshot file was not automatically generated and saved in the destination folder, try using the key combination Ctrl + ⊞ Win + Stamp or Fn + ⊞ Win + Stamp.

Step 4. Locate the file for the screenshot you just captured

The resulting image is automatically saved inside the "Screenshots" folder stored in the Windows "Pictures" library. Each file is automatically renamed to the following format "Screenshot (progressive_number)" and saved as a-p.webp

For example the first screenshot you will take will be saved in a-p.webp" />

Method 2 of 7: Capture a Full Screen with any Windows Version

Step 1. Go to the screen you want to capture

Before you can capture the screen image, you must make sure that its contents are clearly visible, without obstructions of any kind. This could be a web page or a program window.

Step 2. Simply press the Print softkey

Normally, it is located at the top right of the keyboard, at the end of the "Function" key sequence (from F1 to F12). This will take a snapshot of everything that is currently visible on your computer screen.

• The key wording Stamp may vary depending on the type of keyboard or laptop. For example, it could be indicated by the wording "PrtSc" or something similar.
• If you're using a laptop that has the Fn function key visible at the bottom left of the keyboard, you may need to hold it down while pressing the Stamp key.

Step 3. Start Microsoft Paint

It is an image editor built into all versions of Windows. Follow these instructions:

• Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

  

  ;

  If you are using Windows 8, use the function Research.

• Click the search bar visible at the bottom of the menu Start;
• Type in the keyword paint;

• Click the program icon Paint located at the top of the "Start" menu;

  If you are using a Windows 8 system, the program icon Paint will be visible in the function results list Research operating system.

• If you are using Windows XP, go to the menu Start, choose the item Programs, select the folder Accessories and finally click the icon Paint.

Step 4. Paste the screenshot image

As soon as the Paint window appears on the screen, press the key combination Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the program. The resulting image should appear inside the Paint window.

Step 5. Save the scanned image

Press the key combination Ctrl + S, type the name you want to assign to the file, choose the destination folder using the left sidebar of the dialog box that appeared and finally press the key Save.

• If you wish, you can change the format in which the image will be saved by using the "Save as" drop-down menu visible at the bottom of the screen and choosing one of the available formats (for example JPEG).
• The most used file formats in most cases are-j.webp" />

Method 3 of 7: Take a Single Window Screenshot

Step 1. Click on the window you want to capture

This feature allows you to capture only the screenshot of the currently "active" window, ie the one that appears to be in the foreground with respect to all the other windows on the screen.

Step 2. Press the Alt + Stamp key combination

This way, the snapshot of the selected window will be temporarily saved in the system "clipboard". The resulting image size varies based on the size of the captured window.

In this case, you will not receive any notification that the screenshot was successful

Step 3. Start Microsoft Paint

It is an image editor built into all versions of Windows. Follow these instructions:

• Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

  

  ;

  If you are using Windows 8, use the feature Research.

• Click the search bar visible at the bottom of the menu Start;
• Type in the keyword paint;

• Click the program icon Paint located at the top of the "Start" menu;

  If you are using a Windows 8 system, the program icon Paint will be visible in the function results list Research operating system.

• If you are using Windows XP, go to the menu Start, choose the item Programs, select the folder Accessories and finally click the icon Paint.

Step 4. Paste the screenshot image

As soon as the Paint window appears on the screen, press the key combination Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the program. The resulting image should appear inside the Paint window.

If you want, you can also use the newly scanned image within other programs, such as Word or an e-mail client. In this case you will simply have to start the program of your interest, select the point where you want to insert the image and press the key combination Ctrl + V

Step 5. Save the scanned image

Press the key combination Ctrl + S, type the name you want to assign to the file, choose the destination folder using the left sidebar of the dialog box that appeared and finally press the key Save.

• You can also change the format in which the image will be saved by using the "Save as" drop-down menu visible at the bottom of the screen to select one of the available formats (for example JPEG).
• The most used file formats in most cases are-j.webp" />

Method 4 of 7: Using the Snipping Tool Program

Step 1. Launch the "Snipping Tool" program

It is built-in software in all versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10, except for the Starter and Basic versions. Unfortunately, it is not included in Windows XP.

• If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, go to the menu Start, choose the item All Programs, select the folder Accessories and click the "Snipping Tool" icon from the list that appears;
• In Windows 8, simply start typing the Snipping Tool keywords into the "Start" screen, then select its icon from the results list;

• If you are using Windows 10, access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

  

  type in the snipping tool keywords and select its icon from the results list.

Step 2. Choose the capture mode you prefer

The default functionality of the program is "Rectangular Capture". Press the down arrow button next to the "Mode" icon to access all program operating modes:

• Free format capture allows you to draw a freehand selection area using the mouse or other pointing device. The screen area enclosed in the path will be used as the subject of the screenshot;
• Rectangular capture allows you to draw a rectangular selection area that will be used as the subject of the screenshot;
• Capture window allows you to take a screenshot of the selected window;
• Capture full screen takes a screenshot of everything currently visible on your computer screen, except the mouse pointer and the Snipping Tool program window.

Step 3. Edit the edges of the image resulting from the screenshot

By default, all images captured with this program have a red border. If you wish, you can disable this feature or change its settings. Access the menu Tools of the program, choose the item Options dl pop-up menu appeared and deselect the check button "Display selection ink after capturing a snip". This way the red border will no longer appear in subsequent captures.

Step 4. Create a new screenshot

Push the button New one to start a new acquisition procedure. The screen will take on an opaque color and you will have the option to limit the selection area or to choose which window to use for the screenshot. After selecting the subject to capture, release the left mouse button for the screenshot to be generated automatically.

If you are using the Capture full screen, the image of the whole screen will be captured automatically as soon as you press the button New one.

Step 5. Add some text

After taking the screenshot it will be displayed in a new program window. You can then enter annotations using the "Pen" tool or highlight important details using the "Highlighter" feature.

To delete the content you added using the "Pen" or "Highlighter" option you can use the "Eraser" tool. You can use it without worry because it will not modify the original screenshot image in any way

Step 6. Save the image

Click the floppy disk icon to open the "Save As" dialog. Now assign a name to the file and, if necessary, change the format using the "Save as:" drop-down menu. The screenshot is now ready to be shared via email or posted on the web.

• On Windows 7 and Windows 8 systems, the default format in which a screenshot image will be saved is PNG. It is a compressed format but retains the original image quality. This means that you will get high quality images with a limited disk size. This is the recommended file format when creating screenshots.
• The-j.webp" />
• The-g.webp" />

Step 7. Copy the screenshot

By default, the image generated from the screenshot will be saved to the system "clipboard". This means that you will have the option of pasting it into other programs, such as Microsoft Paint or Word, just as you would with a traditionally captured screenshot. Using Paint you will be able to modify the image to your liking having more options available than those provided by the "Snipping Tool" program.

To paste the image saved in the system "clipboard" start the target program (remember that it will have to support the "Paste" functionality of Windows) and press the key combination Ctrl + V

Method 5 of 7: Using the Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcut

Step 1. Go to the page you want to capture

Open the program or screen you want to take a screenshot of, making sure it's clear of everything else you aren't interested in.

Step 2. Press ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + S

By doing this, your screen will become opaque, while the mouse icon will turn into a cross.

Step 3. Limit the area to be captured

Click and drag the mouse from the upper left corner of the screen you want to capture to the lower right corner.

For example, if you wanted to capture the full screen, you would click and drag the mouse from the very top left corner to the bottom right corner on the opposite side until it covers the full screen

Step 4. Release the mouse button

This captures the selected screen portion and saves the image to the system clipboard; at this point you can paste it into any program that allows you to do so.

Step 5. Paste the captured image

Open any program that supports pasting a photo from the clipboard (Paint, Word, etc.) and press Ctrl + V. The image of the screen portion captured should then appear within the software window of your choice.

• You can save the screenshot by pressing Ctrl + S, typing the name, choosing the destination folder and finally clicking on Save.
• You can paste the captured images into an email client or web-based service as well.

Method 6 of 7: Capture multiple Windows in succession

Step 1. Understand how it works

A program called "PSR.exe", integrated in almost all computers running Windows, allows you to record up to 100 different screens and save them all in a single document. It also notes where you click and the action you perform on each screen.

Step 2. Go to the home page you want to take a screenshot of

This should be the first in the sequence of pages you intend to capture.

Step 3. Open the Start menu

Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen. This will bring up the "Start" menu window.

Step 4. Open the "Run" program

Type run in the search bar and then click "Run" at the top of the window.

Step 5. Launch "PSR"

Type psr.exe in the "Run" program window.

Step 6. Click OK

It is located at the bottom of the "Run" program window. This will bring up a small rectangular toolbar at the top of the screen.

Step 7. Click Start Registration

This will activate the "User Action Recorder" which will record the next 25 screen changes.

• If you want to register more than 25 shares, first click on

  

  on the right of the bar, then click Settings and change the value for "Number of recent images captured from the screen to be archived".

Step 8. Click on the various screens

Whenever the screen changes (in addition to simply moving the mouse), the recorder will take a screenshot.

Step 9. Click Stop Recording

This will stop recording and open the results window.

Step 10. Check the screenshots

Scroll through the screenshots in the screenshot window and make sure you've captured the ones you need.

Step 11. Save the screenshots in a compressed (ZIP) folder

Click on Save at the top of the window, type the file name and finally click on Save.

This will save the screenshots in a single HTML file. To view its content, just open it in any internet browser on your computer

Method 7 of 7: Use Tablets Produced by Windows

Step 1. Access the content you want to be the subject of the screenshot

Before you can capture the screen image, you must be sure that its contents are clearly visible without obstructions of any kind. This could be a web page or a program window.

Step 2. Press and hold the key featuring the Windows logo

This is the physical button on the body of the device and not the button normally visible in the lower left corner of the Windows desktop.

If your tablet does not have the indicated button, you will need to press and hold the power button

Step 3. Press the volume down button (if you are using the "Power" button, you will need to press the volume up button)

The screen brightness will vary briefly to indicate that the screenshot was successful.

The resulting image will be automatically saved in the "Screenshots" folder which you can access by opening the "File Explorer" window and selecting the Windows "Pictures" collection. Inside the latter there will be the "Screenshot" directory

Advice

• When using Microsoft OneNote, press the key combination ⊞ Win + S to activate the ability to convert a rectangular selection area of the screen into an image that you can then use within OneNote. This procedure also works on Windows XP systems, which are not equipped with the "Snipping Tool" application.
• If you are using a laptop, the Stamp key may be encoded as an alternate function of one of the other keyboard keys. This means that you will have to press the indicated key together with the Fn function key in order to take a screenshot. Normally the latter is located in the lower left part of the keyboard.
• The Windows "Snipping Tool" program is not integrated into all versions of the operating system manufactured by Microsoft. If your version doesn't include it, you can opt for a third-party program like this one that offers the same functionality.
• If you need to post a screenshot online, make sure that the relevant file does not exceed the size limits imposed by the target site.

Warnings

• The screenshots do not include content played through Windows Media Player.
• When saving a screenshot in certain file formats (for example BMP ie bitmap images) the size occupied on disk will be considerable. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to use less expensive formats in terms of memory space, such as-p.webp" />
• The mouse pointer never appears within a screenshot.