Whether you’re trying to help your parents navigate through their PC Settings, capture statistics from a web page, or save a trending post on LinkedIn; screenshots can come in handy to do the job in no time. Microsoft’s desktop operating system, Windows 11, offers several ways to capture, upload, and annotate screenshots.
If taking desktop screenshots is an essential part of your workflow, read along to learn the best ways to capture screenshots on Windows 11. You can use Windows 11’s built-in tools or go with third-party apps to take screenshots and unlock more functionalities for a smoother workflow. Let’s first start with the default methods.
How to zoom in and out on Windows 10 and 11
Controlling the zoom on Windows is quite easy, and there are a few ways you may do it
The OG way to take a Windows screenshot: Use the Print Screen key (Prt Sc)
It’s one of the most straightforward ways to take screenshots on Windows 11. Look for the print screen key (Prt Sc) key on your keyboard and press it to capture the screenshot. The system saves the screenshot on the clipboard. You can paste (Ctrl+V) it to an image editing app or send it in an email and messaging app like WhatsApp.
If the trick doesn’t work, press the Windows + Prt Sc keys. The screen flashes for a second and takes a screenshot. Your snapshots are under the Pictures > Screenshots folder in the File Explorer menu.
The placement of the print screen key can vary based on your laptop keyboard. The Prt Sc key is placed at the top on our HP Specter keyboard. It is beside the spacebar on Lenovo ThinkPads. If you use a mechanical keyboard, look for it beside the Delete key.
With the latest Windows 11 update, Microsoft is changing the print screen key behavior. It now launches the Snipping Tool to take freeform screenshots. You can use the steps below to revert the change.
How to capture an active window
The trick above captures a screenshot of your entire screen. You may need to crop unnecessary parts if you work with several apps simultaneously. Instead, pressAlt+Prt Sc, capture the active app window only, and exclude the taskbar and start menu from the image.
How to save your screenshots
By default, Windows saves screenshots on the clipboard. You can also pressWindows+Prt Scto save screenshots in the PNG file format in thePictures>Screenshotsfolder.
Use the Windows Snipping Tool app for a quick screenshot of video
If you want to capture a specific part of the screen and annotate it before sharing, use the Snipping Tool. Let’s check it in action.
PressWindows+Shift+Sto launch the Snipping Tool. You have several options to choose from at the top.
Snipping Tool features
Snipping Tool also comes with several useful features. Let’s quickly check them out.
Set a time delay
Open Snipping Tool on Windows and click theclock iconat the top to set a 3-second, 5-second, and 10-second delay. ClickNew, and the Snipping Tool appears after the selected time.
Screen recorder
Apart from screenshots, Snipping Tool also lets you record a video on Windows 11. Select theVideoiconand clickNewto start recording a video. Select the screen you want to record and clickStartat the top.
Add a border to each screenshot
Do you prefer to add a border to each screenshot? You can automate the same in the Snipping Tool. Here’s what you need to do.
Annotation in Snipping Tool
When you take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool, you receive a notification from the system. Click it to open the editing tools.
You can crop and rotate an image and use the highlighter and pen tool to point out specific details. ClickRulerto draw straight lines using the pen tool. Once you make relevant changes, click theSaveAs iconat the top to save it on your PC.
Get a screngrab using the Game Bar in Windows
While it’s designed to capture your victories in action games, you’re able to use Windows 11’s Xbox Game Bar tool to take full-screen screenshots.
Use a third-party app like Snagit to take a screenshot in Windows
The Windows ecosystem is packed with capable screenshot tools to choose from.Snagitis a popular way to take screenshots and record videos like a pro on the desktop. You can create several presets with custom keyboard shortcuts and explore powerful editing features to take screenshots like a pro.
The software comes with a 30-day free trial, and after that, you must pay $63 for a single license that includes a year of maintenance.
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Share your screen content on Windows
Most users should be fine with the Snipping Tool on Windows 10 or 11. If you are a power user, try advanced solutions like Snagit. Like Windows, Android also has abuilt-in way to take screenshots. You can read our dedicated post to learn more. If you have a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel phone, you can alsocreate a GIF from a video.
