Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On a Dell XPS 13 running Windows 10 or Windows 11, press Windows+Shift+S to open Snipping Tool, choose a capture mode, and select what you need. The image is copied to the clipboard and can be edited or saved from the Snipping Tool notification. For a full-screen file saved automatically, press Windows+PrtScn; Windows puts it in PicturesScreenshots.
Use Alt+PrtScn when you want only the focused window copied to the clipboard. The exact Print Screen key position varies by XPS 13 generation and keyboard layout, so use the Windows+Shift+S method if you cannot identify it.
Pick the shortcut for the result you want
| What you need | Shortcut | Initial result | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A selected rectangle, freeform shape, window, or full screen | Windows+Shift+S | Copied to the clipboard; a notification opens Snipping Tool | Click the notification to annotate and save, or paste immediately with Ctrl+V |
| The entire display saved as an image | Windows+PrtScn | Saved automatically | PicturesScreenshots |
| Only the active window | Alt+PrtScn | Copied to the clipboard | Paste with Ctrl+V into Paint, an email, a document, or another image editor |
| Print Screen on a keyboard without a PrtScn key | Fn+Windows logo key+Space Bar | Windows print-screen capture behavior | Follow the resulting Snipping Tool or clipboard workflow |
These are Windows features rather than Dell-only functions. Microsoft documents the procedures for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its Snipping Tool guide and screen-copy instructions.
Use Windows+Shift+S for a precise selection
- Arrange the screen exactly as you want it captured. Close private information and move the pointer if it obscures content.
- Press Windows+Shift+S. A capture toolbar appears at the top of the display.
- Choose a mode: rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, or full-screen snip. Availability and icons can look slightly different after Windows updates.
- For a rectangular snip, drag from one corner to the opposite corner. For freeform, draw around the area. For window mode, select the window; for full-screen mode, select the display.
- Windows copies the result to the clipboard. Select the notification that appears to open it in Snipping Tool.
- Use Snipping Tool’s markup tools if needed, then select the save control and choose a folder, filename, and image format. If you only need to insert it elsewhere, press Ctrl+V in the destination app instead.
When the toolbar does not appear
Press the keys together rather than one at a time and release them after the overlay opens. If the shortcut still does nothing, open Start and search for Snipping Tool, then choose New. You can also check whether the Print Screen setting has been reassigned; the relevant Windows path is Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Microsoft describes that setting and shortcut behavior in its Windows keyboard-shortcut reference.
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Save a whole-screen screenshot directly to a file
- Press Windows+PrtScn. On an XPS 13 keyboard, the Print Screen function may share a key or be indicated by a secondary legend.
- Wait briefly for the display to dim or otherwise acknowledge the capture.
- Open File Explorer and browse to PicturesScreenshots. Microsoft lists that folder as the default destination.
- Open, rename, move, or share the image like any other file. If OneDrive is backing up your Pictures folder, the physical path may be inside your OneDrive folder instead.
If Windows+PrtScn does not create a file, use Windows+Shift+S and choose full-screen mode, then save from the notification. Print Screen behavior can be changed in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, so a setting change can explain why the key now opens snipping instead of saving automatically.
Copy only the active window
- Click the window you want so it has focus. A window behind another app will not be selected by this method.
- Press Alt+PrtScn. The capture goes to the clipboard; no file is created yet.
- Open Paint, Word, an email composer, or another app that accepts images.
- Press Ctrl+V, then save or send the pasted image from that app.
This is useful for documenting an error dialog or a single application without exposing the rest of the desktop.
Find the Print Screen key on different XPS 13 keyboards
Dell has shipped multiple XPS 13 generations and regional keyboard layouts. The sources do not establish one universal key location, so inspect the legends on your own keyboard for PrtSc, PrtScn, or a camera/screen-print symbol. It may be a secondary function that requires Fn. If your keyboard has no Print Screen marking, Microsoft documents Fn+Windows logo key+Space Bar as an alternative. You can avoid key-location uncertainty entirely with Windows+Shift+S.
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Clipboard versus saved-file captures
- Clipboard: Windows+Shift+S and Alt+PrtScn place the image in temporary clipboard storage. Paste it before replacing the clipboard with another copy operation.
- Saved file: Windows+PrtScn writes directly to PicturesScreenshots. Windows+Shift+S also becomes a file once you open the notification and choose Save.
- Editing: Snipping Tool can annotate a snip before saving. For extensive edits, paste into Paint or your preferred editor.
Capture several monitors or a high-DPI display
Full-screen mode can include the display or displays represented by the selected capture option. In a multi-monitor setup, use rectangular or window snip when you need one monitor or one application rather than the entire desktop. Windows captures the pixels currently rendered, including scaling and magnification; it does not create a higher-resolution image than the display output.
Troubleshooting common failures
Nothing happens when I press Windows+Shift+S
- Confirm the Windows key is not disabled by a keyboard utility or game mode.
- Open Start, launch Snipping Tool, and choose New to verify the app works.
- Check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard for Print Screen reassignment, then restart Snipping Tool or Windows if the overlay is stuck.
The screenshot is not in PicturesScreenshots
Only Windows+PrtScn is expected to save there automatically. Windows+Shift+S and Alt+PrtScn initially use the clipboard. For those methods, open the notification and save manually, or paste into an editor and save. Also check whether your Pictures folder is redirected to OneDrive.
Alt+PrtScn captured the wrong thing
The shortcut captures the window with keyboard focus. Click the target window first, then repeat the shortcut. If menus or transient tooltips disappear before capture, use Windows+Shift+S and select the area instead.
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My XPS 13 has no visible PrtScn key
Look for a secondary legend and try the keyboard’s Fn modifier. Microsoft also lists Fn+Windows logo key+Space Bar for devices without a Print Screen key. Windows+Shift+S remains the simplest key-independent workflow.
The capture is black or missing protected video
Some video players and protected-content windows deliberately block screen capture. Try capturing surrounding interface elements, use the application’s own export feature, or consult the content owner’s permitted workflow; changing Windows shortcuts will not remove a content-protection restriction.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The image looks blurry
A screenshot records the rendered pixels. Increase the application’s zoom or Windows display scale before capturing, or capture the source asset directly when you need a high-resolution graphic. Avoid repeatedly resizing a compressed image.
Rank #4
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- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE - Powered by a Snapdragon X Elite (12 Core Dual-Core Boost up to 4GHz, NPU up to 45 TOPS) X1E-80-100 Processor for superior efficiency and speed, 32GB of 8448MT/s LPDDR5x RAM for seamless multitasking, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage and reduced load times, ensuring smooth and responsive performance for all your tasks
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- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY - Features a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for enhanced productivity. Equipped with 2 x USB4 40Gbps USB Type-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery for versatile connectivity. Includes Wi-Fi 7(802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast, reliable wireless performance
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Or skip the browser setup
If what you need is a screenshot of a website rather than your XPS 13 desktop, ScreenshotNeo returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF from one request. It is a web-capture service, so it does not replace the Windows shortcuts above; it automates repeatable URL captures for scripts and AI agents.
The call below uses the documented API; see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for all parameters.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpimport requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);Before capture, ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
Privacy and accessibility checks before sharing
- Review the image for passwords, notification previews, customer data, and browser tabs before sending it.
- Use a descriptive filename such as xps13-wifi-error-2026-09-30.png so others can identify the incident.
- For support tickets, include the application name, Windows version, and the shortcut used; this helps reproduce clipboard-versus-file differences.
- If a colleague cannot read small text, crop to the relevant area and annotate it rather than sending a full, scaled-down desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I screenshot the Windows sign-in screen on an XPS 13?
Most ordinary screenshot shortcuts are unavailable before you sign in. Photograph the screen with another device, or use an approved remote-management or diagnostic tool provided by your organization.
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How do I capture a scrolling webpage or document?
The Windows shortcuts capture the visible rendered area. Use the application’s built-in full-page or export function, or capture successive sections and combine them in an editor.
Which image format should I choose when saving a snip?
PNG is usually best for text and interface screenshots because it preserves sharp edges. JPEG can be smaller for photographic content; choose it only when the resulting compression is acceptable.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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