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Best Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11

Use Windows key+Shift+S for a selected screenshot, Windows key+PrtScn for a full-screen file, or Windows key+Shift+R to record a screen region.
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For a selected screenshot, press Windows key+Shift+S. For a full-screen image saved directly as a file, press Windows key+PrtScn; to record a screen region, press Windows key+Shift+R. Snipping Tool also has shortcuts for repeating, delaying, copying, and saving a capture.

What is the shortcut for Snipping Tool?

The main Windows shortcut for a still screenshot is Windows key+Shift+S. It opens the screen-snipping overlay, where you select an area. Windows copies the result to the clipboard; select the notification that appears to open it in Snipping Tool for editing or saving.

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These Windows-level shortcuts launch a capture workflow. The Alt and Ctrl shortcuts later in this guide work inside the Snipping Tool app. Availability of app features can differ by Windows version and app build, so update Snipping Tool if a documented shortcut does not work as expected.

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Choose a shortcut by task

Task Shortcut What happens
Capture a selected area Windows key+Shift+S Opens the screenshot selection overlay; the capture is copied to the clipboard.
Record a screen region Windows key+Shift+R Opens the video capture overlay. Microsoft says the default recording format is MP4 and the default folder is VideosScreen Recordings.
Save a full-screen screenshot Windows key+PrtScn Captures the full screen and saves the image in PicturesScreenshots.
Open screen snipping with Print Screen PrtScn Works when enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
Take a screenshot without a PrtScn key Fn+Windows key+Space Bar Microsoft suggests this alternative for some devices without a Print Screen button.

On some keyboards, the Print Screen key is labelled PrtSc, PrtScn, or similar, and may require holding Fn. The key combination and behavior can vary by device.

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How do I take a screenshot on Windows?

Capture a selected area

  1. Press Windows key+Shift+S.
  2. Choose a snipping shape if the overlay offers the choice, then select the part of the screen you need.
  3. Use the notification to open the capture in Snipping Tool if you want to annotate, crop, save, or share it. Otherwise, paste the clipboard image into the app or document where you need it.

Snipping Tool capture modes include freeform, rectangle, window, and full screen. Which modes and controls are available can depend on your Windows version and Snipping Tool build.

Capture the entire screen to a file

Press Windows key+PrtScn. Windows saves the full-screen image in PicturesScreenshots, rather than requiring you to open the snipping overlay and select an area.

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Use the Print Screen key to launch snipping

To make PrtScn open screen snipping, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on the Print Screen shortcut option. If this setting is enabled, pressing PrtScn may open the selection overlay instead of performing the key’s previous capture behavior.

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How do I screen record with Snipping Tool?

Press Windows key+Shift+R to open the video-snipping overlay. Select a rectangular area of the screen and start recording. Microsoft’s Windows keyboard-shortcuts guidance says recordings are saved by default as MP4 files in VideosScreen Recordings. Video capture controls and availability may vary by Windows version and app build.

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Which shortcuts work inside Snipping Tool?

After opening Snipping Tool, use these app shortcuts for capture setup and file handling:

Shortcut Action When it helps
Alt+M Choose a snipping mode Switch among available capture types.
Alt+N Start a new snip in the last-used mode Repeat a capture without choosing its mode again.
Shift+arrow keys Move among snip types Navigate capture-type choices.
Alt+D Set a delay of 1–5 seconds Capture a menu or other interface that disappears when you interact with it.
Ctrl+C Copy the snip Put the current capture on the clipboard.
Ctrl+S Save the snip Open the save workflow for the capture.

Where are Snipping Tool screenshots saved?

A capture made with Windows key+Shift+S is copied to the clipboard; use its notification to open the image in Snipping Tool and save it. A full-screen capture made with Windows key+PrtScn is saved in PicturesScreenshots. Video snips are saved by default in VideosScreen Recordings, according to Microsoft’s Windows shortcut documentation.

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Which shortcut should you use?

  • Selected still image: Windows key+Shift+S.
  • Full-screen image saved as a file: Windows key+PrtScn.
  • Screen recording: Windows key+Shift+R.
  • Capture a menu that vanishes quickly: In Snipping Tool, set Alt+D delay before taking the snip.
  • No Print Screen key: Try Fn+Windows key+Space Bar on a supported keyboard.

For the current Windows-specific key behavior, see Microsoft’s Keyboard shortcuts in Windows and Keyboard shortcut for print screen. Microsoft’s Snipping Tool capture guide covers screenshot capture, while Copy the window or screen contents explains clipboard capture.

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