To capture a still image while Xbox Game Bar is recording a game or app, press Windows+Alt+Print Screen. Windows saves the screenshot as a PNG in the Game Bar Captures folder, while the recording remains an MP4 in VideosCaptures. If you need a selected portion of the screen instead, use Snipping Tool with Windows+Shift+S for an image or Windows+Shift+R for a rectangular video snip.
Choose the shortcut that matches what you are capturing
| What you need | Shortcut or route | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A still of the game or app being recorded with Xbox Game Bar | Windows+Alt+Print Screen | PNG saved in the Game Bar Captures folder |
| A still image of the whole screen or a selected region | Windows+Shift+S | Snipping Tool overlay; copy, edit, save or share the snip |
| A video of a selected rectangular region | Windows+Shift+R, or Snipping Tool > Record > New | Video snip that can be saved or opened for editing |
| A full-screen image copied directly to the clipboard | Print Screen | Full-screen screenshot in the clipboard |
The Game Bar shortcut is the documented route for a screenshot of the game or app targeted by Game Bar. Snipping Tool shortcuts are separate commands, so choose them when you need a region or a separate still rather than a frame from the Game Bar target.
Take a screenshot during an Xbox Game Bar recording
- Open the target. Launch the game or app you want to record and bring the desired view to the foreground.
- Start recording. Press Windows+Alt+R. Press the same shortcut again when you want to stop. If Game Bar is not enabled, open Windows Settings, search for Xbox Game Bar, and enable the feature before recording.
- Capture the moment. While the recording is running, press Windows+Alt+Print Screen. Use the exact three-key combination; ordinary Print Screen follows a different clipboard workflow.
- Continue or stop. The screenshot does not end the recording. Continue playing or demonstrating the app, then press Windows+Alt+R to finish the clip.
- Find both files. Open File Explorer and go to your user VideosCaptures folder for the MP4 recording. Game Bar screenshots are PNG files in the Captures folder. If you changed Windows’ default video location, use the Captures location shown in Game Bar’s settings.
Game Bar also provides Windows+Alt+M to toggle the microphone during a recording. Microphone state does not change the screenshot format or destination. System-audio selection is configured in Game Bar’s Capturing settings and is separate from taking a still image.
What the recording and screenshot contain
- The PNG is a still capture of the Game Bar game-or-app target at the instant you press the screenshot shortcut.
- The video is an MP4 recording saved under VideosCaptures.
- The two files are independent: deleting or editing one does not alter the other.
- Because the shortcut targets the app selected by Game Bar, it is not a guarantee that every desktop window, protected surface or unusual app can be captured.
Use Snipping Tool for a selected still while recording
Use Snipping Tool when the useful image is only part of the display, such as a dialog, chart or browser region. Press Windows+Shift+S to open the snipping overlay, then choose the rectangular, freeform, window or full-screen mode shown by your Windows installation. Select the area, and use the notification or Snipping Tool window to annotate, copy, save or share it.
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This is a separate image workflow from Game Bar. Depending on the app and Windows version, opening an overlay can affect what is visible for a moment, so it should not be described as a universal way to capture an uninterrupted frame from every recording program. If preserving the exact Game Bar target is the priority, use Windows+Alt+Print Screen instead.
Save and organize the snip
- Press Windows+Shift+S and select the desired region.
- Click the preview notification to open the result in Snipping Tool.
- Crop or annotate if needed.
- Choose the save command and select a folder and image format offered by your installation.
- Use a descriptive name such as
checkout-error-2026-09-30.pngso the still can be matched to the recording later.
Snipping Tool’s image workflow supports editing and sharing. Its exact save prompt and notification behavior can vary with Windows updates, so rely on the controls displayed on your device rather than assuming a fixed automatic folder.
Record a selected region with Snipping Tool
For a video of only a rectangular portion of the screen, press Windows+Shift+R. Select the rectangle, start the recording, and stop it from the Snipping Tool controls. You can also open Snipping Tool, choose Record, and select New. Save the resulting video snip when prompted or open it for editing in Clipchamp if that option is offered.
This is useful when the recording itself should exclude the taskbar, a second monitor or private information. It is not the same as pressing Windows+Alt+Print Screen: the latter takes a still of the Game Bar game-or-app target, whereas Windows+Shift+R starts a selected-region video workflow.
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Where Windows saves screenshots and recordings
| Capture | Documented format | Documented location or handling |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Bar screenshot | PNG | Captures folder |
| Xbox Game Bar recording | MP4 | VideosCaptures |
| Snipping Tool still | Image format offered by Snipping Tool | Copy, edit, save or share through the Snipping Tool workflow |
| Snipping Tool region recording | Video snip | Save from Snipping Tool; optional editing in Clipchamp |
| Print Screen | Not saved automatically by the shortcut | Copied to the clipboard; paste into an image editor or document |
If you cannot find a Game Bar file, open File Explorer and check the user Videos folder and its Captures subfolder. Also check whether your Windows account or Game Bar settings redirect the capture location. A screenshot made with Print Screen will not appear there because that shortcut places the image on the clipboard.
Audio, microphone and keyboard details
- Microphone: press Windows+Alt+M during Game Bar recording to turn the microphone on or off.
- System audio: configure the system-audio option in Game Bar’s Capturing settings before recording. This setting controls the movie’s audio, not the PNG screenshot.
- Print Screen key: a standard external keyboard is optional. The documented shortcuts work with the Windows key and Print Screen key available on the device; compact keyboards may place Print Screen behind an Fn layer.
- Clipboard captures: if you use ordinary Print Screen, paste immediately into Paint or another editor if you need a file.
Troubleshooting common failures
The shortcut does nothing
Confirm that you are pressing Windows+Alt+Print Screen, not Windows+Shift+S or Windows+Alt+R. Verify Xbox Game Bar is enabled and that the target app is the active Game Bar target. On a compact keyboard, try the manufacturer’s Fn combination for Print Screen. If you only need a region, use Windows+Shift+S instead.
The screenshot is missing from Captures
Check the user VideosCaptures folder and search File Explorer for recent .png files. A screenshot made with ordinary Print Screen is in the clipboard, not in Captures. A Snipping Tool image follows its save workflow and may be in a folder you selected.
The video is present but the still is not
The recording and screenshot commands are independent. Stop and retry Windows+Alt+Print Screen while the app is visibly active. If the app does not support the Game Bar capture target, use Snipping Tool for a still region, while recognizing that its overlay may briefly change the visible screen.
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The wrong area was captured
Game Bar captures its game-or-app target, not an arbitrary rectangle. For a precise area, press Windows+Shift+S and drag around the required content. For a video rectangle, press Windows+Shift+R.
The recording has no microphone audio
Press Windows+Alt+M to check the microphone toggle during recording, and review Game Bar’s Capturing settings before starting another clip. Microphone and system-audio settings are separate.
Windows looks different from these steps
Microsoft introduced Snipping Tool screen recording for Windows 11 devices in 2023, and labels can change with Windows updates. Look for Record and New in Snipping Tool when the shortcut is unavailable. The documented Game Bar and Snipping Tool actions remain distinct even when the interface is rearranged.
Performance and workflow tips
- Practice the three-key Game Bar screenshot shortcut before a live demonstration so you do not open the wrong overlay.
- Keep the game or app in the foreground and avoid switching windows immediately before pressing the capture shortcut.
- Use a consistent naming scheme for separately saved Snipping Tool images, with the recording date and a short event description.
- Capture several stills during a long recording rather than relying on a single frame you may later struggle to locate.
- For privacy, use Snipping Tool’s rectangle to exclude notifications, unrelated windows and personal data before sharing.
- Leave enough free storage for the MP4; screenshots are separate PNG files and do not replace the recording.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Can I take more than one screenshot during a recording?
Yes. Press Windows+Alt+Print Screen whenever you want another Game Bar still; each capture is a separate PNG.
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Which shortcut records a rectangle instead of taking a still?
Windows+Shift+R starts Snipping Tool’s selected-rectangle video workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take more than one screenshot during a recording?
Yes. Press Windows+Alt+Print Screen whenever you want another Game Bar still; each capture is a separate PNG.
Does Windows+Shift+S save directly to Captures?
No. It opens Snipping Tool’s image workflow, where you copy, edit, save or share the snip.
Which shortcut records a rectangle instead of taking a still?
Windows+Shift+R starts Snipping Tool’s selected-rectangle video workflow.
Quick Recap
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