Screenshots are the quickest way to capture anything on your display. We take Screenshots to capture important information or moments on screen, share them with others, and save them for future reference.
Fortunately, grabbing a screenshot on Windows 11 is quite straightforward. And you’ll find the 4 fastest methods in this article.
How to Capture a Screenshot in Windows 11
You can use various ways to take screenshots on Windows 11, like keyboard shortcuts, built-in tools, Xbox game bar, or any 3rd-party app.
This section will show you the quickest way to take snapshots on your Windows 11 PC. Luckily you can also use all these methods to take screenshots on Windows 10 PCs.
Let’s see how these methods work:
1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows 11 has several built-in keyboard shortcuts to snap screenshots quickly. And by default, your PC saves the screenshots in the Pictures folder.
But laptop brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer have separate keyboard layouts based on size, region, and model. So you need to find the PrtSc on your keyboard keys if you are using a laptop.
Also, for some laptops pressing the FN/function key is required to access the PrtSc button. But the keyboard shortcuts are the same for all laptops with Windows 11 operating systems.
Use the keyboard shortcut from the table to take screenshots on your PC:
| Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| PrtSc | The key captures your entire screen and stores that in the clipboard. You can immediately paste that snapshot to an image editing program like Paint or a document app. |
| Windows + PrtSc | It takes a screenshot of your entire screen and saves it to the Pictures\Screenshots folder as a JPEG. |
| Windows + Shift + S | The keys open a Popup window to take a custom snapshot of a specific area on your screen. |
| Windows + G; Windows + ALT + PrtSc | Those keys open the game bar and save the SS into the Pictures\Screenshots folder. |
Usually, the snapshots are saved in the Pictures folder by default. But you can move them to a different location to organize them.
You can use these keyboard shortcuts to take screenshots on the screen. But sometimes the PrtSc key on your keyboard doesn’t work on Windows 11. In that case, move to the next method.
2. Use Snipping Tool
Every Windows PC has a Snapping Tool application for taking screenshots. With the help of this tool, you can capture the whole window as well as a certain area of your screen.
Follow the steps to take a snapshot using Snipping Tool:
- Press the Windows key and type Snipping.
- Click the Snipping tool from the search result.
- Click on your chosen mode from the Mode icon.
- Click New to start a new capture.
After completing the steps, you can save the picture to your destination folder using the Save As icon. If you don’t want to use the print screen button, you can use this method to capture screenshots.
3. Use Xbox Game Bar
Xbox Game Bar is a great way to take snapshots in-game. You can also use this app to take screenshots of your screen without playing a game.
To take screenshots using Xbox Game Bar, follow the steps below:
- Type the Xbox game bar in the Windows Search and select it from the result.
- Click on the Capture icon in the toolbar and select the Camera icon.
- Go to the Picture > Screenshot folder.
In the Screenshot folder, you will see all the screenshots you took on your PC. You can also move them if you like.
Read more on how to turn on or off Sticky keys in Windows 11.
4. Use Third-party Applications
When you want more advanced screenshot-taking options, like annotating or editing your snapshot, the built-in Windows tool won’t fulfill your needs. In that case, you should consider using a third-party screenshot tool.
Many free and paid options are available online, but I’ve found the FastStone tool simpler with various advanced features.
Follow the steps to capture snapshots using the FastStone Capture application:
- Download and install FastStone Capture.
- Open the FastStone software.
- Click on the capture mode icon from the app interface.
- Tap the Save As option to save the snapshot as an image.
There are also other cheaper or free apps available to take screenshots. You can try them if you like.
How to Capture Webpage Screenshots in Windows 11
When you need a full webpage screenshot as a document on your Windows 11 PC, the built-in Windows tools aren’t enough; you must use some add-on form in the extension store in that situation.
Various add-ons like FireShot, Awesome Screenshot, etc., are available in extension stores on both Google Chrome and Firefox browsers. You can choose any of them, but I’ve found Awesome Screenshot is the easiest.
Follow these steps to take the whole web page screenshots:
- Open your browser and go to the Awesome Screenshot add-on download page.
- Click Add to chrome option twice and wait to complete the installation.
- Tap the extension and click Capture > Full Page.
- Select Done after reviewing the capture.
- Click the Download option to save the picture.
After completing the steps, you will see the whole web page as a JPG or PNG file in the saved location.
Check out our separate post to use clipboard History in Windows 11.
FAQs
Where is the screenshot stored on Windows 11?
By default, all your snapshots are saved in the Pictures\Screenshots folder. From there, you can move your chosen SS if you like.
Why is PrtSc not working?
Usually, the PrtSc stops working for outdated keyboard drivers. So if you face this issue, hover over to the device manager and update keyboard drivers.
Does Windows 11 have a Snipping Tool?
Yes, the Windows 11 operating system has a Snipping Tool. You can find it by scrolling the start menu apps or using the Windows Search option.
Conclusion
Windows 11 makes capturing screenshots quicker than ever before. Whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts using the Snipping Tool or other third-party apps, Windows 11 has various options to capture snapshots easily.
After completing the article, I’m sure you can capture screenshots on a Windows 11 PC. Comment which one you’ve used among those methods.
Peace!
