Learning how to take a screenshot on Windows systems is the simplest way to preserve or share whatsoever visual content from a website, program, or video game. You can take information technology and ship information technology via email, social media, or file-sharing sites with but a few clicks.

This article will show y'all how to screen-capture any webpage, plan, and even full-screen video games using a broad variety of methods. Yous'll learn how to capture non only static screenshots simply too tape videos.

We'll also explore the differences in screenshotting betwixt the most contempo Windows versions: 7, 8, and 10.

Check Out Our Video Guide to Taking a Screenshot on Windows (seven, 8, 10)

The Basic Windows Method: Print Screen Key

This method works on any version of Windows, including Windows XP and 95.

Standard keyboards for Windows computers include a defended key to capture your screen. It looks something similar this:

Print screen key on the keyboard,
The PrtSc central on the keyboard.

The print screen key says "Print Screen," "PrtSc," or "PrtScn," depending on your keyboard and country. It's typically in the top right corner abreast the final F12 key.

Note: On some newer keyboards, particularly on laptops, you need to hold down the "Fn" or "Function"  primal while pressing "PrtSc" to capture the screen.

When you use this method, the OS copies the entire screen automatically to the clipboard. From there, yous can directly paste it into an e-mail, social media platform, or messaging app. Y'all tin can even starting time editing it in an prototype editing software similar Photoshop or even MS Paint.

A basic full screen screenshot in Windows.
A basic total-screen screenshot in Windows.

Annotation: One disadvantage of using this method is that information technology automatically captures the entire screen, including the toolbar and tab bar of your screen. Manually cropping tin can atomic number 82 to inconsistent screenshot sizes.

Apace capture any webpage, program, and even full-screen video games in Windows with help from this guide 📸 Click to Tweet

How to Save and Share the Screenshot

I of the easiest ways to save a screenshot taken with the impress screen key is to paste it into your photo editing software of choice. For example, you lot can apply Microsoft Pigment, which comes free with all relevant versions of Windows.

Open Pigment and printing Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot. Yous can as well right-click and select Paste from the dropdown menu.

Screenshot in MS Paint.
Screenshot in MS Paint.

From at that place, you lot tin can edit the file every bit you want before saving it (Ctrl + S) in the image format you prefer.

If yous employ Windows 10, you can besides use Pigment 3D. Only if you want to use a more powerful image editor, we recommend a specialized tool.

Information technology'south also possible to paste the screenshot straight into an email or a social media message.

Inserting a screenshot in Gmail.
Inserting a screenshot in Gmail.

It's one of the fastest ways to share what's on your screen without jumping on a telephone call. Press the print screen key, paste it in, press Ship, and it's on its way.

If you desire more control over your screenshots, like capturing a tab, yous can utilize the built-in Windows "Snipping Tool" or other third-party apps or software.

That style, you won't take to crop away the toolbar or other elements manually.

How to Take Screenshots in Windows 7, 8, 10 with the Snipping Tool

All contempo versions of Windows, including vii, 8, and x, include the Snipping Tool. You can hands open it by searching for information technology in the toolbar search.

Printing the Windows key to open the toolbar and spring to Windows search. Alternately, you lot can likewise use the Windows + S shortcut to summon Windows search. However, note that in Windows seven, you must manually select the search field before you tin can blazon out the keyword. Type in "Snipping Tool" and press Enter.

Note: At that place's no keyboard shortcut to open the Snipping Tool. It would be all-time if you did that manually. In Windows x, the updated version of this app tin can be opened with a shortcut—more on that afterwards.

The Snipping Tool in Window's Start menu.
The Snipping Tool in Window's Beginning card.

Pressing the Enter fundamental after typing the right phrase will open up the program automatically.

It has various modes, including costless-form screenshots, but the basic form is a rectangular screenshot shape. But at least information technology gives you more flexibility than just pressing the print screen key.

Once you initiate the "Snipping" by clicking the "New" button, the whole screen goes gray. You tin can and so select the expanse you lot want to capture and save.

Windows Snipping Tool screenshot example.
Windows Snipping Tool.

Yous can now edit the screenshot with the pen, highlighter, and eraser tools. It also offers a few unique options compared to copying and pasting something into Paint, such as the Delay mode for taking delayed (timed) screenshots. You can likewise highlight something in the screenshot and email it directly from the Snipping Tool.

One time it's open, you can also use many shortcuts to piece of work faster.

In the table below, nosotros break downward all the keyboard shortcuts (but available after opening the Snipping Tool):

Keyboard Shortcut What It Does
Ctrl + PrtScn / Alt + North Takes a new screenshot with the Snipping Tool app (when it'due south open).
Alt + M Changes between different modes (free-form, rectangular, window, and full-screen).
Alt + D Sets a delay for the screenshot.
CTRL + Due south Saves the screenshot.
CTRL + C Copies the screenshot to your clipboard.

One characteristic we miss is the ability to take multiple screenshots with an identically sized and placed window.

All in all, information technology's non a life-changing screenshotting app by any stretch of the imagination, just it's sufficient for principal apply.

How to Take Windows 10 Screenshots with Snip & Sketch Tool

In Windows 10, you also have access to the new and slightly improved Snip & Sketch app.

Yous can open information technology in the aforementioned style by searching the menu or employ the built-in shortcut: Shift + Windows + S.

That'll automatically open up the app bill of fare for taking a screen snip. As well, hither, you tin can choose from window, gratis-form, full-screen, or rectangle options for your snapshot.

Windows Snip & Sketch tool.
Windows Snip & Sketch tool.

With the window snip option, it doesn't automatically capture the active window. You can switch tabs with Alt + Tab and so click the specific window you desire to capture.

Compared to the original version, at that place's been a few changes:

  • Screenshots automatically save to the dashboard (including changes you make, like highlights or annotations).
  • Automatically add outlines to snips—helpful for partial screenshots.
  • Share the screenshot via WiFi or Bluetooth.
  • Change the settings, and so the PrtScn button opens Snip & Sketch automatically.
  • You lot tin no longer set a delay for the screenshot to happen afterwards.

Want to upload these screenshots to your website to spice upwards your latest blog post?

By default, the PNG format files saved by Windows screenshotting software are unnecessarily big. One time you've taken and edited these screenshots, you should brand sure to optimize the images for the spider web.

If yous want some extra features, like more powerful editing, automatic spider web optimization, or full-page website captures, y'all'll need to employ a third-party tool.

How to Screenshot Tabs and Entire WebPages in Google Chrome

Google Chrome doesn't come with built-in screenshotting functionality, but there are plenty of great, costless extensions bachelor.

Simply get to the Chrome Web Store and search for "screenshot," filter the upshot by extensions, and you'll run into for yourself. You can and so choose from dozens of chrome extensions for screenshotting webpages.

Screenshot extensions in Chrome Web Store.
Chrome Web Shop screenshot extensions.

There are and so many options that it tin be hard to choose. To make things simple, nosotros recommend whatsoever of the following:

  • Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder
  • Crawly Screenshot & Screen Recorder
  • LightShot (static screenshots only)

All of these tools go way beyond what y'all can do with Snip & Sketch. For example, you can capture a full-page screenshot instead of simply the visible part with each of these.

In Crawly Screenshot, you tin can even use a Ctrl + Shift + E shortcut or manually open the menu to do this.

Awesome Screenshot's menu in Chrome.
Awesome Screenshot's menu in Chrome.

If you're wondering what that looks like, have a peek at this full-screen capture of our homepage: one continuous shot perfectly representing what our site looks like in a browser. It'due south an easy fashion to share what a test site on a local server seems similar if at that place are errors that don't evidence upwards in staging.

A full-page screenshot of the Kinsta homepage.
A full-page screenshot of the Kinsta homepage (click for bigger prototype).

Another practical feature is that you lot tin can screenshot just the contents of any particular tab. That means you don't have to crop out your 90+ tab windows or the total URL to your secret certificate.

In Crawly Screenshot, the shortcut for this is Ctrl + Shift + Five.

It also ways you can take screenshots with identical dimensions across multiple dissimilar pages. That'south perfect if you use screenshots equally office of your blogging or content marketing and want to keep your visuals consequent.

Plus, about of these extensions, including Awesome Screenshot, come with a better image editor than what you'll observe natively in Windows.

You can, for example, mistiness out parts of the image, add in shapes, arrows, text boxes, and more than. And these options are all available in the free versions.

Awesome Screenshot's editor.
Awesome Screenshot's editor.

These features brand information technology easy to edit and ready tutorial-style screenshots to include in a how-to blog mail service.

(And if you want to get an even more productive blogger, check out our list of the best Chrome extensions for WordPress users.)

How to Screenshot in Microsoft Edge (Total Page)

1 interesting matter about Microsoft Border is that the latest version has congenital-in screenshotting.

You don't need to install whatsoever boosted plugins. Merely open up upwards the browser, and start taking screenshots. Utilise the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S to open the "Web Capture" overlay.

Yous tin then choose between gratuitous selection or capture the whole page.

Microsoft Edge menu showing the location of
Microsoft Edge menu showing the location of the "Web capture" option.

The full-folio capture doesn't rely on multiple partial screenshots and scrolling. So a floating bar won't ruin your screenshot.

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Once you lot've captured the folio, you lot can then utilize the available draw and erase tools to highlight items on the folio or make annotations.

A full-page screenshot in Edge.
A total-folio screenshot in Border.

Beyond that, y'all can share, copy, or salvage the screenshot (the default screenshots binder is /User/Downloads/).

The features are rudimentary, but the tool works perfectly to share a webpage with a friend or coworker.

How to Screenshot a Game (or Anything Else) with Xbox Game Bar

In Windows x, the Xbox Game Bar is installed and active by default (even if yous don't own an Xbox). Yous can open it at any time by pressing the Windows fundamental + G.

Although it was congenital into Windows as a feature to screenshot and record video games, it works just likewise for capturing movies, websites, or the content of any other program.

Afterwards opening the Xbox Game Bar, you tin either press the camera button in the top-left corner or have a screenshot without opening the menu by pressing the print screen shortcut keys: Windows key + Alt + PrtScn.

Xbox Game Bar Terraria screenshot.
Xbox Game Bar Terraria screenshot.

Once you open up the Game Bar, you can evidence recent screenshots by clicking the "Show all captures" push button.

Xbox Game Bar screenshot gallery.
Xbox Game Bar screenshot gallery.

From hither, you lot tin can browse and share all recent screenshots on Twitter. There's fifty-fifty a super basic "meme editor" that lets you add a big block text to the elevation and bottom.

The Xbox Game Bar saves files to the /User/Videos/Captures/ binder by default. It has some unique features, similar the ability to scale the screenshots up to 4K.

Notation: You don't take to be playing a video game to utilise the Game Bar to take screenshots.

How to Screenshot in PowerPoint

If you have the latest version of PowerPoint in Windows x, it supports capturing screenshots.

Instead of using the PrtScn key and pasting information technology in, you can capture other windows while inside PowerPoint.

Taking a screenshot through PowerPoint.
Taking a screenshot through PowerPoint.

Information technology volition automatically insert a screenshot of the window you choose into the slide. If it's a full-sized window, it'll cover the entire page.

The newer versions of PowerPoint ship with a adequately powerful image editor. Y'all tin can change colors, saturation, and even remove the groundwork with a magic wand.

You tin also customize the screenshot with shapes, borders, and text inside PowerPoint and salvage the slide as an prototype.

Editing a PowerPoint screenshot.
Editing a PowerPoint screenshot.

Combined, that probably makes PowerPoint the nigh stiff official Microsoft screenshotting tool.

How to Screenshot with LightShot (and Other Third-Party Apps)

Lightshot is a lightweight—surprise—and easy-to-use screenshotting software. To employ third-political party software similar LightShot, the starting time thing you need to do is download the program.

Visit the download page on the official website, and download the Windows version using the appropriate button or link.

LightShot screenshot tool's download page.
LightShot screenshot tool's download page.

Once installed, it automatically overrides the regular PrtScn key control. Every fourth dimension yous press that key, now you open the LightShot interface.

Y'all can select an area of the screen to capture and add simple text, rectangles, or arrows. You tin edit the thickness of the lines and elements past using your mouse scroll. If you don't have a mouse plugged in, try swiping ii fingers on your touchpad.

Taking a screenshot with LightShot.
Taking a screenshot with LightShot.

To salvage the files, you can either press the save icon or use the Windows standard Ctrl + S shortcut. Information technology keeps the files in the /Documents/Lightshot/ folder by default. But you can modify that folder and easily salvage files in other locations.

It's not super powerful, but it's fast and effortless to apply.

How to Accept a Screenshot on Microsoft Surface Devices

On a Microsoft Surface with Windows ten installed, you can already utilise any of the ways nosotros mentioned so far.

As if that'south not enough, there's also a custom way to accept screenshots—because information technology'south technically also a tablet.

To take a screenshot on your Surface device, press and hold the Windows button and simultaneously press the Volume Downward push. When it takes a screenshot, the screen will go dimmer.

You'll discover the screen capture files in the /User/Pictures/Screenshots binder.

Some Surface owners complain that this option doesn't work for their computer. If it doesn't work, you lot tin can either troubleshoot the settings or use any of the viii other means we've covered so far.

If you made it here, nosotros've shown y'all all ix ways to take screenshots on your Windows calculator. We'll cover how to capture video from your computer screen in the next section.

iv Ways to Capture Video in Windows

Not satisfied with static images? Want some motion?

We're not surprised. Video is oft a meliorate fashion to showcase tutorial steps, share gameplay, or give feedback on something.

Here are iv different tools you lot tin can use to capture video in Windows.

Check Out Our Video Guide: How to Screen Record on Windows (7, eight, 10)

one. Xbox Game Bar

Recording the screen is simply as like shooting fish in a barrel every bit taking a screenshot. You can use the shortcut Windows key + Alt + R, or open up the Game Bar, to starting time recording.

One time the game bar is open (Win + G), you tin can press the recording button to start recording the screen.

Xbox Game Bar record screen.
Xbox Game Bar record screen.

Easy, right? It stores all video files in the /User/Videos/Captures/ binder.

Only before you upload a step-past-stride video tutorial to your site, be warned. Video files are huge. Yous're much ameliorate off using ane of these video hosting solutions instead.

2. PowerPoint

You might be surprised to encounter PowerPoint in this commodity again, but it has a screen recording office, too. The but thing is, it has a minimal utilise case.

Screen recording in PowerPoint only works for your presentation. You lot can record yourself going through the slides, including your phonation and web camera footage.

Head to the Slide Show menu, and click the Record Slide Show push to first recording.

PowerPoint's Slide Show menu.
PowerPoint'due south Slide Bear witness menu.

It'll then record your vocalism and camera, and you tin utilise drawing tools to assistance your explanations.

Recording a PowerPoint presentation.
Recording a PowerPoint presentation.

Notation: If you lot don't have a powerful computer, fancy animated transitions in PowerPoint presentations can cause a lot of lag and a choppy last video. Keep animations to a minimum to avoid inclement results.

three. Dedicated Screen Recording Software

Y'all tin as well use a dedicated third-party software solution to tape your screen.

For beginners, we'd recommend a elementary tool like Snagit or Zappy. However, you're probably just as well off with the already-installed Xbox Game Bar (if you're on Windows x).

For advanced users and experienced video editors, you may want more functionality and customizability.

Camtasia is a powerful screen recorder and video editor in i, making it easy to create detailed tutorial videos from scratch.

Camtasia screen recorder app.
Camtasia screen recorder app.

At $300, information technology's probably out of the budget range in non-professional utilise cases.

If you want a little chip more functionality than Zappy or the Game Bar without having to pay, we've got yous covered.

The final option on this listing is 100% free. Plus, it's an excellent fit for a range of professional uses.

4. Loom Chrome Extension

Loom is a simplistic, piece of cake-to-use screen recording tool that you tin download as a Chrome extension. It records your screen, voice, and face for up to five minutes (in the free version).

You tin can open Loom up by clicking on the icon in the start bill of fare or using the Alt + Shift + L shortcut.

Loom screen recording Chrome extension.
Loom screen recording Chrome extension.

Information technology'south the perfect tool for sharing feedback or communicating difficult things with remote coworkers, clients, or business partners.

If you install the desktop version, yous can even use a confetti effect with Ctrl + Alt + C to congratulate someone on a chore well done.

What makes Loom unique is that it isn't but a screen capture tool. It's a free SaaS solution that automatically uploads your screen capture videos with shareable links.

You tin hands install it by visiting the Loom Chrome extension page.

Brand capturing a screenshot in Windows as piece of cake every bit ane, 2, 3, thanks to this quick guide ✅ Click to Tweet

Summary

Whether you lot're working with an sometime version of Windows 7, or the newest version of Windows 10 on a brand-new Surface laptop, yous have tons of options for taking screenshots.

You can use the built-in keyboard key shortcuts, Windows tools like Snip & Sketch, or a tertiary-political party app in Chrome. Even PowerPoint has a built-in function for taking screenshots and including them in your presentation.

Like with Windows, the same holds for taking a screenshot on your Mac.

Static screenshots are only the beginning. You can even capture videos showing what you're doing step-by-step and instantly sharing it online, including commentary.


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