Skip to main content

How to take a screenshot on Windows 11

Windows 11 Woman on Laptop Lifestyle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Knowing how to take a screenshot on Windows 11 is really useful for sharing information, troubleshooting problems, or just grabbing a snapshot of something in your favorite game or TV show. But whatever you want to take a screenshot for, there are a few different ways to do it in Windows 11.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Windows 11 PC or laptop

Many of them will be familiar to anyone who knows how to take a screenshot in Windows 10, but there are some new ones too.

How to take a screenshot in Windows 11 with Print Screen

The quickest and easiest way to take a no-frills screenshot in Windows 11 is to use its built-in keyboard shortcut.

Step 1: Press Windows key > Print Screen. Note, if your Print Screen key has multiple functions (most common on laptops) then you may also need to press the FN key simultaneously.

Step 2: The screen should dim slightly to show you that a screenshot has been taken. It will automatically save as a fullscreen PNG image of whatever is on the screen at the time.

Step 3: Navigate to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots to locate your screenshot(s).

Taking a screenshot using the Windows 11 Snipping tool.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to take a screenshot in Windows 11 using the Snipping tool

The Snipping Tool is a Windows 10 carryover that features a versatile method for taking screenshots in Windows 11.

Step 1: Press Shift > Windows Key > S to launch the Snipping tool.

Step 2: The box that appears at the top of the window gives you a few different options:

  • Rectangle Snip: Select this, then use your mouse to draw a rectangular section of the screen you want to screenshot.
  • Freeform Snip: Select this, then use your mouse to draw any kind of shape to take a screenshot.
  • Window Snip: Select this, then select the particular window on screen that you want to take a screenshot of.
  • Fullscreen Snip: Select this to take a screenshot of your entire screen as it appears without the Snipping tool overlay.

Step 3: When you've taken your screenshot, a notification will appear in the bottom right letting you immediately select and edit the image, if you want. Alternatively, you can find the image in This PC > Pictures > Screenshots.

Windows 11 Xbox Game Bar overlay.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to take a screenshot in Windows 11 using the Xbox Game Bar

Even if you don't use the Xbox Game Bar for any of its gaming-focused features, it is still a useful tool for taking screenshots in Windows 11.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + G keys to bring up the Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2: Click the 8Screenshot (Camera) icon8 in the top-left within the Capture window. Alternatively, you can press Windows key > Alt > Print Screen.

Step 3: You'll be able to find the image in This PC > Videos > Captures.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
Another frustrating reason to upgrade to Windows 11
A person looking frustrated at a laptop while sitting at a table.

As if you didn't already need plenty of reasons to finally upgrade to Windows 11, here's yet another.

The latest Windows 10 update, version KB5048239, isn't just failing to install -- it's actually updating successfully over and over again. This is the update that Microsoft first released in November 2024 on 21H2 and 22H2. As TechRadar reports, the software giant is rereleasing it again this month.

Read more
Windows 12 may not happen anytime soon
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Microsoft is making clear that its strategy to retire Windows 10 later this year will proceed as planned, and that its primary focus after that will be Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs. To that end, the brand shared all the developments we can expect in a forward-looking blog post. Considering how focused Microsoft is on getting people to finally upgrade to Windows 11, it's hard to imagine that Windows 12 is anything more than a distant prospect at this point.

“Windows 10 will reach the end of its life cycle on October 14, 2025. After this date, Windows 10 PCs will no longer receive security or feature updates, and our focus is on helping customers stay protected by moving to modern new PCs running Windows 11," says Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer.

Read more
Get down to business: Take 56% off the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

This is the year you’re finally going to treat yourself to one of the best laptop deals. No, no, we insist! We know how expensive these portable PCs can get, and pretty much every laptop-maker claims to have the “best business laptop,” which is why we’re excited to shine a light on not only one of the best PC markdowns of the day but an incredible business PC at that:

Right now, when you order the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11, you’ll only wind up paying $1,421. At full price, this model goes for $3,330. That’s over half off! This PC is officially on clearance, though, so once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Read more