How to Take a Screenshot in Microsoft Windows

Last update: Apr, 7 2017

The first brief - making full-size screenshot in 10 seconds is below:

  1. Use "Print Screen" (PrtScr) button for taking a shot
  2. Open "Paint" or another graphic app
  3. Place here the taken shot using "Ctrl" + "V" combination
  4. Save your screenshot using "Ctrl" + "S" combination or button with icon "save"

The second brief - taking one window screenshot:

  1. Choose the window that you need to make a screenshot by clicking on it
  2. Use the following combination: holding "Alt" + pressing "Print Screen" / "PrtScr" for taking a shot
  3. Open "Paint" or another graphic app
  4. Place here the taken shot using "Ctrl" + "V" combination
  5. Save your screenshot using "Ctrl" + "S" combination or button with icon "save"

The first way - making a full-desktop screenshot

  1. screen-1-1 Use "printscreen" button on the keyboard. It helps you to place the image you need into buffer. This image will be the same size as a desktop resolution
    • The "printscreen" button usually placed between "F12" and "Scroll" or "Delete" and can be marked "PrtScn", "Prnt Scrn", "Print Scr" or something like this. On notebook keyboard you probably have to press the "Fn" or "Function" button to access "Print Screen".
    • There is no notification of this operation
  2. screen-1-2 Insert the screenshot. After making a screenshot it should be placed to graphics app to be seen. The rife is putting it into a Paint. It helps you to save screenshot as an image file that can be transferred to others.
    • Find Paint in Start Menu and open it. Place a screenshot using "Ctrl" + "V" on a new page. To open new page in Paint use Edit menu and select Paste or right-click on page and select Paste.
    • To save the file you should choose "File", then "Save" into menu. Then you should name it and choose the type of file (the rife is JPG and PNG, but we advise you to prefer PNG because of good quality at small size).
    • You can choose another program to work with printscreen, not only graphic app (for example Word, Outlook etc.). You need just to open program that you need and insert the image using "Ctrl" + "V".
  3. screen-1-3 Create a full-screen image straight into a file in Windows 8 and 10. You can create a file with a screenshot in Windows 8 and 10 simply pressing "Win" + "PrtScr". It will be saved as PNG file into folder "Screenshots" in your Pictures folder. If there is no such folder, your Windows will create one in pointed way. This way saves time and you don’t need to open graphic app.
    • Screenshot will be saved as PNG file
    • File will be named "Screenshot" and a number in parentheses

The second way - making a one window screenshot

  1. screen-2-1 Choose the window that you need to make a screenshot by clicking on it. This function will make an image of active window on your screen. To make it properly, the window that you need should be in front of all your other windows.
  2. screen-2-2 Use the following combination: holding "Alt" + pressing "Print Screen" / "PrtSc" for taking a shot. Windows will place the image you need into memory buffer. The size of the screen is of the size of the window.
    • There is no notification of this operation
  3. screen-2-3 Insert the screenshot. After making a screenshot it should be placed to graphics app to be seen. The rife is putting it into a Paint. It helps you to save screenshot as an image file that can be transferred to others.
    • Find Paint in Start Menu and open it. Place a screenshot using "Ctrl" + "V" on a new page. To open new page in Paint use Edit menu and select Paste or right-click on page and select Paste.
    • To save the file you should choose "File", then "Save" into menu. Then you should name it and choose the type of file (the rife is JPG and PNG, but we advise you to prefer PNG because of good quality at small size).
    • You can choose another program to work with printscreen, not only graphic app (for example Word, Outlook etc.). You need just to open program that you need and insert the image using "Ctrl+V".

The third way - using the Snipping tool

  1. screen-3-1 Snipping tool is available in all Windows (Vista, 7, 8 and 10) but Starter and Basic editions and Windows XP don’t have this feature.
    • to open it you should click Start button, then select "All programs", "Accessories" and find Snipping tool in the list
    • to open it in Windows 8 you should type "snipping tool" on the start screen and find it in search results
  2. screen-3-2 Change the shape of the Snip. "Rectangular Snip" is chosen by default. To change the shape of the Snip you need to use "Arrow" button.
    • To put this tool into a shape you need use "Free-form Snip" and change it with a mouse;
    • To make an image right-angled use "Rectangular Snip";
    • To make a window printscreen use "Window Snip";
    • "Full-screen Snip" helps you to grab the whole screen, except the Snipping Tool window.
  3. screen-3-3 Adapting of the Snip border. To change the red border of a snip use Options button. Click on it and choose "Show selection ink after snips are captured" to be unchecked. This will allow you to make a snip without any border.
  4. screen-3-4 Set up a new Snip. To begin new process you should press "New" button, after that the screen will fade and you’ll be able to draw new Snip or choose the window you need.
    • New Snip is set up automatically if "Full screen Snip" was selected previously after pressing "New" button.
  5. screen-3-5 Comment a Snip. After the snip is created, it is open in a new window. Pen tool gives you possibility to draw on a Snip or make notes. Highlight tool helps to pay attention on text.
    • You can delete annotation with Erase tool, it will not delete the snip itself.
  6. screen-3-6 Saving a Snip. Save your screenshot using "Ctrl" + "S" combination or button with icon "save". Then you should name it and change the "Save as type:" field if desired.
    • the rife format for Windows 7 and 8 is PNG because of good quality at small size.
    • JPG is the default format in Windows Vista. It is not the best for screenshots because it may cause some loss in quality and colors. It's mainly designed for photographs, and not recommended for screenshots.
    • GIF recommended for graphics or logotypes with solid areas of color, but unsuitable for photos.
  7. screen-3-7 Copying of the screenshot. The screenshot is placed to a memory buffer by default. If you make a full-desktop screenshot it can be placed both in Paint and Word, but Paint gives you much more possibilities to edit the Snip.

Windows Surface Tablets

  1. screen-4-1 Press and hold "Windows" on the front panel (the logo, not the button on the desktop).
  2. screen-4-2 Press Volume Down button.
    • When the screenshot is taken, the screen will fade down for a moment.
    • The screenshot is placed to a folder Screenshots in your Pictures folder by default.