Windows includes a free screenshot tool—today usually called Snipping Tool (older guides say Snip & Sketch). The fastest way to start a capture is Win + Shift + S: the screen dims, a small toolbar appears, and you drag to select what you want. The image is copied to the clipboard so you can paste it immediately into chat, email, or documents.
Quick workflow
- Press
Win + Shift + S(hold Win, then tap Shift and S). - On the toolbar, pick a snip mode (rectangular is the default and most common).
- Drag on the screen to outline the area you want (or click a window / choose full screen, depending on mode).
- Release the mouse—the snip is saved to the clipboard. A notification may appear; you can click it to open the editor and save or annotate.
- Switch to your target app and press
Ctrl + Vto paste.
Snip modes
| Mode | Best for | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular snip | Most everyday captures—part of a webpage, a dialog, or a chart | Drag a box around the region you need |
| Freeform snip | Irregular shapes or highlighting one object on a busy background | Draw any closed outline with the mouse |
| Window snip | A single app window without the desktop behind it | Click the window title bar or client area when prompted |
| Full-screen snip | Everything on all monitors at once | Choose full screen; capture happens immediately |
Other ways to open the tool
- Press the Start key, type
Snipping Tool, and open the app—then click New or use its keyboard shortcut. - On some PCs,
PrtScralone opens the same snip bar (check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Print Screen shortcut on Windows 11).
Tips
- Clipboard only:
Win + Shift + Sdoes not save a file by default—paste soon, or open the notification to save as PNG. - Cancel: Press
Escbefore releasing the mouse to abort a snip. - Delay: In the full Snipping Tool app you can set a timer (e.g., 3 s) before capture—useful for menus that close when you click away.
- One window only: Use Window snip when you need a clean shot of a dialog without cropping manually.