How to Take a Screenshot in Microsoft Windows

Steps

Snipping Tool Method

The Snipping Tool method works with Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate, and with Windows Vista editions except Starter and Home Basic. For other versions of Windows, use the Print Screen method described below. For a more detailed tutorial on using the Snipping tool, see How to Take a Screenshot with the Snipping Tool.

1. 1
   Open the Snipping Tool. The Snipping Tool is found in Start/All Programs/Accessories/Snipping Tool.
   
   
   
   • The Snipping Tool is only found in Windows 8 Core and Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, and in all Windows Vista versions except Starter and Home Basic. If you don't have the snipping tool, use the Print Screen method instead.
2. 2
   Choose the kind of screenshot (snip) you would like to take. "Rectangular Snip" is chosen by default.
   
   
   
   • "Free-form Snip" lets you draw an area of any shape. Only the area you drew will be snipped.
   • "Rectangular Snip" lets you select a rectangular area, which will be snipped.
   • "Window Snip" lets you choose a window to snip.
   • "Full-screen Snip" snips the whole screen, with all windows (except the Snipping Tool window) included.
3. 3
   Select the area that you want a screenshot of. If you chose "Window Snip", select a window instead. If you chose "Full-Screen Snip", go to the next step.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Save the screenshot by clicking the floppy disk icon in the window that pops up. Type in a name for the screenshot and change the "Save as type:" field if desired. Read the "Tips" section for information on file types. You can now send the screenshot by email or put it on a website.
   
   
   

Full Screen Screenshot

1. 1
   Press the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard.
   
   
   
   • The "Print Screen" button may be labeled "Prt Sc", "Prnt Scrn", "Print Scrn", or similar. On most keyboards, the button is usually found next to the "F12" and "Scroll Lock" keys. On laptop keyboards, you may have to press the "Fn" or "Function" key to access "Print Screen".

One Window Screenshot

1. 1
   If you want to take a screenshot of just one window, make sure that the window is the "active" window on your screen. This means that it should be in front of all your other windows. Then, hold down the "Alt" key and press "Print Screen".
   
   
   

Getting the Screenshot off the Clipboard

1. 1
   Open Microsoft Paint. To open Paint, open the Start menu, click on "All Programs", click on "Accessories", and click on "Paint".
   
   
   
   • You may have Paint on your Start Menu already. If you see it, click it.
2. 2
   Paste the screenshot. Click the "Select" tool along the top bar and choose "Rectangular Select" in Paint. Right-click on the canvas and select "Paste". Your screenshot will be pasted onto the canvas.
   
   
   
   • You can also paste the screenshot directly into a word document or an email by right-clicking the page that you are composing and selecting "Paste."
   • You can also hold down "Ctrl" and press "V" to paste.
   • On Windows XP and earlier, you can open the "Edit" menu and select "Paste" to paste.
3. 3
   Save the screenshot. Click on File, then select "Save As..." (Windows Vista and earlier), or click on the menu button (the blue button beside the "Home" button) and select "Save As" (Windows 7 and later). Type in a file name and change the "Save as type:" field if desired. Read the "Tips" section for information on file types. You can now send the screenshot by email or put it on a website.
   
   
   

Tips

• On laptop keyboards, the "Print Screen" key might be combined with another key. This means that you have to press a "Fn" key or "Function" key to access it. Such a key is usually found on the bottom row of the keyboard.
• All versions of Paint from Windows 95 onward can save an image in multiple formats:
  • BMP is the default format in Windows XP and earlier. It is an uncompressed format, which means that it will create very large files. Using it is not recommended.
  • PNG is the default format in Windows 7. It's a lossless compressed format, which means that it will take high-quality screenshots at a small file size. It is the recommended format for taking screenshots.
  • JPG or JPEG is the default format in Windows Vista. It is a lossy format, meaning that the screenshot will look slightly blocky and some colors may be a bit off. It's mainly designed for photographs, and not recommended for screenshots.
  • GIF is unsuitable for reproducing color photographs, but well-suited for images such as graphics or logos with solid areas of color, resulting in crystal sharp edges between color areas.
• If you wish, you can also download and use Jing to take screenshots and videos that are immediately available to upload and share on the web.
• Some people who take a lot of screenshots may want to download a program to make the process easier.
• There is always a "Print Screen" button on a PC keyboard. It may take some searching to find, but it's there.
• If you're going to put the screenshot on a website, make sure that the file doesn't exceed limits on the file size.
• The Windows Snipping tool does not come with all editions of Windows. You can use this free Snipping tool clone instead.

Warnings

• Saving a screenshot in some file types (such as bitmaps) will result in a very large file. Because of this it's highly recommended to use the PNG format.
• Some people will be annoyed if you email them a large attachment. Remember to crop and convert.