You press the screenshot keys on a Dell laptop and either nothing seems to happen, Snipping Tool opens, or the image disappears onto the clipboard. Dell uses several Print Screen labels and some models hide the command behind the Fn key. Use the steps below to save a full screenshot, copy one for pasting, capture a window, or snip a selected area on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
1. Save the whole screen to a file
This is the fastest method when you want Windows to create the screenshot file automatically.
- 1.Press Windows + PrtScr.
- 2.If PrtScr is a secondary key on your Dell keyboard, press Windows + Fn + PrtScr.
- 3.Open File Explorer.
- 4.Go to Pictures > Screenshots.
The Print Screen key on a Dell laptop may be labeled PrintScreen, PrntScrn, PrntScr, PrtScn, PrtScr, or PrtSc. On some Dell layouts, use Fn + F10; on models without a dedicated key, use Fn + Insert. If your Dell has a capacitive or illuminated function row, turn on the function layer first.
2. Copy the screen and paste it
- 1.Press PrtScn or Print Screen.
- 2.On Dell keyboards where Print Screen is secondary, press Fn + PrtScn or Fn + Insert.
- 3.Open Paint, Word, Outlook, an email, or another app.
- 4.Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.
Use the clipboard method when the screenshot belongs in a message, document, Paint file, or email. If pressing Print Screen opens screen snipping instead, change the Windows setting. On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then turn Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping off; Microsoft's accessibility page labels the same switch Use the Print screen key to open screen capture, so use whichever wording your PC shows. On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and turn the toggle under Print Screen shortcut off.
3. Capture only the active window
Click inside the window you want to capture, then press Alt + PrtScr. On Dell keyboards where PrtScr is secondary, press Alt + Fn + PrtScr. Paste the capture with Ctrl + V, then save it in the app you used. This captures one app window without the taskbar or the rest of the desktop.
4. Snip part of the screen with Snipping Tool
- 1.Press Windows + Shift + S.
- 2.Choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform.
- 3.Select the area or window you want.
- 4.Open the Snipping Tool notification to edit or save it, or press Ctrl + V to paste the copied snip.
For a selected area, use the current Windows snipping overlay. You can also open the app directly: select Start, type snipping tool, select Snipping Tool, choose Snipping Mode (the Windows 10 version of the app labels this button Mode), then select New. After capture, use Save as or Share.
5. Delay a capture for menus and pop-ups
Snipping Tool's timer gives you time to open menus, flyouts, and temporary panels before capture.
- 1.Open Snipping Tool.
- 2.Select Delay.
- 3.Choose a delay, such as 5 seconds.
- 4.Select the Snipping Mode you want.
- 5.Select New.
- 6.Open the menu or pop-up during the countdown.
- 7.Capture it when the screen turns gray.
Menus, flyouts, and temporary panels often vanish when you press a normal shortcut. On a Copilot+ PC, Snipping Tool also includes Perfect Screenshot. Select Perfect Screenshot, draw a rectangle around the area, adjust the crop handles, then save, share, or copy the result.
6. Use the shortcut for devices without Print Screen
- 1.Press Fn + Windows + Space Bar.
- 2.Open File Explorer.
- 3.Go to Pictures > Screenshots.
If your Dell keyboard has no visible PrtScn key, use the Windows fallback shortcut instead. On Windows tablets with hardware buttons, Dell lists Windows button + Volume Down as the capture shortcut.
7. Grab screenshots inside Edge, Office, OneNote, or games
- In Microsoft Edge, open the page or PDF, then press Ctrl + Shift + S. You can also open Settings and more > Screenshot, or right-click the page and choose Screenshot.
- In Word, Excel, or Outlook, click where the image should go, then select Insert > Screenshot. In PowerPoint, select Insert > Screenshot. Choose an Available Windows thumbnail or select Screen Clipping.
- In OneNote, place the cursor where the clipping should go, then select Insert > Screen Clipping. The keyboard shortcut is Alt + N + R.
- For games and apps, enable Xbox Game Bar in Windows Settings if needed, then press Windows + Alt + Print Screen. Find the PNG in Videos > Captures.
Use an app's built-in screenshot command when the capture belongs inside that app or when you need a cleaner page, document, note, or game capture.
8. Fix screenshot settings and blocked captures
For older clipboard behavior on Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then turn Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping off. On Windows 10, the same control sits at Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard under Print Screen shortcut. If you want Print Screen to open screen capture, turn the same setting on.
On work or school Dell laptops, screenshot behavior can be controlled in Microsoft Edge, remote desktops, Azure Virtual Desktop, or Windows 365 Cloud PC sessions. Use Snipping Tool and the standard Windows shortcuts first; when those are blocked in a managed session, your organization's IT settings control the result.
On Windows 11, skip older fixes that mention Snip & Sketch, because Microsoft now routes the snipping workflow through Snipping Tool. On Windows 10 that advice does not apply: the Microsoft Store lists the new Snipping Tool as Windows 11 only and installs Snip & Sketch on Windows 10 instead, alongside the classic Snipping Tool. Skip fixes that mention a OneDrive setting named Save screenshots to OneDrive automatically or Steps Recorder on either version: Microsoft says the OneDrive screenshot setting is no longer available and marks Steps Recorder as deprecated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do screenshots go on a Dell laptop?
Screenshots saved with Windows + PrtScr go to File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots. Xbox Game Bar screenshots go to Videos > Captures.
Why does Print Screen open Snipping Tool instead of copying the screen?
Windows has a keyboard setting that can make Print Screen open screen snipping. Go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then turn off Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.
How do I screenshot on a Dell laptop without a Print Screen key?
Press Fn + Windows + Space Bar. Windows saves the screenshot in Pictures > Screenshots.
Can I screenshot a web page in Microsoft Edge on a Dell laptop?
Yes. In Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + S, or open Settings and more > Screenshot. You can capture the page or an area, then copy, save, share, or annotate it.
