How to Snip on Windows 11 8 Easy Ways That Work

Need to grab only part of your screen instead of a messy full-desktop screenshot? Windows 11 gives you fast ways to capture a region, a window, the full screen, a webpage, or a short screen recording.

Start with the shortcut when you need speed, open Snipping Tool when you want more control, and use the built-in extras for menus, webpages, Surface devices, and accessibility setups.

1. Press Windows Shift S for the fastest snip

1. 1.Press Windows logo key + Shift + S.
2. 2.Choose a mode from the screen snipping overlay.
3. 3.Select the region, window, or screen you want to capture.
4. 4.Open the Snipping Tool notification to edit, save, or share the screenshot.

This is the quickest way to snip on Windows when the thing you want is already visible on screen.

2. Open Snipping Tool when you want exact controls

Use the full Snipping Tool app when you want to pick the capture shape before taking the screenshot.

1. 1.Select Start.
2. 2.Type snipping tool.
3. 3.Select Snipping Tool.
4. 4.Select Snipping Mode.
5. 5.Choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform.
6. 6.Select New.
7. 7.Select the area, window, or screen you want to capture.

After the snip opens, use Snipping Tool to edit, save, or share it.

3. Set Print Screen to launch screen snipping

The PrtScn or Print Screen key opens screen snipping on Windows 11 when the keyboard setting is turned on.

1. 1.Select Start.
2. 2.Open Settings.
3. 3.Select Accessibility.
4. 4.Select Keyboard.
5. 5.Turn on Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping. Some Windows 11 builds label the same switch Use the Print screen key to open screen capture.

Now press PrtScn any time you want the same snipping overlay without using the longer shortcut.

4. Save a full screenshot straight to Pictures

Need the whole screen saved as a file? Press Windows logo key + PrtScn, then open File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots. Windows saves the screenshot there as a PNG.

On a keyboard without PrtScn, press Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar, then check the same Screenshots folder.

For only the active window, select the window, press Alt + PrtScn, then paste it into another app with Ctrl + V.

5. Capture menus and popups with Delay

1. 1.Open Snipping Tool.
2. 2.Select Delay.
3. 3.Choose a delay such as 5 seconds.
4. 4.Select Snipping Mode.
5. 5.Select New.
6. 6.Open the menu, dropdown, or temporary item you want to capture.
7. 7.When the screen turns gray, select the snip area.

Use Delay for right-click menus, flyouts, and other items that disappear when you click away.

6. Record part of the screen with Snipping Tool

Snipping Tool records a selected area on Windows 11.

1. 1.Open Snipping Tool.
2. 2.Select the Record button.
3. 3.Select New.
4. 4.Drag a rectangle around the area you want to record.
5. 5.Select Start.
6. 6.Select Stop when finished.

You can also press Windows logo key + Shift + R to start the screen recording flow.

7. Grab full webpages in Microsoft Edge

Snipping Tool is for visible screen captures. For a full-page webpage screenshot, use Microsoft Edge's built-in Screenshot tool.

1. 1.Open the page in Microsoft Edge.
2. 2.Right-click the page and select Screenshot, or select Settings and more > Screenshot.
3. 3.Choose Capture area or Capture full page.
4. 4.Save, copy, or mark up the capture.

The Edge shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + S.

8. Use Surface, pen, voice, or Office snips

• Surface keyboard: press the Snipping key or Windows logo key + Shift + S. To save a full screenshot, press Windows logo key + PrtScn or Windows logo key + Snipping key.
• Surface buttons: press and hold Power, then press Volume Up. Screenshots save in Pictures > Screenshots. Microsoft says this shortcut does not work on Surface Laptop.
• Pen menu: right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, turn on Pen Menu under System tray icons, then select the Pen icon > Snipping Tool.
• Voice access: start voice access, then say Press Windows Shift S.
• Microsoft 365 apps: in Word, Excel, Outlook, or PowerPoint, select Insert > Screenshot, then choose a window under Available Windows or select Screen Clipping.

On managed work or school PCs, your organization can block Snipping Tool, screen recording, or screen capture through policy. Contact your IT admin when those controls are disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do snips go on Windows 11?

Snips taken with Snipping Tool or Windows logo key + Shift + S open in Snipping Tool so you can edit, save, or share them, and Windows also saves them automatically to Pictures > Screenshots. To change the automatic save behavior or the default folder, open Snipping Tool > See More > Settings. Full-screen screenshots taken with Windows logo key + PrtScn save to Pictures > Screenshots.

What is the shortcut to snip on Windows?

Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. To make the Print Screen key open the same snipping overlay, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.

Can Snipping Tool take scrolling screenshots?

Microsoft’s current Snipping Tool guidance does not list a native scrolling capture feature. For webpages, use Microsoft Edge > Screenshot > Capture full page.

How do I take a screenshot on Windows without a Print Screen key?

Press Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar to save a full-screen screenshot, then open File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots.

Can I snip a screenshot directly into Word or PowerPoint?

Yes. In Word, Excel, Outlook, or PowerPoint, select Insert > Screenshot, then choose an available window or select Screen Clipping.