This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of utilise.

Windows 10 desktop

If you've been a Windows PC user for any length of time, chances are you've had to have a screenshot. The simplest (and one of the oldest) methods is to hit the Impress Screen (PrtScn) push button next to the F12 key, open your preferred photo editor, and paste the screenshot in using Ctrl-V. Just information technology's not the just method, and not even the most useful, depending on what yous're trying to attain.

Avant-garde Print Screen Features

Start, you lot tin utilise the Alt primal to take a screenshot of the foreground awarding, fifty-fifty when multiple applications are open up at the same time. The first image below shows my desktop with 4 unlike application windows open up.

Print-Screen

If I utilize Alt-PrtScn, I tin capture just the image in the top right-hand corner.

Alternatively, you tin can use the PrtScn key and the Windows key together to take a screenshot of your active desktop and save that epitome to the Pictures\Screenshots directory, as shown below. If y'all choose this method, images will be automatically numbered as Screenshot(1).png, Screenshot(two).png, etc. Be advised that automatically saving images as PNG files can consequence in a very large screenshot folder if you don't convert them to other file formats (depending, of form, on what yous screenshot). Likewise, go on in heed that Microsoft doesn't stop numbering your screenshots higher, even if you delete some of them. If Screenshot(13).png is your highest number, and y'all delete that file, the next screenshot created will be Screenshot(14).png, non Screenshot(thirteen).png.

Auto-Print-Screen

Using the Windows Fundamental screenshots and saves the certificate, albeit with a standardized file proper name.

If y'all don't have a dedicated PrtScn fundamental on a tablet or laptop, you tin can typically use the function key (Fn) to actuate these capabilities in the same way. In this example, the PrtScn fundamental label will be written nether some other capability on the aforementioned key. And then instead of hitting PrtScn, you hitting Fn+PrtScn to have a screenshot, Fn+Alt+PrtScn to take a screenshot of one specific window, etc.

Those of you with Microsoft Surface Touch Covers or Type Covers have two alternate methods bachelor. Fn+Spacebar will take a generic screenshot, while Fn+Alt+Spacebar takes a screenshot of a specific window. The Windows Logo + Volume Downwards push button will take a Surface screenshot in tablet mode.

Utilize the Snipping Tool

Finally, y'all can employ the Snipping Tool to take screenshots of whatever visible section of whatever epitome y'all have available. To launch it, just type "Snipping" later striking the Windows Key.

SnippingTool

You can prepare a delay of upwardly to five seconds and pick any section of whatsoever window (or groups of windows) you want to target. In one case y'all practise, a new window will selection with various options and your snip located in the centre.

SnippingTool

Once snipped, y'all can use a highlight to parts of the epitome, mark it upwards with a pen, or suit various program options. Snip window sizes tin as well be adjusted to be complimentary-form, square, rectangular, or total-screen depending on your needs.

Now read: Windows 10: The Best Hidden Features, Tips, and Tricks