Want to "take a screenshot" of your computer screen? It's easier than you think! Whether you want to save an important piece of information or send something interesting to a friend, in this article you will learn all the simple ways to do it in Windows. No additional programs are needed - just a few buttons!
1
The Print Screen button (for the entire screen)
This is the most well-known button for taking screenshots. You'll find it on your keyboard and it says "PrtScn" or "Print Screen."
✅ Press the Print Screen button once
✅ The photo was temporarily saved to memory
✅ Open Paint (type "Paint" in the search)
✅ Press Ctrl + V to display the photo
✅ Save the photo (Ctrl + S)
Good to know: This mode captures the entire screen, even if you have multiple windows open.
2
Alt + Print Screen (for one window only)
If you only want to capture a specific window (like your browser or a program) and not the entire screen, this method is ideal!
✅ Click on the window you want to take a picture of
✅ Hold down Alt and press Print Screen
✅ Open Paint and press Ctrl + V
✅ Save the photo
When to use it: When you have many windows open and you want to take a photo of just one of them!
3
Windows + Print Screen (autosave)
This is the easiest method for beginners! The photo is saved automatically without you having to do anything else.
✅ Hold down the Windows button (with the logo)
✅ Press Print Screen at the same time
✅ You will see the screen "flash" for a second
✅ Done! The photo was automatically saved
Where will you find the photos?
Open "File Explorer" → "Pictures" → "Screenshots". There you will find all the photos you have taken! The photos are automatically named with the date and time.
4
Windows + Shift + S (select what you want)
This is the most modern and flexible method! You can choose exactly what part of the screen you want to capture.
✅ Press Windows + Shift + S simultaneously
✅ The screen will become slightly dark
✅ Options will appear at the top
✅ Choose what you want to photograph:
(I.e. Rectangle: Draw a square around what you want
🇧🇷 Free form: Draw any shape you want with the mouse
🪟 Window: Select a specific window
🖥️ The whole screen: Capture the entire screen
After the photo: A notification will appear in the bottom right. Click on it to edit or save the photo!
5
Snipping Tool (built-in program)
Windows has a special program for screenshots that is very easy to use and has extra features!
✅ Press the Windows button and type "Snipping Tool"
✅ Open the program that will appear
✅ Click on "New" or "New"
✅ Select the area you want with the mouse
✅ The program will open the photo for editing
Additional features
With the Snipping Tool you can:
- Add notes to the photo
- Draw with a pen or marker
- Save in various formats (JPG, PNG etc.)
- Send the photo directly by email
6
Xbox Game Bar (for games and videos)
If you play games or watch videos in full screen, this method works perfectly!
✅ Press Windows + G
✅ A toolbar will appear
✅ Click on the camera icon 📷
✅ The photo is saved in the "Video" folder
Additional feature: With Xbox Game Bar you can also record video from your screen! Useful for instructions or presentations.
Quick Reference - All Shortcuts
Print Screen
Entire screen (needs pasting)
Alt + PrintScreen
Active window only
Win + Print Screen
Automatic saving of the entire screen
Win+Shift+S
Select region (recommended)
Summary and Tips
As you can see, there are many easy ways to take a screenshot of your screen in Windows! You don't need to be an expert - with these simple shortcuts you'll be able to capture everything important you see on your screen.
Our tips:
For beginners: Start with Windows + Print Screen - it's the simplest method.
For more advanced: Use Windows + Shift + S - it has the most features.
For games: The Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G) is ideal.
✍️ Evangelos
Its creator
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