Different Ways to Take Screenshots on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs

Thu-Feb-2023
How to Screenshot on Windows
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There are several ways to take screenshots in Windows 10 and Windows 11: continue from the last answer

  1. Keyboard shortcuts:
    • Press the “Windows key + Print Screen” to take a screenshot of the entire screen. The screenshot will be automatically saved in the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
    • Press “Windows key + Shift + S” to open the Snipping Tool, which allows you to take a custom screenshot of a selected area of your screen.
  2. Snipping Tool:
    • The Snipping Tool is a built-in app in Windows that allows you to take screenshots of specific areas of your screen. You can access it by searching for “Snipping Tool” in the Windows search bar.
  3. Game Bar:
    • The Game Bar is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to record gameplay, take screenshots, and broadcast to other platforms. To take a screenshot, press “Windows key + G” while playing a game and click on the camera icon.
  4. Windows + X:
    • Press “Windows key + X” and select “Snipping Tool” from the menu.
  5. Third-party tools:
    • You can also use third-party tools such as Lightshot, Greenshot, or Snagit to take screenshots on Windows 10 and Windows 11. These tools offer advanced features such as image editing, annotation, and cloud storage.
  6. Print Screen (PrtScn) key:
    • Pressing the “PrtScn” key on your keyboard will take a screenshot of the entire screen. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it into an image editor such as Paint or Photoshop.
  7. Alt + Print Screen:
    • Pressing “Alt + PrtScn” will take a screenshot of the active window. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it into an image editor.
  8. Windows key + Volume Down:
    • If you’re using a tablet or laptop with Windows 10, you can take a screenshot by pressing “Windows key + Volume Down”. The screenshot will be saved in the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
  1. DirectX Graphics Kernel:
    • Windows 10 and Windows 11 also support the DirectX Graphics Kernel, which allows you to take screenshots and record gameplay with high-quality graphics. To use this feature, press “Windows key + G” while playing a game and select “Yes, this is a game” to open the Game Bar. From there, you can click on the camera icon to take a screenshot.
  2. Action Center:
  • The Action Center in Windows 10 and Windows 11 has a quick action button that allows you to take a screenshot. To access it, click on the Action Center icon in the notification area and click on the Expand button. From there, click on the Screenshot button to take a screenshot of the entire screen.
  1. Microsoft OneNote:
  • Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking app that also allows you to take screenshots. To take a screenshot in OneNote, click on the “Insert” tab and select “Screen Clipping”. Select the area you want to capture, and the screenshot will be added to your note.
  1. Surface Devices:
  • If you’re using a Microsoft Surface device, you can take a screenshot by pressing and holding the “Volume up” and “Power” buttons. The screenshot will be saved in the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
  1. Surface Pen:
  • If you’re using a Microsoft Surface device with a Surface Pen, you can take a screenshot by double-clicking the button on the pen and holding it down until the screen dims. The screenshot will be saved in the “Pictures\Screenshots” folder.
  1. Windows Feedback Hub:
  • The Windows Feedback Hub in Windows 10 and Windows 11 also allows you to take screenshots and annotate them to provide feedback to Microsoft. To access it, click on the Start menu and search for “Windows Feedback Hub”. From there, click on the “Provide Feedback” button and select “Screenshots”.
  1. Snip & Sketch:
  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 also have a built-in app called Snip & Sketch, which allows you to take screenshots, annotate them, and share them with others. To access Snip & Sketch, click on the Start menu and search for “Snip & Sketch”. From there, you can select the type of screenshot you want to take, such as a rectangular snip, a freeform snip, or a full-screen snip.
  1. Microsoft PowerToys:
  • Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of utilities for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can enhance your productivity. One of the utilities, called PowerToys Snipping Tool, allows you to take screenshots with additional features such as custom hotkeys, image history, and automatic file naming.
  1. Keyboard Shortcut Creator:
  • If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, you can create your own custom shortcuts for taking screenshots using a tool such as Autohotkey. With Autohotkey, you can define your own hotkeys and associate them with specific actions, such as taking a screenshot and saving it to a specific folder.
  1. Windows PowerShell:
  • You can also take screenshots using the Windows PowerShell by using the following script:

php

 

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
$Form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$Form.WindowState = 'Maximized'
$Form.ShowInTaskbar = $false
$Form.TopMost = $false
$Form.FormBorderStyle = 'None'
$Form.BackColor = [System.Drawing.Color]::White
$Form.Opacity = 1
$Form.ShowDialog() | Out-Null
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("{PRTSC}")

This script will open a maximized, borderless white window, which you can use to take a screenshot. To save the screenshot, simply paste it into an image editor.

  1. Screen Recorder:
  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 also have a built-in screen recording feature that you can use to record your screen and take screenshots. To access this feature, press “Windows key + G” and select “Start recording” from the Game Bar. To stop recording, press “Windows key + Alt + R”. The recording will be saved in the “Videos\Captures” folder.
  1. Third-Party Tools:
  • There are many third-party tools available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can help you take screenshots with additional features and customization options. Some popular options include Lightshot, Greenshot, and PicPick. These tools often allow you to capture specific regions of your screen, annotate your screenshots, and even upload them to the cloud.
  1. Windows Game Bar:
  • If you’re playing a game on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can take screenshots using the Windows Game Bar by pressing “Windows key + G”. From there, you can click the “Screenshot” button to capture a screenshot of the current game. The screenshot will be saved in the “Videos\Captures” folder.
  1. DirectX Graphics:
  • For gamers, Windows 10 and Windows 11 also provide a feature called DirectX Graphics that allows you to take screenshots while playing a game. To take a screenshot, press “Windows key + Alt + PrtScn”. The screenshot will be saved in the “Videos\Captures” folder.

These are the ways to take screenshots on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Choose the method that works best for you and your needs.