How To Take Screenshot In Windows By Keyboard

Capturing your screen is a fundamental skill for anyone using a PC. Whether you are documenting a software bug, saving a receipt, or sharing a funny meme, knowing how to take a screenshot in Windows by keyboard can significantly speed up your workflow. Windows offers several built-in methods, ranging from quick full-screen captures to precise selective snips.

There are a number of ways to capture your screen without needing third-party software. Depending on whether you want to save the image automatically or edit it first, you will choose a different keyboard combination.

The Quickest Way: Print Screen (PrtSc)

The most basic method is the Print Screen key, usually labeled as PrtSc or PrtScn. This key is typically located in the upper-right section of your keyboard.

PrtSc: Pressing this key captures the entire screen and copies it to your clipboard. To view it, you must paste it (Ctrl + V) into an application like Paint, Word, or an email.
Alt + PrtSc: This combination captures only the active window. If you have multiple folders open but only want to capture the one you are currently using, this is the most efficient method. Like the standard PrtSc, this saves the image to the clipboard.

Automatic Saving: Windows Key + Print Screen

If you find it tedious to paste images into Paint to save them, Windows provides a shortcut that bypasses the clipboard and saves the file directly to your hard drive.

By pressing Windows Key + PrtSc, your screen will momentarily dim, indicating that a snapshot has been taken. Windows automatically saves this file as a PNG in a specific folder. You can find your captures by navigating to: This PC > Pictures > Screenshots.

The Precision Tool: Windows + Shift + S

For those who need more control, the Snipping Tool (or Snip & Sketch) is the gold standard. Instead of capturing the whole screen, you can select exactly what you want to save.

Press Windows Key + Shift + S to open the screen clipping overlay. At the top of your screen, you will see four options:

Rectangular Snip: Draw a box around the specific area you want to capture.
Freeform Snip: Draw any shape around an object.
Window Snip: Select a specific window to capture.
Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire display.

Once the snip is taken, a notification appears in the bottom right corner. Clicking this notification allows you to crop, annotate, and save the image to your desired location.

Gaming Captures: Windows + Alt + PrtSc

For gamers or those using high-performance graphics apps, the Xbox Game Bar provides a streamlined way to take screenshots without leaving a full-screen application.

Pressing Windows Key + Alt + PrtSc takes a screenshot of your game or app and saves it automatically. These files are typically stored in the Videos > Captures folder. This method is particularly useful because it avoids capturing the taskbar or start menu, focusing entirely on the application content.