The short answer: press Windows key + Shift + S, drag over the part of the screen you want, and click the preview that appears to save or share it. That’s Windows’ built-in Snipping Tool. To copy the whole screen instead, press the Print Screen (PrtSc) key (Microsoft).
Method 1: Snipping Tool (best for most people)
- Press Windows key + Shift + S together. The screen dims and a small bar appears at the top.
- Pick a shape: rectangle, window, full screen or freeform.
- Drag over the area you want. If you chose window or full screen, just click.
- The screenshot is copied automatically. Click the preview that pops up in the corner to open it in Snipping Tool, where you can mark it up, save it or share it (Microsoft).
Prefer clicking to keyboard shortcuts? Select Start, type snipping tool, open it, and select New (Microsoft).
Method 2: The Print Screen key
Press PrtSc to copy the whole screen. Then open an email, a document or Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste it (Microsoft). On many newer PCs, PrtSc opens Snipping Tool instead, which works just as well. On some laptops you have to hold the Fn key while pressing PrtSc.
Record a short video of your screen
Press Windows key + Shift + R, choose an area, and select Start. This is handy for showing a helper exactly what’s going wrong (Microsoft).
Where screenshots are saved
Snipping Tool usually saves screenshots on its own to the Pictures > Screenshots folder. Open File Explorer and look under Pictures. If you used PrtSc to copy the screen, it isn’t saved anywhere until you paste it.
Before you send a screenshot
- Check that it doesn’t show passwords, account numbers or your full address. Crop those out in Snipping Tool.
- Only send screenshots to people you know. Never send one to someone who called you claiming to be “tech support” (FTC).
Still on Windows 10?
These shortcuts work on Windows 10 too. But Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, so it no longer gets free security fixes. Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program can keep it protected until October 12, 2027 (Microsoft). Our guide to installing updates safely explains how to enroll, or how to check whether your PC can move to Windows 11.
