In this post we will be looking at how windows can be screenshot on PC and Laptops, screenshotting commands on the keyboard and How to Save and Share the Screenshot.
INTRODUCTION
Everybody knows how to take a screenshot on their phones, but what about when using a laptop or computer? It’s not the most complicated thing to do, but how to actually take a screenshot isn’t always that obvious or apparent. Given how useful they can be for work reasons, or for showing friends something that they really ought to see online, taking screenshots is something that everybody should know how to do. But, using a Windows PC or laptop, there are several ways to do it, and the options go beyond the classic Print Screen key.
HOW WINDOWS CAN BE SCREENSHOT ON PC AND LAPTOPS
The easiest way to take a screenshot on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is with the Print Screen (PrtScn) key. To capture your entire screen, simply press PrtScn on the upper-right side of your keyboard. In Windows 10, the screenshot will be copied to your clipboard. To save the file, paste the screenshot into any program that allows you to insert images, like Microsoft Word or Paint. In Windows 11, pressing PrtScn will save the screenshot to your computer’s dedicated Screenshots folder you can find it by opening the File Explorer and clicking Pictures on the left side. And if you have it enabled, it’ll also save the screenshot to your OneDrive. To take a screenshot on Windows 10 and automatically save the file, press the Windows key + PrtScn. Your screen will go dim and a screenshot of your entire screen will save to the Screenshots folder. In Windows 11, pressing the Windows key + PrtScn will save a picture of your entire screen to the Screenshots folder and copy the picture to your clipboard. This will let you immediately paste the picture onto a social media post, art app, and more. To capture only the active window you’re working in, press Alt + PrtScn. In Windows 10 this will copy it to your clipboard, so you’ll need to paste it into another program to save it; in Windows 11, it’ll both copy and save it to the Screenshots folder right away. Windows 10’s Snip & Sketch is the best way to screenshot on Windows if you’re looking to customize, annotate, or share your screen captures. To activate Snip & Sketch, use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim and a mini menu will appear at the top of your screen, giving you the option to take a rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen capture. After you capture the screenshot, it’ll be saved to your clipboard and a preview notification will appear in the lower-right corner of your screen. Click on the preview notification to open the Snip & Sketch app and save, share, or edit the screenshot with the available drawing tools. The Snipping Tool exists in Windows 10, but it’s not usually the screenshot tool you’ll want to use. But in Windows 11, the Snipping Tool got a major upgrade, and it’s now the best way to take custom screenshots. To start the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, you can search for it or just press the Windows Key + Shift + S. Like with Snip & Sketch, your screen will dim and a toolbar of screenshot options will appear at the top of the screen. This toolbar will let you take a rectangular, freeform, full-window, or full-screen capture. Once you’ve taken your screenshot, it’ll be copied to your clipboard so you can share it right away. And if you click the preview that pops up in the bottom-right corner of your screen, you’ll be able to save and edit it.
SCREENSHOTTING COMMANDS ON THE KEYBOARD.
On Windows, there are as many as six screenshotting commands on the keyboard:
Print Screen (PrtScn): Using this key captures the entire screen. If more than one is showing, it captures everything shown on all of them in one image. This, though, just sends the image to the clipboard and does not save the image automatically.
Alt + Print Screen: This option captures just one window, but you will have to highlight the desired window before using the key command. Again, this just sends the image to the clipboard and does not save the image automatically.
Win + Print Screen: This option captures the entire screen, just as Print Screen, but this time the image is saved by default and goes to C: Users Pictures>Screenshots.
Win + Shift + S: This option uses a built-in screenshot tool named Snip & Sketch. This dims the screen and provides you with four choices: Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, and Fullscreen Snip. Screenshots are not saved, and are again just sent to the clipboard.
Win + G: This opens the Xbox Game Bar. You just have to click ‘capture’ and then the camera icon to save the image to C:Users>(user name)>Videos>Captures.
Win + Alt + Print Screen: This captures the active window and saves to C:Users>(user name)>Videos>Captures.
Alternative: The Snipping Tool: The Snipping Tool might just be the best built-in option there is, though it’s not the most versatile. It does, though, allow you to define the portions of the screen you want to screenshot.
HOW TO SAVE AND SHARE THE SCREENSHOT.
One of the easiest ways to save a screenshot taken with the print screen key is to paste it into your photo editing software of choice. For example, you can use Microsoft Paint, which comes free with all relevant versions of Windows. Open up Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot. You can also right-click and select Paste from the dropdown menu. From there, you can edit the file as you want before saving it (Ctrl + S) in the image format you prefer. If you use Windows 10, you can also use Paint 3D. But if you want to use a more powerful image editor, we recommend a specialized tool. It’s also possible to paste the screenshot directly into an email or a social media message. It’s one of the fastest ways to share what’s on your screen without jumping on a call. Press the print screen key, paste it in, press Send, and it’s on its way. If you want more control over your screenshots, like capturing a tab, you can use the built-in Windows “Snipping Tool” or other third-party apps or software. That way, you won’t have to crop away the toolbar or other elements manually.
CONCLUTION
Whether you’re working with an old version of Windows 7, or the newest version of Windows 10 on a brand-new Surface laptop, you have tons of options for taking screenshots. You can use the built-in keyboard key shortcuts, Windows tools like Snip & Sketch, or a third-party app in Chrome. Even PowerPoint has a built-in function for taking screenshots and including them in your presentation. Like with Windows, the same holds for taking a screenshot on your Mac. Static screenshots are only the beginning. You can even capture videos showing what you’re doing step-by-step and instantly sharing it online, including commentary.