How to Print Screen on Windows – A Beginner’s Guide

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Are you struggling with taking screenshots on Windows? Whether you’re a professional or a casual user, the process of capturing screenshots is a common requirement. Taking screenshots helps in capturing memorable moments, recording data, and sharing information with others. If you’re new to Windows, it can be challenging to navigate the Print Screen function. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to print screen on Windows.

Introduction:

Microsoft Windows is a widely used operating system that offers various features and functionalities to its users. One of the essential features of Windows is the Print Screen function that allows users to take screenshots of their computer screens. Taking screenshots can be a significant requirement for different reasons, including recording data, capturing memorable moments, sharing information with others, and resolving technical issues. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to print screen on Windows to utilize its functionalities effectively.

In this guide, we’ll take you through a comprehensive explanation of how to print screen on Windows, step-by-step. We’ll describe the different ways to take screenshots, including full-screen capture, selective capture, and timed capture, and provide you with practical examples.

First, let’s take a look at the different ways to print screen on Windows.

1. The Print Screen Button

The Print Screen button is the easiest and most basic way to take screenshots on Windows.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the PrtScr key on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot has been captured.
  3. You can open any image editor and paste the screenshot with Ctrl+V.
  4. The screenshot will appear on the editor, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

2. Alt + Print Screen

The Alt + Print Screen is a selective way of capturing screenshots by selecting a specific window or application.

Here’s how:

  1. Select the window or application you want to capture.
  2. Press the Alt + PrtScr keys on your keyboard.
  3. The screenshot of the selected window and application has been captured.
  4. You can open any image editor and paste the screenshot with Ctrl+V.
  5. The screenshot will appear on the editor, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

3. Windows + Print Screen

The Windows + Print Screen is a quick way of capturing full-screen screenshots and saving them directly to your computer.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + PrtScr keys on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot of your full-screen is captured.
  3. The screenshot will be saved to your default Pictures folder with the name Screenshot (X).png (X is a number).
  4. You can open the saved file and edit or share it as per your requirements.

4. Snipping Tool

The snipping tool is a built-in feature of Windows that allows you to capture screenshots of specific portions of the screen.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and open the Start menu.
  2. Search for “Snipping Tool” and select the application.
  3. Select the type of snip you want to make from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture.
  5. Release the mouse button to capture the snip.
  6. The snip will appear on the snipping tool, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

5. Windows + Shift + S

The Windows + Shift + S is a simple way to take screenshots of specific portions of the screen on Windows 10.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + Shift + S keys on your keyboard.
  2. The screen will dim, and the cursor will change to a crosshair.
  3. Click and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture.
  4. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
  5. You can paste the screenshot in any image editor and edit or save it as per your requirements.

6. Game Bar

If you’re a gamer and want to capture screenshots while playing games, the Game Bar feature is an excellent option for you. It allows you to take screenshots while playing games on Windows 10.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + G keys on your keyboard to open the Game Bar.
  2. Click the Camera icon to capture a screenshot.
  3. The screenshot will be saved to the default folder with the name “Screenshot (X).png” (X is a number).
  4. You can open the saved file and edit or share it as per your requirements.

How to Print Screen on Windows – A Detailed Explanation

Now that you know the different ways to take screenshots on Windows, let’s dive deeper into each method and understand how they work.

1. The Print Screen Button

The Print Screen button is located on the top row of your keyboard, and its abbreviation is “PrtSc” or “PrtScr.” It’s a quick and easy way to take screenshots of your entire screen and save them to your clipboard. You can later paste them into any image editor to edit or save them.

Here’s a detailed explanation:

  1. Press the PrtScr key on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot of your entire screen is captured and saved to your clipboard.
  3. Open any image editor and paste the screenshot with Ctrl+V.
  4. The screenshot will appear on the editor, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

How to Capture Screenshots of Multiple Screens with the Print Screen Button:

If you have multiple screens connected to your computer, the Print Screen button allows you to capture screenshots of all the connected screens at once. Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows key + PrtScr simultaneously.
  2. The screenshot of all connected screens is captured.
  3. You can access the screenshots by following this path: Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Important Note:

When you take a screenshot with the Print Screen button, it captures the entire screen, including the taskbar, desktop icons, etc. Therefore, you need to crop the screenshot to focus on the part you want to share or record.

2. Alt + Print Screen

Alt + Print Screen is a selective way of capturing screenshots by selecting a particular window or application. It’s an excellent method for recording a specific window or application activity.

Here’s how:

  1. Select the window or application whose screenshot you want to capture.
  2. Press the Alt + PrtScr key combination on your keyboard.
  3. The screenshot of the selected window or application is captured and saved to your clipboard.
  4. Open any image editor and paste the screenshot with Ctrl+V.
  5. The screenshot will appear on the editor, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

How to Take Screenshots of the Application on the Top of the Screen with the Alt + Print Screen button:

If you have multiple windows or applications open on your screen, you can quickly take screenshots of the one that’s currently on top of the screen. Here’s how:

  1. Click on the window or application whose screenshot you want to capture to bring it to the top of the screen.
  2. Press the Alt + PrtScr key combination on your keyboard.
  3. The screenshot of the selected window or application is captured and saved to your clipboard.
  4. Open any image editor and paste the screenshot with Ctrl+V.
  5. The screenshot will appear on the editor, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

3. Windows + Print Screen

The Windows + Print Screen is a quick way of capturing full-screen screenshots and saving them directly to your computer. It’s an excellent method for recording full-screen activities on your computer.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + PrtScr key combination on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot of your full-screen is captured and saved to your default Pictures folder with the name Screenshot (X).png (X is a number).
  3. You can open the saved file and edit or share it as per your requirements.

How to Take Screenshots of the Secondary Monitor with the Windows + Print Screen button:

If you have more than one monitor connected to your computer, you can use the Windows + Print Screen button to capture screenshots of your secondary monitor. Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + PrtScr key combination on your keyboard.
  2. The screenshot of your primary monitor is captured and saved to your default Pictures folder with the name Screenshot (X).png (X is a number).
  3. To capture the screenshot of your secondary monitor, press Windows + Shift + PrtScr. The screenshot of your secondary monitor will be saved to your default Pictures folder.
Important Note:

When you take a screenshot with the Windows + Print Screen button, it captures the entire screen, including the taskbar, desktop icons, etc. Therefore, you need to crop the screenshot to focus on the part you want to share or record.

4. Snipping Tool

The snipping tool is a built-in feature of Windows that allows you to capture screenshots of specific portions of the screen. It’s an excellent method for recording precise areas of the screen.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and open the Start menu.
  2. Search for “Snipping Tool” and select the application.
  3. The snipping tool window will open, and you can select the type of snip you want to make from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture.
  5. Release the mouse button to capture the snip.
  6. The snip will appear on the snipping tool, and you can edit or save it as per your requirements.

How to Use the Snipping Tool Shortcut:

If you frequently use the snipping tool, you can create a shortcut on your desktop for quick access. Here’s how:

  1. Open the properties window of the Snipping Tool.
  2. Click the “Shortcut” tab and click “Change Icon.”
  3. Select the icon you want to assign to the shortcut and click “OK.”
  4. Click “Apply” and “OK.”
  5. The snipping tool shortcut will appear on your desktop, and you can double-click it to open the tool.

5. Windows + Shift + S

Windows + Shift + S is a simple way to take screenshots of specific portions of the screen on Windows 10. It’s similar to the snipping tool, but it captures the screenshot more conveniently.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + Shift + S keys on your keyboard.
  2. The screen will dim, and the cursor will change to a crosshair.
  3. Click and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture.
  4. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
  5. You can paste the screenshot in any image editor and edit or save it as per your requirements.

How to Use the Screen Sketch with Windows + Shift + S:

Windows + Shift + S also allows you to use the Screen Sketch feature that allows you to annotate and edit the screenshot before saving or sharing it.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + Shift + S keys on your keyboard.
  2. The screen will dim, and the cursor will change to a crosshair.
  3. Click and drag the cursor around the area you want to capture.
  4. The captured screenshot will appear as a notification.
  5. Click the notification to open the Screen Sketch.
  6. You can edit, draw, and annotate on the screenshot using the Pen, Highlighter, and Eraser tools.
  7. Click the “Save” button to save the edited screenshot.

6. Game Bar

The Game Bar feature is a built-in feature of Windows 10 that allows you to capture screenshots and record videos while playing games.

Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + G key combination to open the Game Bar.
  2. Click the Camera icon to capture a screenshot.
  3. The screenshot will be saved to the default folder with the name “Screenshot (X).png” (X is a number).
  4. You can open the saved file and edit or share it as per your requirements.

How to Use Game Bar to Record Gameplay:

Game Bar also allows you to record videos while playing games. Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows + G key combination to open the Game Bar.
  2. Click the Record icon to start recording.
  3. Click the Stop icon to stop recording.
  4. The recorded video will be saved to the default folder with the name “Recording (X).mp4” (X is a number).
  5. You can open the saved file and edit or share it as per your requirements.

How to Print Screen on Windows – Table

If you prefer visual aids, the following table will summarize the different ways to take screenshots on Windows.

Method Shortcut Keys Action
The Print Screen Button PrtScr Captures the entire screen and saves it to the clipboard
Alt + Print Screen Alt + PrtScr Captures the screenshot of the active window and saves it to the clipboard
Windows + PrtScr Windows + PrtScr Captures the entire screen and saves it to the Pictures folder
Snipping Tool N/A
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