How to: Capture a screenshot in Windows 11 using the Snipping Tool


Introduction

Use the steps below to take a screenshot in Windows 11.

TIP: You can take a screenshot of User Account Control using some workarounds.

Instructions

TIP: Alternatively, you can press the key combination Windows key  +Shift+S. This will copy the image to the clipboard to be pasted into another application.

  1. Click your Start button.

    The windows start button is highlighted to click

  2. In the search field, type snipping tool, but do not press Enter. When the search results appear, click Snipping Tool to open it.

    In the search bar, snipping tool has been searched and the snipping tool app is highlighted to select

  3. Choose the mode that you would like to use for capturing your screenshot.

    In the top menu, the drop down menu for the mode is highlighted to select

    The options are:

    • Rectangular mode: Drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
    • Window mode: Choose a window, such as a dialog box, that you want to capture.
    • Full-screen mode: Capture the entire screen.
    • Free-form mode: Draw a free-form shape around an object.

    The four modes that are able to be used are shown

  4. Choose how long of a delay that you wish to have before the screenshot is captured.

    Next to the mode, the delay drop down menu is highlighted to select

    The options are:

    • No delay
    • Snip in 3 seconds
    • Snip in 5 seconds
    • Snip in 10 seconds

    The delay options are highlighted

  5. Click the New button to capture the screenshot.

    The New button in the top left corner is highlighted to select

  6. If you chose "Full screen mode", the screenshot is captured immediately. Skip ahead to the next step.

    If you chose "Rectangle mode" or "Free-form mode", use your mouse to draw the area on the screen that you wish to capture. When you release the mouse button, the screenshot is captured and you may proceed to the next step.

    A box has been formed from the snipping tool as an example of how to use it

    If you chose "Window mode", click the window that you wish to capture.

    The Window to be screen captured is highlighted as an example

  7. If desired, you may use the tools available to mark up the screenshot, crop it, and so forth.

    When you are done, you may save the screenshot using the "Save as" button on the top right-hand corner of the Snipping Tool window. You may also use the "Copy" button next to "Save as"; the "Copy" button copies the screenshot to your clipboard so that you may paste it into another area on your computer.

    The Save as and Copy buttons are highlighted in the top right corner

Outcome

You have taken a screenshot using the Snipping Tool on your computer.