How to take screenshot in Windows 10

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There are many ways to take screenshot in Windows 10. You can choose to take the whole screen or a part of the screen you want to capture. Taking a screenshot is something I do often and writing blog posts is the main reason I take these photos.


This post provides information you need to take screenshot on windows 10 with Print Screen (PrtSc) and Snip & Sketch.


How to take a screenshot on Windows 10 with Print Screen

The quickest way to take a screenshot in Windows 10 is to use the PrtSc key. With the Print Screen, you can take screen shot of your entire screen or capture an active window. What you should know, the PrtSc key doesn’t always work on the first function. Some computer keyboards require users to press the function key to be able to access the PrtSc key. Before trying to use the print screen key, you need to check whether you should press the function key.


Taking screenshot of the entire screen

By pressing the PrtSc key, the tool copies the entire screen of your computer to the clipboard. You can paste the result into any software capable of processing images. For example, software like: Paint, Gimp, Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop are good examples of software capable of processing images.


Taking screenshot of an active Window

Hold down the Alt key and press the PrtSc key at the same time. The screenshot is added to your clipboard, then you can paste it in any software capable of processing images.


Taking screenshot of the entire screen and save it

To make PrtSc save your screenshot, you need to hold down the Windows key and press the PrtSc key at the same time. PrtSc will create a png file in your Screenshots folder inside the Pictures folder (C:\Users\YourUserName\Pictures\Screenshots).


How to make the PrtScn button open snipping tool

Right-click on Start, then select Settings. Or
You can also access the Windows 10 settings by pressing Windows and I keys at the same time.
In the Windows Settings window, click Ease of Access.
On the left side of the window, scroll down, then select Keyboard.
In the Print Screen shortcut section, click the switch in “Use the PrtScn button to open snipping” to turn it ON.
When you’re done, close the settings window.


How to take screenshot on Windows 10 with Snip & Sketch

Snip & Sketch tool gives the possibility to take full page screenshot in windows 10, screenshot location, free-form and other type of screenshot.


Go to the Windows 10 search bar, type snip, then click Snip & Sketch in the search result.
If for some reason you don’t have Snip & Sketch app installed on your computer, you can get Snip & Sketch in the Windows Store.
Press the New button located at the top left.
At the top of the new window you will see many kinds of snipping you can make, Like: Rectangular Snip, Freeform snip, Window Snip and Full Screen Snip.

A quick way to open Snip & Sketch is to simultaneously press Windows key + Shift + s; Your computer cursor will turn into a cross and a menu will appear at the top of your screen. The snipped image will be saved to your computer’s clipboard and you can paste it into any software capable using image.


How to take a screenshot with Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10

On your Windows 10 computer, simultaneously press Windows key + G.

At the top right, click the camera icon to take a screenshot. Then you will see a notification on the screen that displays the message “screenshot is saved” and if you click on the notification, you will open the captured photo. You can also used the default keyboard shortcut Windows key + Alt + PrtScn to take a screenshot with Game Bar.

By default, the screenshot taken with the Xbox Game Bar is saved to the location “C:\Users\Your-USERNAME\Videos\Captures”.

When you are done, press Esc or click anywhere to close the Xbox Game Bar.


To change shortcut in the Xbox Game Bar, click on the gear icon at the top to open Settings.

In the left side of the new window select shortcuts and you can set keys to open the Xbox game bar, take a screenshot with the Xbox game bar and others.


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