How to take a screenshot in Windows 11

How to snap your screen in the latest Microsoft OS

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

So, you’ve bought or updated your Windows device and you’re wondering how to take a screenshot inWindows 11. Well, you’re in the right place to learn!

WhileWindows 11brings a big redesign and a new start menu, the one constant feature that sticks around is the art of taking screenshots.

Using the Print Screen key and pasting it into Paint has always been the best method of sharing screenshots in emails andWhatsApp, but there are better ways of taking screen grabs of certain apps without having to manually save them into a folder every time.

We’ll show you how to take a screenshot of just one app in Windows 11 or the whole desktop if you need to. If you’re operating an older version ofMicrosoft’soperating system, the steps are pretty much the same, but we’ve also got instructions onhow to take a screenshot on Windowsfor a more general approach.

If you need to do the same on anAppledesktop or laptop, there are even easier methods to takescreenshots on a Macas well.

Steps for how to take a print screen on Windows 11

Tools and requirements

Make sure you know where your Print Screen key is on your keyboard, as this will be one of the most common methods in taking screenshots.

It may also be a second function for another key, in this case, you’ll need to press the ‘Fn’ key as well to take a screenshot.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

It may be labeled as the following:

Step by step guide for how to print screen your entire screen

1. Find and press your print screen button

As per our guidance above,find the print screen buttonon your keyboard or laptop.

Press this buttonand the image will now be in your clipboard ready to be pasted into your editing software of choice, a messaging platform, or wherever else you may need it.

Pressing the Windows key and Print Screenwill take a screenshot of everything that’s currently displayed, and will take this file into a folder, located inThis PC > Pictures > Screenshots.

Step by step guide for how to print screen using the Snipping Tool

The Windows Snip and Sketch tool is a much more flexible way to take your print screens, letting you capture a specific window or area on your screen and quickly edit the resulting image all in one place.

1. Open the Snipping Tool

Press the Windows key, Shift, and ‘S’ together to open the Snipping Tool application, or search for it in the Windows start menu.

You can also assign this application to the Print Screen key instead.Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.Find the option labeled ‘Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping’ andtoggle this on.Once this is enabled, you can press Print Screen and the Snipping Tool will open instead, giving you even more control in taking screenshots.

2. Take your screenshot

On the top of your screen, a toolbar will appear with four icons. The first allows you totake a screenshot using a rectangular selection, the second lets youtake a screenshot with freehand selection, the thirdscreenshots your entire window, and the final button triggers afull-screen capture.

If you’re taking a rectangular or freehand selection, simplydraw with the cursorthe area that you’d like to capture. For full-screen and window captures, simplypress the respective button.

3. Open or paste your screenshot

Your screenshot will have automatically saved to your clipboard, meaning you’re ready topaste the screenshot wherever you need it.

Alternatively, you can edit directly onto the screenshot byclicking the notificationthat will have appeared in the bottom right of your screen to open and edit the file.

The Snipping Tool has a variety of useful editing tools allowing you to highlight, annotate and draw straight lines directly onto your screenshot.

From here, you can save your screenshot byclicking the floppy disk iconor share it bypressing the arrow emerging from a box.

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

Alt + Tab trouble: Windows 11’s 24H2 update turns time-saving shortcut into ten-second headache

Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only

New fanless cooling technology enhances energy efficiency for AI workloads by achieving a 90% reduction in cooling power consumption