Hello! As in Windows 10, Microsoft has integrated several ways to take screenshots in the latest version of its operating system. Certainly, way to take a screenshot is still inconsistently presented across multiple system applications. However, for some time now, users have more options than ever to take screenshots. Today we will look at all the ways you have at your disposal to take screenshots in Windows 11 natively. We’ll also talk about some additional methods and applications worth mentioning if you want advanced screenshot features. Stay reading to learn How to take screenshots in Windows 11.
Multiple ways to take screenshots in Windows 11
In Windows 11 we have several ways to take screenshots. Especially using the different keyboard shortcuts. This way, we will be able to access this function in multiple ways. Please note that the function is presented through numerous native Windows applications. In fact, there is not yet a specific and centralized way to capture, view the image taken and share.
Microsoft divides the location in which we can make screenshots. Certainly the main app is the snipping tool. However, we can also take screenshots from the game bar, or through its various keyboard shortcuts. Read on to find out how to access all its ways.
The classic Print Screen
Undoubtedly the most common way to take a screenshot and the one that everyone knows. This method of taking screenshots is very easy to use. All we have to do is press the Prt sc or Sys rq key on our keyboard.
When you have pressed this key, Windows will save a full screen capture of your screen to the clipboard. If we have several monitors, it will make a capture in which all our screens will appear. Its use is very comfortable, although not very practical in certain circumstances. That is why the following methods may suit you better.
Alt + Print screen
A method similar to the one explained above. However, it has a clear difference. In fact, it will take a screenshot only of the screen we have active. To access this function, just press the key combination Alt + PrtScr.
This method comes in handy when we have several screens on our system. This way, if we want to take a full screen capture of a specific monitor, we just select the active screen with the mouse and use the mentioned combination.
Win + Print screen
Saving an image to the clipboard is a quick way to be able to share the capture in the different applications of our computer. However, Windows requires apps such as paint to paste the screenshot and save it manually. For those situations, we find this keyboard shortcut.
With the key combination Win+PrtScr, it is possible to save a complete screenshot as a file. The screenshot will then be saved under This PC>Pictures>Screenshots. As with PrtScr, if we have multiple monitors, a screenshot of all our panels will be saved.
The snipping tool, an app with increasing functionality
Microsoft has made the Snipping tool the main Snipping app on Windows 11. Certainly in Windows 10 it is still divided into Snipping and Snip and sketch, in Windows 11 the functions of both mentioned apps are merged into one. In the snipping tool, we can take a screenshot of a specific portion and in multiple ways. This applies to rectangular cropping, window cropping, full screen cropping, or free cropping.
Once we have selected the snippet and the portion of the screen we want to capture, the tool will offer us a simple way to edit the capture. In fact, we will be able to paint over it, erase it, copy the screenshot, and even send it via e-mail. A feature that mimics the method that exists on macOS for capturing a screen will soon be coming to the snipping tool. In fact, using a combination of keys, we will be able to select the portion of the screen we want to capture, and it will be directly saved to a file. In this way, we can easily share the capture.
Win+Shift+S, the ultimate shortcut.
The cropping tool can also be invoked through the Win+Shift+S key combination. In this way, we will be able to crop a portion of the screen immediately, and in the way we want.
After taking the screenshot, the clipping will be copied to the clipboard. However, we can also save the screenshot as a file if we click on the warning that appears in the lower right corner after taking the screenshot. If we do so, Windows will open the snipping tool we talked about earlier. So we can save the screenshot or edit it as we wish.
Xbox Game Bar also allows you to take screenshots
The integrated game bar in Windows 10 and 11 also allows us to take screenshots comfortably. It certainly allows us to do the hub function, being able to see the performance of our PC, record video in a particular application or game. However, we can also take screenshots easily.
To take a screenshot, all we have to do is press Windows + G to open the toolbar. Then select the Capture option located in the upper left corner. This same function can be accessed directly by pressing the key combination Win+Alt+PrintScr. When taking the screenshot, it will be saved as a file in the location C:\User\Videos\Captures.
This feature also allows us to share directly on Twitter. We can even create a meme from the screenshot. Simply type text at the top and bottom to create a standard format meme.
Additional applications
In case you are looking for alternative ways to take screenshots and more advanced and complete features, you can try other apps. For example, Lightshot or ShareX . The first one is an easy and intuitive tool to take quick screenshots for sharing. On the other hand, ShareX offers a whole range of possibilities and keyboard shortcuts to cover all our needs. In addition, in ShareX we can also extract text from an image. In short, there are all kinds of applications available for all tastes. Very well, in this way we have seen how to take screenshots in Windows 11. Bye!
