How to Screenshot on Windows 10

Shaun
Dec 26, 2022
Tutorials, Windows 10
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7

Whether you work from home or want to show an achievement from the game you’re playing, the screenshot function has become vital to those with Windows 10. While there are some standard shortcuts on the operating system, there may be some you’re not aware of.

Here’s a quick look at how to screenshot on Windows 10 and how to use each of them. I’ll also show you which one I have a preference for and why.

The Infamous Print Screen function

The first screenshot option for Windows 10 I want to introduce you to is the Print Screen button. Surely, you know this one by now. However, it’s the skill of mastering how to use it that’s essential. Here are some tips for combinations you can try:

  • PrtSc on its own: this takes a screenshot on Windows 10 of the entire screen
  • Alt + PrtSc: takes a snapshot of the window that’s open on your screen, but you need to paste the contents onto another app to save it, like Paint or Photoshop
  • Windows + PrtSc: carried over from Windows 8, saving a PNG file to your default picture folder

How to Screenshot on Windows 10

Snip & Sketch

Did you know that Windows 10 comes with a Snip & Sketch function? Basically, you hold Shift-Windows-S to take a screenshot. When you see a message appear saying that it’s been saved to the clipboard, you click on it. This action will open the Snip & Sketch tool. You’ll be able to crop, resize, edit, and save the image in a chosen folder.

If the option doesn’t work for you, it means it’s disabled on your device. Here’s how you can enable Snip & Sketch on Windows 10:

  • Open Windows Settings
  • Select Ease of Access
  • Click on Keyboard
  • Select Use the PrtSc Button to Open Screen Snipping
  • Restart Windows

If you don’t like having it as your default screenshot tool on Windows 10, you can disable it in the same way.

How to Screenshot on Windows 10

OneDrive

Here’s another app that uses the PrtScr function, but you’ll need to enable it in the settings. Once you do so, it will save the images to your OneDrive on the cloud. You’ll be able to access it whenever you want, especially when using apps like OneNote.

There’s a catch, though. It will use your storage space on the cloud, which means you’ll need to delete some screenshots or pay to upgrade the storage when it becomes full.

How to Screenshot on Windows 10

Windows Game Bar

Here’s my favorite built-in Windows 10 and Windows 11 screenshot tool. When you press Windows+G, the Game Bar opens with a plethora of tools. Not only can you take a shot of your screen, but you can record with or without audio. It’s one of the top ways to record your gaming, but it could improve with a live streaming feature so that we don’t have to rely on other apps. You can even indicate in which folder you want all your recordings.

How to Screenshot on Windows 10

Third-party apps

While I don’t really recommend this method since there are so many Windows 10 tools already, many people turn to this option. There are tons of third-party tools that let you take screenshots and then edit them. SnagIt is probably one of the most popular ones.

How to Screenshot on Windows 10

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Comments

  1. ignoramusgenericus said on January 4, 2023 at 4:15 am
    Reply

    The recent ‘Shaun-bashing’ is not justified. His articles will improve in time.

    Give the lad a break.

  2. VioletMoon said on December 27, 2022 at 5:08 pm
    Reply

    Why delete a comment that is well within gHacks guidelines?

    Repost–if nothing else, readers, with hope, will start searching gHacks excellent archive vault.

    I perused gHacks for screenshot tools and found some excellent, wonderful ideas. Most of the site’s articles were produced by Martin, but Ashwin contributed to the batch of ideas. Notice the difference in style and depth–

    https://www.ghacks.net/2017/04/15/whats-the-fastest-way-to-take-a-screenshot-on-windows-10/

    [Note the table at the end of the article that summarized the different Windows commands–brilliant work from long ago.]

    Another Martin article covering some great screenshot software; I just fell in love with ScreenShot Captor Portable–for blogging or tutorials it even beat Problem Steps Recorder:

    https://www.ghacks.net/overview-best-screenshot-software/

    A couple of programs recommended by veteran users of screenshot programs:

    https://www.ghacks.net/2019/06/24/auto-screen-capture-for-windows/

    and

    https://www.ghacks.net/2021/06/23/lightscreen-is-a-minimalistic-screenshot-tool-for-windows/

    Aren’t the above articles those that we, the readers, applauded and needed for our own growth?

    Addictive Tips was the only other site I found with superb recommendations:

    https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/5-best-free-screen-capture-software-for-windows/

    and

    https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/top-6-free-photo-sharing-and-screenshot-taking-tools-for-windows/

    Why the “dummying down” of gHacks? Truly bewildered!

    I better have the comment saved since so many of mine are being deleted. I seriously need the information.

  3. Andy Prough said on December 27, 2022 at 5:37 am
    Reply

    Flameshot on GNU/Linux seems like it’s way better than these. Windows users are in sad shape if these are the only options.

  4. GI JANE said on December 26, 2022 at 8:02 pm
    Reply

    The red arrow in the first photo arouses feelings of love in me.

    I’m so very glad it’s there, otherwise, how would I know what key to press?

    I would like more informative articles like this, with many more red arrows. In fact, scrap the articles and just post photos of different types of arrows, especially red ones.

  5. 769 said on December 26, 2022 at 3:13 pm
    Reply

    What I was meaning to say earlier on (before I got slightly disorientated due to the poorly implemented link text). Is you are actually creating unnecessary “Web Accessibility barriers” for your readers by repeatedly following those bad linking practices.

    According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), by the end of 2017, 9.4% of Germany’s total population suffers from some type of disability.

    Link text should be meaningful enough to make sense when read out of context. If more than one link on a page shares the same link text, all those links should point to the same resource.

    It’s not just a case of this article looking like a ‘marketing robot’ has malfunctioned and automatically created some of the links based upon keywords. The bigger problem is; unfortunately it’s leading to actual comprehension problems for your “human readers”. It is certainly creating some “web accessibility barriers” (for people that have disabilities, me included). That’s why I recommended you consider adjusting the links to something more accessible. :-(

  6. WorknMan said on December 26, 2022 at 2:31 pm
    Reply

    WTF are you guys doing? This is Ghacks, not Gn00bs.

  7. 769 said on December 26, 2022 at 12:47 pm
    Reply

    The author’s written ‘link randomness’ within this article comes across as very misleading, untrustworthy and lastly unprofessional… PEBCAK. I suggest, you get the article’s links corrected.

    For example, of a few of these link errors: “Here’s a quick look at how to screenshot on Windows 10 […/how-to-make-bootable-windows-10-usb-drive/] and how to use each of them. I’ll also show you which one I have a preference for […/2018/05/01/all-the-issues-of-windows-10-version-1803-you-may-run-into/] and why.”

    Clearly (see quoted text above) the first link leads to an article on “Boot disks” not “Screen shots” and the other link relates to “software bugs”, which is – presumably – not written by Shaun Jooste either.

    Furthermore, some of links lower down are in no better shape, i.e. the text doesn’t in the slightness bit correspond with what is supposedly being written about. Perhaps with the exception of the text for Softonic advert for “Snip & Sketch”. :-?

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