To snippet on Windows, press the Windows logo key + Shift + S to instantly open the Snipping Tool overlay. This built-in app lets you capture any part of your screen, copy it to your clipboard, and edit it right away.
How to snippet on Windows with the Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is the built-in Windows application for taking screenshots, also called snips. It is the primary method to "snippet" on Windows, and the quickest way to open it is the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Shift + S, which brings up a dimmed overlay so you can immediately choose your capture area.
Open the Snipping Tool
There are three ways to launch the tool, depending on your preference:
- Use the keyboard shortcut, Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top, letting you start snipping right away. This is the fastest method for a quick screenshot.
- Search from the Start menu, Select the Start button, type "snipping tool," and then select it from the results. This opens the full Snipping Tool application window where you can adjust settings before capturing.
- Configure the Print Screen key, The Print Screen (PrtSc) key can be configured in Windows settings to open the Snipping Tool overlay for screen snipping. This is useful if you want a dedicated hardware button to start every capture.
Choose your snipping mode
The Snipping Tool offers four capture modes for screenshots, each suited for a different purpose:
- Rectangular snip, Drag your cursor to draw a rectangle around the area you want. Use this for capturing a specific section of a window, a dialog box, or any clearly defined region.
- Freeform snip, Draw an irregular shape around the area you want. This is ideal for capturing an object with curved edges, like a logo or a non-rectangular graphic.
- Window snip, Hover your cursor over an open window and click to capture just that window, including its title bar and borders. Perfect for documenting a single application without the desktop clutter.
- Full-screen snip, Capture everything visible on your screen, including all open windows and the taskbar. Use this when you need a complete record of your current workspace.
Capture and annotate your snip
After selecting your mode, click and drag (or click on a window) to define the capture area. The image immediately opens in the Snipping Tool editor. The Snipping Tool editor allows for basic image editing, including using a pen, highlighter, eraser, and cropping tool. You can draw attention to specific details with the pen, mark important text with the highlighter, remove stray marks with the eraser, or trim unwanted edges with the crop tool. This is useful because you can mark up the screenshot right after taking it, without needing a separate image editor.
Save or copy your screenshot
After capturing a snip, it is automatically copied to your clipboard and a notification appears, which you can select to open the image in the Snipping Tool editor. To keep it as a permanent file, use the Save As option in the editor to choose a location and file name. This is useful because you get both instant sharing and permanent storage from a single capture.
Use the delay for perfect timing
You can delay a snip capture by 1-5 seconds using the "Delay" option within the Snipping Tool, which is useful for capturing menus or transient elements. For example, if you need to capture a right-click context menu that disappears the moment you press a key, set a 3-second delay, then trigger the menu. The tool waits the specified time before taking the snapshot, giving you time to set up the on-screen content you want to capture.
Record a video clip instead
To capture a video clip, open the Snipping Tool, select the Record button, then select New, or press Windows logo key + Shift + R. This switches from screenshot mode to screen recording mode, letting you capture a video of your screen activity. This is useful because you can demonstrate a process or capture a moving element, such as an animation or a series of steps, without taking multiple still screenshots.
