How to take a screenshot in Windows 10

Windows 10 screenshot shortcuts

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Security updates stopped unless you enrolled in extended updates, but every screenshot method here still works the same.

• PrtScn: copies the whole screen, all monitors, to the clipboard. No file is saved.
• Win + PrtScn: saves the whole screen as a PNG in Pictures\Screenshots. The screen dims briefly.
• Alt + PrtScn: copies only the active window to the clipboard.
• Win + Shift + S: opens the Snip & Sketch bar to select a rectangle, freeform shape, window or full screen, copied to the clipboard.
• Win + Alt + PrtScn: saves a Game Bar screenshot of the active app to Videos\Captures.
• Fn + PrtScn: on laptops where Print Screen shares a key.

How to take a screenshot with Snip & Sketch

For a delayed screenshot, open Snip & Sketch from the Start menu, click the arrow next to New and choose Snip in 3 seconds or Snip in 10 seconds.

1. Press Win + Shift + S. The screen dims and a bar appears at the top.
2. Choose Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip or Fullscreen Snip.
3. Select the area. The snip is copied to the clipboard and a notification appears.
4. Click the notification to open it in Snip & Sketch. Crop it, write on it with the pen or highlighter, or use the ruler for straight lines.
5. Press Ctrl + S to save it as PNG, JPG or GIF, or Ctrl + C to copy the edited version.

Using the classic Snipping Tool in Windows 10

Windows 10 also includes the older Snipping Tool. Search for it in the Start menu. Pick a Mode (Free-form, Rectangular, Window or Full-screen), set a Delay of 1 to 5 seconds if you need one, then click New and select the area.

The snip opens in a small editor with a pen and highlighter. Use File, then Save As to keep it. Unlike Windows 11, nothing is saved automatically, so save or paste each snip before you take the next one.

Print Screen in Windows 10

On Windows 10, PrtScn works silently: it copies the screen and shows nothing. Open Paint, Word or an email and press Ctrl + V to see it. In Paint, crop it with Select and Crop, then press Ctrl + S to save a file.

You can make PrtScn open the snipping bar instead, like Windows 11 does. Go to Settings, Ease of Access, Keyboard, and turn on Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping. On many laptops you also need to hold Fn with PrtScn.

Where screenshots are saved in Windows 10

Turn on clipboard history in Settings, System, Clipboard, and Win + V shows your recent screenshots so you do not lose one by copying something else.

• Win + PrtScn: Pictures\Screenshots, named Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png and so on.
• PrtScn, Alt + PrtScn and Win + Shift + S: the clipboard only, until you paste or save.
• Game Bar: Videos\Captures.
• OneDrive: if OneDrive is set to save screenshots, or backs up your Pictures folder, look in OneDrive\Pictures\Screenshots.

How to take a scrolling screenshot in Windows 10

Windows 10 has no scrolling or full page screenshot built in. Snip & Sketch, Snipping Tool and PrtScn only capture what is on the screen. For a whole web page, use the browser.

1. In Chrome, open the page and scroll to the bottom once so images load.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + I to open developer tools, then Ctrl + Shift + P.
3. Type screenshot and choose Capture full size screenshot. The PNG goes to Downloads.

• Edge: press Ctrl + Shift + S and choose the full page option.
• Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + S and click Save full page.
• Extension: the free NeoReader Full Page Screenshot extension for Chrome, Edge and Firefox captures the whole page in one click, with an editor to crop, add arrows and text and blur private details, then saves PNG, JPG or PDF. FireShot and GoFullPage are other extensions in this category.

When screenshots do not work in Windows 10

• PrtScn seems to do nothing: the screenshot is on the clipboard. Paste it with Ctrl + V.
• Win + PrtScn does not dim the screen: the file may still be saved. Check Pictures\Screenshots, and OneDrive.
• No notification after Win + Shift + S: turn on notifications for Snip & Sketch in Settings, System, Notifications & actions.
• Snip & Sketch will not open: go to Settings, Apps, select Snip & Sketch, open Advanced options and choose Reset.
• Another app has taken over PrtScn: screenshot and cloud apps can claim the key. Change the hotkey in that app.

After the screenshot

Our free web tools help with the next step. Screenshot to PDF combines several screenshots into one PDF with the page size you choose. Screenshot to Text copies the words out of a screenshot. Both run in your browser and the images stay on your device.