When we are browsing the internet, watching a movie, images, etc., or maybe for some reason, we may want to take a screenshot. Windows 10 have various options to do so. While taking the screenshot, we can also capture the entire Window or a piece of Window.
Earlier, in the traditional Windows operating system, we used the keyboard button labeled “PrtScn” or “prt sc.” When our keyboard layout is mixed with Function Key (fn), we need to press and hold the function key and press the PrtScn key to take the screenshot using the keyboard.
The print screen key captures the entire screen, and if we need a piece of it only, we have to edit it to get the desired results. However, there are some combinations of keys to solving this problem:-
- PrtScn – When PrtScn (Print Screen) key is pressed, it captures the entire active window and keeps it in the clipboard. We can paste this screenshot into any compatible program like MS Word, Paint, etc.
- Alt + PrtScn – When the Alt + PrtScn key is pressed simultaneously, it only captures the active window and keeps it in the clipboard. We can paste this screenshot into any compatible program like MS Word, Paint, etc.
- Windows Key + Shift + S – When we press the Windows Key + Shift + S combination, the screen gets dimmed, and the mouse pointer changes. It also captures the screenshot and keeps it in the clipboard, which we can paste into any compatible program.
- Windows Key + PrtScn – This combination of keys saves the entire screen in an image file in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
With time, Microsoft has also improved Windows 10 screen capturing method. In Windows 10, there is an inbuilt tool to take the screenshot of the opened window’s desired portion, called the Snipping Tool.
The Snipping Tool is helpful for those who usually capture the desired piece of the active window screen. Snipping Tool directly allows saving the image in the selected folder.
How to take a screenshot in Windows 10 using the Snipping Tool?
Step 1. For using the Snipping Tool in Windows 10, open the Start menu and type Snipping.
Step 2. Click Snipping Tool to launch it in the available search results.
Step 3. Now, select the desired mode of shape from the Mode menu, e.g., Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip.
Step 4. After that, click New and drag the mouse by pressing the left key to capturing the desired active screen area. The screen will be frozen till we capture the screenshot.
Step 5. Finally, we can save the screenshot in the desired location.
