You might already be a master at taking screenshots on your Android or iOS smartphone. But do you know how to take a screenshot on your PC? You might be a student who needs to take a screen capture during one of your online classes or a professional working from home, who needs a screenshot of an important presentation during a meeting. No matter how critical a situation you are in, fortunately, taking a screenshot on your PC is a matter of only milliseconds today. Here are the quickest and smartest 7 ways how to take a screenshot on Windows 11 in 2023.
Table of Contents
Using The PrintScreen Key
The easiest method to take a screenshot on your Windows 11 PC is by pressing the PrintScreen key (PrtScn or PrtScr) on your keyboard. When you press the PrintScreen key solely, the system takes a snapshot of your current screen and copies it to the clipboard. The screenshot gets stored temporarily in your PC’s memory. You can then directly go to the document, file, or space where you want to attach the screenshot and press Ctrl+V to paste it.
However, remember that if you press the PrtScn key once and then press it again without pasting or saving the previous screenshot in a document, the former capture would be lost. This means that you would only be able to retrieve the screenshot taken from your latest PrtScn button press. Every time you press the PrintScreen key, you have to manually store it at the required place. Hence, do not forget to save the screen capture before you head on to take the next screenshot and press the PrtScn key again.
Read also: How To Take A Screenshot On Your iPad (2022)? Top 3 Best Ways
Using PrintScreen + Windows Key
An even faster method to take a screenshot on your Windows 11 PC is by pressing the Windows key along with the PrintScreen key simultaneously. By using the Windows + PrtScn shortcut, the captured screenshot automatically gets stored in the Screenshots folder within the Pictures folder on your system, so you won’t have to worry about data loss. You can easily access these by going to File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots.
Note that in case you haven’t used this shortcut before, the Screenshots folder might not be visible to you at first. However, once you press the Windows + PrtScn keys, the folder automatically gets created, storing the capture within it. From here, you can access all your Windows 11 screenshots anytime you want.
Using The Snipping Tool
Windows 11 also provides its users with a built-in Snipping Tool. You can use this Snipping Tool in case you want a screenshot of only a specific part of the screen and not the entire screen itself. To access the Snipping toolbar, you need to press Windows Key + Shift + S keys together. You are provided with a couple of tools which help you with selecting the required area you want to snip, in the required shape. All you need to do is select the required tool, drag your mouse and release when you are satisfied with the results.
Once you’ve created your screenshot, a thumbnail of the capture appears on the bottom right corner of your Windows screen for a couple of seconds. You can click on it for editing it further or saving it at the required location.
Read also: How To Highlight, Draw And Write On Android Smartphone Screenshots
Using The PrintScreen Key For Screen Snipping
If pressing a combination of keys sounds a little complicated to you, you still don’t have to worry. Windows 11 allows you to set the PrtScn key as the button for directly opening up the Snipping Tool. All you have to do is go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and toggle on the ‘Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping’ option. That’s it!
Now you can get a refined screenshot via the Snipping Tool anytime you want, straight away by pressing the PrtScn button on the keyboard.
Use the Xbox Gamebar
You may not be familiar with the Xbox Gamebar if you’re not a gamer, but it is a great tool to take quick screenshots and record your PC’s screen. Press Windows + G to launch the Gamebar, or simply search for it on the taskbar. Once launched, use the camera icon to open the ‘Capture’ toolbar. Click the camera icon in the Capture toolbar to take a quick screenshot.
Use a third-party app
If you can’t get the Snipping Tool or Xbox Gamebar to work on your PC, there are plenty of third-party apps in the Microsoft Store that will help you take a quick screenshot. Nimble Screenshots and Screenshot Easy are two of the best apps you can use to take a screenshot on a Windows PC.
Take a screenshot on Microsoft Surface
Since Microsoft Surface’s keyboard attachment does not have a PrtScn key, users often wonder how to take a quick screenshot on the tablet. The answer is quite simple. Windows Surface follows the same method as most Android tablets. Simply press the power key and volume up button simultaneously to take a quick screenshot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I take a quick screenshot on a Windows 11 PC?
Press the Windows + PrtScn keys to take a quick screenshot of the entire screen on your Windows 11 PC. To take a screenshot of a portion of the screen, press Windows + Shift + S keys together.
How do I take a screenshot on Windows 11 without using the PrtScn key?
Press Windows + Shift + S to take a screenshot or use third-party apps like Nimble Screenshot and Screenshot Easy to capture the screen without using the PrtScn key.
How do I take a screenshot on Microsoft Surface?
To take a screenshot on Microsoft Surface, simply press the Volume Up + Power buttons together.
Conclusion
So these were the 7 quickest and smartest ways to take a screenshot on Windows 11 in 2023. If you know of any better ways for the same, then do share with the rest of us in the comments section below.
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