How to Take a Screenshot Using a Windows PC

You can take a screenshot of your entire screen in Windows by pressing the Print Screen key and pasting the screenshot in Paint. Alternatively, save a screenshot of a window or screen area by using the Snipping Tool in Windows 8 or 7.

Using the Print Screen Key

Step 1

Press the Print Screen key to save a screenshot of the entire screen.

Video of the Day

Tip

The key can be labeled either as Print Screen or in an abbreviated form, such as Print Scr or Prt Scr.
You can find the Print Screen key either near the top of the keyboard or near its bottom, between the right Alt and Ctrl keys.
Some laptops do not have a Print Screen key. Refer to your computer's documentation to find out if an alternate key combination -- such as Fn + a number key -- exists or use the Snipping Tool to capture your screen.

Step 2

Launch Paint by typing Paint in your Windows Start Screen or Menu and selecting the application from the list of results. Press Ctrl+V to paste your screenshot in the blank image Paint automatically creates upon launch.

Resize the screenshot by clicking the Resize & Skew icon in the Image group.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Tip

Crop your screenshot if needed by selecting the area you want to preserve using the Select tool and clicking the Crop icon in the Image group.
As an alternative to Paint, certain image sharing services -- such as Imgur -- let you upload a photo saved in your clipboard to the Web by pressing Ctrl+V.

Step 3

Save your screenshot by clicking File and selecting Save. Name the file and select a suitable file format from the drop-down menu. Finally, click the Save button.

Click Send in Email to send the screenshot using your default email application.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Using the Snipping Tool

Step 1

Launch the Snipping Tool by opening your Start Menu or Start Screen, typing Snipping in the search box and selecting the program from the search results.

Step 2

Click New and select the screen area you want to capture by dragging a rectangle box around it.

Snipping Tool

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Tip

Click the arrow next to New to open a menu that lets you select an entire window, your whole screen or use a free-form selection tool instead of the default rectangular box.

Step 3

Click the Save icon to save your screenshot.

Write notes or highlight sections of your screenshot by using the Pen or Highlighter tools.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Tip

Click the Send Snip icon in the toolbar to send your screen capture by email.