Print Screen Not Working? Quick Fixes to Capture Your Screen

Are you struggling to take a screenshot on your Windows computer because the print screen button seems to have stopped working? It’s a common frustration, especially when you need to quickly capture something on your screen to share or save. Fortunately, there are several easy solutions to get your screen capturing capabilities back on track. This guide will walk you through various methods to fix the “print screen not working” issue and ensure you can capture your screen effortlessly again.

Common Keyboard Shortcuts for Print Screen

One of the quickest ways to take a screenshot in Windows is by using keyboard shortcuts. Here are a few combinations to try if your Print Screen key isn’t functioning as expected:

• Windows Key + PrtScn: This is often the most straightforward method. Pressing the Windows key and the Print Screen key simultaneously should automatically capture your entire screen and save it as a PNG file in the “Screenshots” folder within your Pictures library (typically located at C:UsersYourAccountNamePicturesScreenshots).

• Windows Key + PrtScn + FN Key: On some laptops, especially compact models, the Print Screen key might be a secondary function shared with another key. In these cases, you might need to press the Function (FN) key along with the Windows key and Print Screen key to activate the screenshot function. Check your laptop’s keyboard layout to see if the PrtScn key is combined with another function.

• Windows Key + PrtScn + FN + Alt: This combination is designed to capture only the currently active window, rather than the entire screen. The captured screenshot is saved to the “Captures” folder within your Videos library (usually at C:UsersYourAccountNameVideosCaptures). This can be useful when you only need to grab a specific application window and not everything else on your desktop.

If none of these keyboard shortcuts are working, don’t worry, there are alternative methods.

Using the Snipping Tool

Windows offers a built-in utility called the Snipping Tool, which is a versatile alternative to the Print Screen key. The Snipping Tool provides more control over what you capture and how you capture it.

To access the Snipping Tool:

1. Click on the Start Menu (Windows icon).
2. Type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar.
3. Click on Snipping Tool to open the application.

Once the Snipping Tool is open, you have several options:

• Mode: Choose the type of snip you want to take:
  • Free-form Snip: Draw a freehand shape around the area you want to capture.
  • Rectangular Snip: Drag a rectangle to select the area to capture.
  • Window Snip: Capture a single window (like a browser window or application).
  • Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire screen (similar to the standard Print Screen key).
• Delay: Set a delay in seconds before the snip is taken. This is helpful if you need to capture menus or actions that disappear quickly.
• New: Click “New” to start a new snip based on your chosen mode and delay.

After you capture a snip, it opens in the Snipping Tool window where you can annotate, save, or copy it to your clipboard. The Snipping Tool is a reliable way to take screenshots even if your Print Screen key is malfunctioning.

Enable Print Screen Shortcut in Settings

In some cases, the Print Screen shortcut might be disabled in your Windows settings. You can easily check and enable it in the Ease of Access settings:

1. Open Settings. You can do this by pressing Windows Key + I or by clicking on the Start Menu and selecting the Settings gear icon.
2. Click on Ease of Access.
3. Select Keyboard from the left-hand menu.
4. Scroll down to the section labeled “Print Screen shortcut”.
5. Toggle the switch under “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” to On.

With this setting enabled, pressing the Print Screen key (or PrtScn + FN key on some laptops) will launch the screen snipping tool, which darkens your screen and allows you to select an area to capture. This is another way to utilize the Print Screen key functionality if the standard shortcuts are not working as expected.

External Keyboards

If you are using an external keyboard with your laptop or desktop, it’s worth noting that external keyboards might behave differently compared to built-in keyboards. For example, an external keyboard might not require the use of the FN key even if your laptop’s built-in keyboard typically needs it for the Print Screen function. Experiment with the Print Screen key alone and with the FN key to see which combination works with your external keyboard.

By trying these solutions, you should be able to overcome the “Print Screen Is Not Working” issue and get back to easily capturing screenshots on your Windows computer. Whether it’s through keyboard shortcuts, the Snipping Tool, or adjusting your settings, Windows provides multiple ways to handle screen capture needs.