The Print Screen key, often abbreviated as PrtScr, is a handy tool on your PC keyboard that allows you to capture exactly what’s displayed on your screen. This action, known as taking a screenshot or screen capture, instantly copies the screen’s image to your computer’s clipboard. From there, you can paste it into various applications for sharing, editing, or saving. Whether you need to show someone exactly what you’re seeing, create a visual guide, or simply save a moment on your screen, understanding how to use the Print Screen function is essential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using the Print Screen key on your PC, covering different methods for capturing your entire screen, active windows, or a specific window.
Locating the Print Screen Key on Your Keyboard
Before you can start taking screenshots, it’s important to find the Print Screen key on your keyboard. Its location can vary slightly depending on whether you are using a desktop or laptop computer.
Desktop Keyboards: On most standard desktop keyboards, the Print Screen key is situated in the upper right-hand corner. You’ll typically find it near the function keys (F1, F2, etc.) and the number pad. The key may be labeled in several ways, including:
- Print Screen
- PrintScreen
- PrtScn
- PrntScr
- PrtSc
- PrntScrn
- PrntSc
For simplicity, we will use PrtScr throughout this article to refer to all these variations.
Laptop Keyboards: Laptop keyboards often have a more compact design, and the Print Screen key might be integrated with the function keys. In most cases, you’ll find the PrtScr function on one of the keys in the Function key row (F1 to F12). To activate the Print Screen function, you usually need to press and hold the Fn (Function) key simultaneously with the designated PrtScr key (often F10 or similar).
Some newer laptops feature capacitive Function Key rows which are illuminated. On these models, you might need to press the Fn key first to switch the function keys to their standard functions, including Print Screen, before using the PrtScr combination. Always refer to your laptop’s user manual for the most accurate information regarding your specific model.
It’s also worth noting that some compact keyboards, like the Dell Wireless Keyboard model KM3322W, might not have a dedicated Print Screen key at all. On such keyboards, you may need to use a combination like Fn + Insert to perform the Print Screen function.
Figure 1: Illustration of the print screen key on a Dell KM5221W wireless keyboard
Dell KM5221W wireless keyboard print screen key location
Figure 2: Illustration of the print screen key on a Dell Precision 5550 mobile workstation keyboard
Dell KM5221W wireless keyboard print screen key location
Figure 3: Illustration of a laptop with a capacitive Function Key row
[Image URL from original article for capacitive keyboard row illustration needed here – original article does not provide an image URL for Figure 3, so I will skip this image for now as per instructions to only use images from the original article]
Utilizing the Print Screen Key in Windows 11 and Windows 10
The way the Print Screen key operates is consistent across recent Windows operating systems like Windows 11 and Windows 10. Here’s a breakdown of the different methods you can use:
Capturing the Entire Screen
To take a screenshot of your entire display, including everything visible on your monitor(s), use the following methods:
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Using the Print Screen Key Alone: Simply pressing the PrtScr key will capture the entire screen and copy it to your clipboard. You won’t see any visual confirmation that a screenshot has been taken, but it’s there, ready to be pasted.
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Using Windows Key + Print Screen: For a more immediate and saved screenshot, press the Windows logo key + PrtScr keys together. When you use this combination, your screen will briefly dim, indicating that a screenshot has been taken. This method automatically saves the screenshot as a PNG file in the “Screenshots” folder within your “Pictures” library.
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On Tablets: If you are using a Windows tablet without a physical keyboard, you can capture the entire screen by pressing the Windows logo button and the volume down button simultaneously. Similar to the Windows Key + PrtScr method, this will save the screenshot to the “Screenshots” folder.
Capturing All Active Windows
If you have multiple windows open and want to capture all of them as they appear on your screen, use this method:
- Press the PrtScr key. This will capture all currently active windows and copy the combined image to your clipboard.
Capturing a Single Active Window
Sometimes you only need a screenshot of a specific window, rather than your entire screen or all open windows. To capture just the active window you are currently working in:
- First, ensure that the window you want to capture is active by clicking on it.
- Then, press the Alt + PrtScr keys together. This combination will capture only the currently active window and copy it to your clipboard.
Pasting and Using Your Screenshots
Once you have captured a screenshot using any of the methods above, the image is temporarily stored on your clipboard. To use or save the screenshot, you need to paste it into an application. Here are a few common options:
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Image Editors (Paint, Photoshop, GIMP): For editing, cropping, or saving your screenshot as an image file, open an image editing program like Microsoft Paint (which comes standard with Windows), Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or any other image editor you prefer. Create a new image document (if necessary) and then use the Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut (or right-click and select “Paste”) to paste the screenshot into the editor. From there, you can edit the image, add annotations, and save it in your desired format (JPEG, PNG, etc.).
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Documents and Emails: You can directly paste screenshots into documents (like Microsoft Word, Google Docs) or email messages. Simply open your document or email, place your cursor where you want the image to appear, and use Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.
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Other Applications: Many other applications also support pasting images from the clipboard. Experiment with pasting your screenshots into messaging apps, presentation software, or any other program where you want to use the image.
For more advanced screenshot options and screen recording capabilities, Windows also offers the Snipping Tool and the Snip & Sketch tool. These tools provide more flexibility in capturing specific regions of your screen, annotating screenshots, and even recording short videos of your screen activity. You can search for “Snipping Tool” or “Snip & Sketch” in your Windows search bar to access these utilities.
Taking screenshots on your PC using the Print Screen key is a fundamental skill that can significantly enhance your productivity and communication. By mastering these simple techniques, you can easily capture and share visual information directly from your computer screen.
