Taking a screenshot, also known as a screen capture or print screen, is a fundamental skill for any PC user. Whether you need to share something you see on your screen, create a visual guide, or simply save a moment, knowing how to print screen on your PC is essential. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to capture your screen on Windows, covering everything from locating the Print Screen key to using your screenshots effectively.
Understanding the Print Screen Key
The magic behind capturing your screen on a Windows PC is the Print Screen key. But where exactly is this key located on your keyboard?
On a standard desktop keyboard, you’ll typically find the Print Screen key in the upper right-hand corner, often near the function keys (F12, Scroll Lock, Pause Break). The key might be labeled in various ways, including Print Screen, PrtScn, PrntScr, PrtSc, PrntScrn, or similar abbreviations. In this guide, we’ll use PrtScr as a general representation for all these variations.
Illustration of the print screen key on Dell Precision 5550 mobile workstation keyboard
Laptop keyboards may position the Print Screen key slightly differently, often integrating it with the Function keys (F1 to F12) at the top. In many cases, you’ll need to press the Fn (Function) key in combination with the designated Function key (often F10 or similar, look for PrtScr on the keycap) to activate the print screen function.
Illustration of the print screen key on Dell Precision 5550 mobile workstation keyboard
Important Notes:
- Some compact laptop keyboards, like certain Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combos (e.g., model KM3322W), might not have a dedicated Print Screen key. On these keyboards, you usually need to press Fn + Insert to perform a print screen.
- Laptops with capacitive Function Key rows (where the function keys are touch-sensitive and illuminated) require you to press the Fn key to switch the function keys to their standard functions, which will reveal the Print Screen key option. Consult your laptop’s user manual for specific instructions if you have this type of keyboard.
Figure 3: Illustration of a laptop with a capacitive Function Key row
Print Screen Methods in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Windows offers several ways to use the Print Screen key to capture your screen, depending on what you need to capture:
Capturing the Entire Screen
To take a screenshot of your entire screen, including everything you see on all monitors if you have multiple displays, simply press the PrtScr key.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, for even quicker saving of the full screen capture, you can press the Windows logo key + PrtScr keys simultaneously. This method not only captures the entire screen but also automatically saves the screenshot as a file. You can find these saved screenshots in the Screenshots folder within your Pictures library.
For Windows tablets without a physical keyboard, you can usually capture the entire screen by pressing the Windows logo button + the volume down button together. Similar to the keyboard shortcut, this also typically saves the screenshot to the Screenshots folder.
Capturing All Active Windows
If you want to capture all currently open and active windows on your screen, press the PrtScr key by itself. This will capture a snapshot of all your active windows and copy it to the clipboard. The clipboard is a temporary storage area in your computer’s memory. The screenshot is not saved as a file automatically with this method.
Capturing a Single Active Window
To capture only a specific window that you are currently working in, first, make sure that window is active by clicking on it. Then, press the Alt + PrtScr keys together. This will capture only the content of that active window and copy it to the clipboard, leaving out any other windows or your desktop background.
Using Your Screenshot After Capture
Once you’ve captured your screen using any of the Print Screen methods above (except for the Windows logo key + PrtScr method which saves to file), the screenshot is temporarily stored on your clipboard. To use or save this screenshot, you need to paste it into an application.
The most common application for pasting and working with screenshots is Microsoft Paint, which comes pre-installed with Windows. You can also use other image editing software like Photoshop, GIMP, or even document applications like Microsoft Word or email clients.
To paste your screenshot, open your chosen application and press Ctrl + V (hold down the Ctrl key and press V). This will paste the screenshot from your clipboard into the application.
From there, you can:
- Edit your screenshot: Use the application’s tools to crop, annotate, highlight, or make other changes to your screenshot.
- Save your screenshot: Save the screenshot as an image file (like JPEG, PNG, or GIF) in your desired location on your computer.
- Share your screenshot: Insert the screenshot into documents, emails, presentations, or share it online.
Beyond Print Screen: Exploring the Snipping Tool
While the Print Screen key is a quick and easy way to capture your screen, Windows also offers a more versatile tool called the Snipping Tool. The Snipping Tool provides more advanced capture options, such as capturing free-form selections, rectangular areas, specific windows, or full-screen captures, with options for delayed capture and annotation. It’s a powerful built-in utility for more refined screen capture needs. You can search for “Snipping Tool” in your Windows search bar to open and explore its features.
Conclusion
Learning how to print screen on your PC is a simple yet incredibly useful skill. By mastering the Print Screen key and its combinations, you can easily capture and share anything on your screen. Whether you need to grab a quick snapshot or create detailed visual documentation, these methods provide the foundation for effective screen capturing on your Windows PC.
