Taking a screenshot, also known as a screen capture or print screen, is a fundamental skill for any computer user. Whether you need to share information, document steps, or simply save what’s on your screen, knowing how to print screen on your Dell device is essential. This guide will walk you through the various methods to capture your screen on Dell desktops and laptops, running Windows operating systems.
Understanding the Print Screen Key on Your Dell
The Print Screen key, often abbreviated as PrtScr, is your gateway to capturing screenshots on Dell devices. Locating this key is the first step.
Where to find the Print Screen key:
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Dell Desktop Keyboards: Typically, the PrtScr key resides in the upper right-hand corner of your keyboard, often near the Function keys and the Scroll Lock and Pause Break keys. You might see labels like Print Screen, PrtScn, PrtScr, PrtSc, or similar variations.
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Dell Laptop Keyboards: On Dell laptops, the PrtScr key is commonly found within the Function key row (F1 to F12). You may need to press the Fn (Function) key in combination with the designated Function key (often F10) to activate the print screen function.
Some Dell wireless keyboard models, like the KM3322W, may require using the Fn key in combination with the Insert key to perform a print screen, as they lack a dedicated PrtScr button. Always refer to your Dell product manual for specifics if you’re unsure.
Figure 1: Location of the Print Screen key on a Dell desktop keyboard
Dell KM5221W wireless keyboard print screen key location
Figure 2: Print Screen key highlighted on a Dell Precision 5550 mobile workstation laptop keyboard
Dell KM5221W wireless keyboard print screen key location
Figure 3: Example of a Dell laptop keyboard with capacitive Function Keys row
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Print Screen Methods in Windows 10 and Windows 11 on Dell PCs
Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer several built-in methods to utilize the Print Screen key for different types of screen captures on your Dell computer.
1. Capture the Entire Screen
To capture everything visible on your Dell screen, including all windows and applications, use the following shortcut:
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Press the Windows logo key + PrtScr key simultaneously.
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On Dell tablets, you can achieve the same result by pressing the Windows logo button + volume down button together.
When you use this method, your entire screen is captured, and the screenshot is automatically saved as a PNG file in the Screenshots folder within your Pictures library. This is a quick way to save full-screen captures directly.
2. Capture All Active Windows
If you want to capture all currently open and active windows on your Dell display, but not necessarily the entire screen background, simply:
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Press the PrtScr key by itself.
This action copies a screenshot of all active windows to your clipboard. You won’t see an immediate visual confirmation, but the image is ready to be pasted into an application.
3. Capture a Single Active Window
To capture only one specific window that you are currently working on, and exclude everything else on your screen:
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First, click on the window you want to capture to make it the active window.
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Then, press the Alt + PrtScr keys together.
This method captures only the selected active window and copies it to your clipboard, ready for pasting.
Pasting and Utilizing Your Dell Screenshots
After capturing your screenshot using any of the Print Screen methods above, the image is temporarily stored in your clipboard (except for the Windows key + PrtScr method, which saves directly to the Screenshots folder). To use or save this captured image, you need to paste it into another application.
Common applications for pasting screenshots include:
- Image Editors: Microsoft Paint (pre-installed on Windows), Paint 3D, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and other image editing software allow you to paste, edit, annotate, and save your screenshots in various image formats (JPEG, PNG, etc.).
- Document Editors: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and other word processors let you insert screenshots directly into your documents.
- Email Clients: You can paste screenshots directly into the body of emails for quick visual communication.
- Messaging Apps: Many messaging platforms support pasting images directly into chat windows.
To paste your screenshot:
- Open your desired application.
- Create a new document or open an existing one (if applicable).
- Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V (hold down the Ctrl key and press V) to paste the screenshot.
- Edit and save your screenshot as needed within the application.
Exploring Advanced Screenshot Options: Snipping Tool
For more versatile and feature-rich screenshot capabilities on your Dell device, Windows offers the Snipping Tool (and its successor, Snip & Sketch in newer Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions).
The Snipping Tool allows you to capture:
- Free-form snips: Draw any shape around the area you want to capture.
- Rectangular snips: Drag a rectangle to select a specific area.
- Window snips: Capture a single window.
- Full-screen snips: Capture the entire screen (similar to Windows key + PrtScr).
You can also annotate, save, and share screenshots directly from the Snipping Tool interface. To access it, simply search for “Snipping Tool” in your Windows search bar.
By mastering these methods, you can effectively print screen on your Dell desktop or laptop and capture your screen content for various purposes. Whether it’s a quick full-screen capture or a precise window snip, Dell and Windows provide the tools you need.
