Screenshots are a great way to capture and share information from your computer screen. Whether you want to show someone an error message, capture a funny meme, or save a piece of information for later, taking a screenshot on your Windows computer is easy and straightforward. In this article, we’ll walk you through the different ways to screenshot on Windows.
Method 1: Using the Print Screen Key
The Print Screen key is the easiest and most common way to take a screenshot on a Windows computer. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the Print Screen (PrtScn) key on your keyboard. It’s usually located in the top-right corner of your keyboard, above the number pad.
- Press the Print Screen key. This will take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it to your clipboard.
- Open an image editing program such as Paint, Photoshop, or Microsoft Word.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the program.
- Save the screenshot as a file on your computer.
Method 2: Using the Windows + Print Screen Key

If you want to take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it as a file directly to your computer, you can use the Windows + Print Screen key combination. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Windows key + Print Screen key at the same time. This will take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it as a file in the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder.
- Open the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder to access the screenshot.
Method 3: Using the Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is a built-in Windows application that allows you to capture and annotate screenshots. Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Snipping Tool. You can do this by searching for “Snipping Tool” in the Windows search bar or by going to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool.
- Click “New” to start a new snip.
- Use your mouse to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
- Use the toolbar to annotate the screenshot if desired.
- Click “File” > “Save As” to save the screenshot as a file on your computer.
Method 4: Using the Windows + Shift + S Key
If you have Windows 10, you can use the Windows + Shift + S key combination to take a screenshot of a specific area of your screen. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Windows key + Shift + S key at the same time.
- Use your mouse to select the area of the screen you want to capture.
- The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard. Open an image editing program such as Paint, Photoshop, or Microsoft Word.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the program.
- Save the screenshot as a file on your computer.
In conclusion, taking screenshots on Windows is a quick and easy process. Whether you want to use the Print Screen key, the Windows + Print Screen key combination, the Snipping Tool, or the Windows + Shift + S key combination, you can capture and share information from your computer screen with ease.