The print screen key stops working when you want to capture your screen? You would be very frustrated. But don’t panic. You can easily fix this problem and print your screen.
Try these fixes:
Here are 4 solutions you can try. You may not have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works.
- Update your keyboard driver
- Check if the print screen key is enabled
- Stop all the running programs
- Update your operating system
- Bonus Tip
Fix 1: Update your keyboard driver
This problem is probably caused by an old or incorrect keyboard driver. You can update your printer driver manually or, if you’re not confident playing around with drivers, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version, it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee):
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Click the Update button next to a flagged keyboard driver to automatically download and install the correct version of this driver (you can do this with the FREE version). Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
- Restart your computer and try to press the print screen key to see if it works.
Fix 2: Check if the print screen key is enabled
Try to press F Mode key 
or F Lock key 
(when there are such keys on your keyboard, if not, please skip this fix), then check if the Print Screen works. That’s because such keys may prevent you from using print screen key.
Fix 3: Stop all the running programs
Since some programs like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Snipping tool can take over the Print Screen key, please stop all the running programs on your PC. Then try to print screen again to see if it works.
Fix 4: Update your operating system
Check if your operating system is up-to-date.
- Press the Windows logo key. Type check for updates, then click Check for updates from the list of results.
- Now on Windows Update Windows, you can check if there are any available updates for your window. If yes, install the updates and try to print screen again.
Bonus Tip:
If you fail to take a screenshot by pressing PrtScn key, you can try to press Fn + PrtScn, Alt + PrtScn or Alt + Fn + PrtScn keys together to try again.
In addition, you also can use snipping tool at Accessories from the Start menu to take a screenshot.
In addition, if you’re on Windows 7, when you can’t use PrtSc on the physical keyboard, try to use the key on the virtual On Screen Keyboard: Click the Start button > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard.
