Don’t know how to take a screenshot on your Windows PC? You’ve come to the right place!

Taking a screenshot on your Windows PC is very, very easy! From this article, you’ll learn how to take a screenshot quickly!

  1. Take a screenshot of the whole screen
  2. Take a screenshot of an active window
  3. Take a custom screenshot

1. Take a screenshot of the whole screen

You can take a screenshot of the whole screen on your PC using one of the following methods:

Press the PrtSc key

This is probably the easiest method to take a screenshot of the whole screen. You just need to press the print screen key on your keyboard, the screenshot will go to your clipboard. Then, you can paste it into the Paint program. Here is how to do it:

  1. On your keyboard, press PrtSc (This key might also be called Prnt Scrn and Prt Sc on your keyboard). The complete current screen will be copied to your clipboard.
  2. Press the Windows logo key and type paint. In the list of search results, click the Paint program to open it.
  3. On your keyboard, press Ctrl and V at the same time to paste the screenshot into the Paint program.
  4. On your keyboard, press Ctrl and S at the same time to save this screenshot.

Press the Windows logo key and the PrtSc key (Win 8 and Win 10 only)

By pressing the Windows logo key and the PrtSc key at the same time, the screenshot of the whole screen will be automatically saved. This is the quickest way to screenshot the whole screen.

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and the PrtSc key at the same time to take a screenshot of the whole screen.
    This screenshot will be copied to your clipboard and be automatically saved in the path C:Users[Your Name]PicturesScreenshots.
  2. Go to C:Users[Your Name]PicturesScreenshots to view this screenshot.
  3. You can also paste it into the Paint program to edit it.

Now, you’ve taken a screenshot of the whole screen and saved it on your PC.

2. Take a screenshot of an active window

To take a screenshot of an active window (the window currently in use) on your PC:

  1. Click anywhere of the window to make it the active window.
  2. On your keyboard, press Alt and PrtSc at the same time to take a screenshot of it.
  3. Press the Windows logo key and type paint. Click the Paint program to open it.
  4. On your keyboard, press Ctrl and V at the same time to paste the screenshot into the Paint program.
  5. On your keyboard, press Ctrl and S at the same time to save this screenshot.

The active window is now captured and saved to your PC.

3. Take a custom screenshot

If you want to take a screenshot of a certain area, there are three methods for you to try:

Method 1: Take a custom screenshot using your keyboard (Windows 10 Only)

If the current operating system of your PC is Windows 10, you can take a custom screenshot using your keyboard:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key, Shift and S at the same time.
  2. Click and drag your mouse to select a certain area of your screen. Then release the mouse button. 
    This custom screenshot is now copied to your clipboard and is automatically saved in the path: C:Users[Your Name]PicturesScreenshots.
  3. Go to C:Users[Your Name]PicturesScreenshots to view this screenshot.
  4. You can also paste it into the Paint program to edit it.

Method 2: Take a custom screenshot using Snipping Tool

The Windows built-in Snipping Tool can also be used to take a custom screenshot. Follow the steps below to take a custom screenshot using your Snipping Tool:

Windows 8 and Windows 10 have Sniping Tool. Snipping Tool is not available on Windows 7 Home Basic. It is available on Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.
  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and then type snip. Click Snipping Tool in the list of search results.
  2. On Snipping Tool, click New.
  3. Click and drag your mouse to select a certain area of your screen. Then release the mouse button.
  4. In the pop-up window, click the Save Snip icon to save this custom screenshot.

Method 3: Take a custom screenshot using Snagit

If you want to take your screenshot more easily and quickly and edit your image with more powerful tools, you can use Snagit. Follow the steps below to take a custom screenshot using Snagit.

  1. Download and install Snagit.
  2. Run and sign in Snagit, then click the Capture button.

  3. Click and drag to select a custom area, then release your mouse button.
  4. Click the camera icon to capture the selected area.
  5. Edit your screenshot on the pop-up Snagit Editor. You can add shapes, text, effects, or make adjustments to your screenshot.
  6. On your keyboard, press Ctrl and S to save this screenshot.
You can try the full version of Snagit for 15 days. When the free trial is over and if you want to use Snagit, you’ll need to purchase it.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave your comment below.
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