[Tip] Use “Print Screen” (PrtScn) Key to Take Screenshots Using “Snip & Sketch” App in Windows 10
SUMMARY: This tutorial will help you in enabling and using “Print Screen” (PrtScn) key to take screenshots and directly edit and save them using “Snip & Sketch” app in Windows 10.
We told you in past that you can use Win+Shift+S hotkey or keyboard shortcut to launch Screen Sketch app in Windows 10 which allows you to take screenshot of selected area and copy it to clipboard. After that you can paste the copied screenshot to any image editing program such as MS Paint, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
[Tip] Use “Win+Shift+S” Hotkey to Take Selected Area Screenshot in Windows 10
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In newer versions of Windows 10, the Win+Shift+S hotkey launches a new “Snip & Sketch” or “Screen Snip” app which allows you to take screenshot in different ways such as rectangular, free form and full screen.
When you press Win+Shift+S hotkey in Windows 10, it dims the screen and shows a small snipping toolbar at top of the screen which can be used to select different types of screenshots. After that you can select desired area of screen and Windows 10 will automatically take the screenshot. Windows 10 also shows a notification that the snip saved to clipboard. You can click on the notification to edit, save or share the screenshot image.
If Win+Shift+S hotkey is hard to use for you, you can set the classic “Print Screen” or PrtScn key to launch “Snip & Sketch” app in Windows 10. Just press PrtScn key on your keyboard and Snip & Sketch app will launch and allow you to take and save screenshots.
Following steps will help you in enabling Print Screen (PrtScn) key to launch Snip & Sketch app in Windows 10:
1. Open Start Menu and click on Settings option. It’ll open Settings app. Alternatively, you can direct open Settings app using WIN+I hotkey.
2. Now click on “Ease of Access” icon and in left-side pane, click on “Keyboard” section.
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PS: Alternatively, You can directly launch the “Keyboard” page using “ms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.
3. Now scroll down to bottom and under “Print Screen shortcut” section, you’ll see following option:
Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping
This option is disabled i.e. turned off by default.
4. To enable Print Screen key to launch Snip & Sketch app, set the “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” toggle to ON i.e. enable the option.
That’s it. Now you can simply press Print Screen key on your keyboard and can take and modify screenshots using new Snip & Sketch app in Windows 10.
Also Check:
[Tip] Different Ways to Open “Screen Snip & Sketch” in Windows 10
[Tip] Use “Win+Alt+PrtScn” Hotkey to Take Program Screenshots in Windows 10
[FIX] Screen Won’t Dim When You Press Win+PrtScn keys to Save Screenshots in Windows 8 or Later
[Tip] How to Change or Reset Screenshot Index Counter in Windows 8 and Later
The instructions say:
3. Now scroll down to bottom and under “Print Screen shortcut” section, you’ll see following option:
The option isn’t there nor does the search box find “print screen”
Where do the screenshots save to? They don’t appear in any file or folder, and if I click “paste” in a folder (assuming the screenshots are hidden in the clipboard) nothing happens. Have gone back to using a commercial (many of them free) screen capture prog.
^^ If you use PrtScn key to take screenshot, it only stores in clipboard and you have to paste it in an image editing software such as MS Paint to save it.
But you can use Win+PrtScn hotkey to automatically take and save screenshot to “\Pictures\Screenshots” folder under your User Profile folder.
If you are using a newer Windows 10 version, then you can assign PrtScn key to Snip & Sketch app as mentioned in above tutorial to automatically take and save screenshots using the new app.
@Jerry Rowe
The option appears in newer Windows 10 versions. It seems you are using an older version of Windows 10. Which Windows 10 version are you using?