How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

I. Introduction

Taking screenshots is a handy tool that lets you quickly capture a moment on your computer screen that you can save, edit, and share with others. On Windows 10, there are several ways to do this. In this guide, we will walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to take screenshots, including keyboard shortcuts and tools like the Snipping Tool and Game Bar. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user, there is something here for you.

II. Step-by-Step guide for taking screenshots on Windows 10

There are four main ways to take screenshots on Windows 10: PrtScn, Alt + PrtScn, Snipping Tool, and Game Bar. Here’s how to do each one:

PrtScn

The simplest way to take a screenshot on Windows 10 is by using the Print Screen (PrtScn) key on your keyboard. Here’s how:

1. Find the PrtScn key on your keyboard.
2. Press the key once to capture the entire screen.
3. Open the program or app where you want to use the screenshot.
4. Press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the screenshot.

Alt + PrtScn

If you only want to capture a specific window, use the Alt + PrtScn keyboard shortcut. Here’s how:

1. Click the window that you want to capture.
2. Press the Alt + PrtScn keys on your keyboard.
3. Open the program or app where you want to use the screenshot.
4. Press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the screenshot.

Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is a built-in screen capture tool that lets you capture any part of your screen. Here’s how:

1. Open the Snipping Tool by searching for it in the start menu.
2. Click on “New” to select the type of snip you want to take. You can choose from a free-form snip, rectangular snip, window snip, or fullscreen snip.
3. Use your mouse to select the part of the screen you want to capture.
4. Click “Save” or “Copy” to save or copy the snip to your clipboard.

Game Bar

If you’re a gamer, you can use the Game Bar to take screenshots while playing games. Here’s how:

1. While playing a game, press the Windows key + G to open the Game Bar.
2. Click on the camera icon to take a screenshot.
3. A notification will appear, telling you where the screenshot was saved.

III. Keyboard shortcuts list

Here are the keyboard shortcuts you need to know for taking screenshots on Windows 10:

Keyboard Shortcut	Action
Windows key + PrtScn	Captures the entire screen and saves it to the Screenshots folder
Alt + PrtScn	Captures the active window only and saves it to the clipboard
Windows key + Shift + S	Opens the Snipping Tool in rectangular snip mode
Windows key + G	Opens the Game Bar
Windows key + Alt + PrtScn	Captures a screenshot of the current game in focus and saves it to the Captures folder in Videos

IV. Using Snipping Tool

If you prefer using the Snipping Tool, follow these steps:

1. Open the Snipping Tool by searching for it in the start menu.
2. Click on “New” to select the type of snip you want to take. You can choose from a free-form snip, rectangular snip, window snip, or fullscreen snip.
3. Use your mouse to select the part of the screen you want to capture.
4. Click “Save” or “Copy” to save or copy the snip to your clipboard.

V. Exploring the Game Bar

The Game Bar is a handy feature for gamers who want to take screenshots while playing games on Windows 10. Here’s how:

1. While playing a game, press the Windows key + G to open the Game Bar.
2. Click on the camera icon to take a screenshot.
3. A notification will appear, telling you where the screenshot was saved.

VI. Screen Shotting on a Multimonitor Setup

Taking screenshots on a multimonitor setup can be tricky, but it’s still possible. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + Print Screen key to take a screenshot of your entire desktop.
2. Open Paint on your computer.
3. Press the Ctrl + V keys to paste the screenshot onto Paint.
4. Use the crop tool to crop the image to your desired area.
5. Save the image to your preferred location.

VII. Conclusion

Now that you know all the ways to take screenshots on Windows 10, try experimenting with each method until you find the one that works best for you. Whether it’s the classic PrtScn, the Snipping Tool, or the Game Bar, capturing your screen has never been easier.