What is Screenshot? How to take a screenshot in Windows?

What is Screenshot?

A screenshot in windows OS is a captured image of whatever is displayed on the screen of a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device at a specific moment in time. It is commonly used to quickly share or save an image of something on the screen, such as an error message, a funny meme, a webpage, or any other visual content.

Screenshots are often taken by pressing specific key combinations or using built-in tools on the device. Once a screenshot is captured, it can be saved as an image file and easily shared or used for reference.

How to take a screenshot in Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC?

There are several different ways to take a screenshot in Windows 10 or 11 PC. If you’re running multiple displays, set your cursor on the screen you want to take the screenshot of.

Here are four common methods:

First Method to Screenshot – Print Screen (PrtScn) Key

1. Open the program or window that you want to screenshot.
2. Press the “Print Screen” key on your keyboard to capture a screenshot of the entire screen.
3. Open “Paint” or your preferred editing program or a document.
4. Paste the screenshot.
5. You can use the “Save” or “Save As” command to save the file with your desired file name and location.

Second Method to Screenshot – Windows Key + Print Screen

1. Press the “Windows” key and the “Print Screen” key simultaneously to capture a screenshot of the entire screen.
2. This will not only take the screenshot, but will automatically save it in the Screenshots folder in your Pictures library.

Third Method to Screenshot – Alt + Print Screen

1. Press the “Alt” key and the “Print Screen” key simultaneously to capture a screenshot of the active window only.
2. Then, paste the screenshot into an image editing program or document.

Fourth Method to Screenshot – Snipping Tool:

Windows OS includes a built-in “Snipping Tool” that allows you to capture screenshots with more flexibility. You can open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu and use it to capture a specific area of the screen, a specific window, or the entire screen.

1. Open the Snipping Tool: Click on the “Start” button, type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar, and select the Snipping Tool app from the search results.
2. Choose the type of snip: In the Snipping Tool window, click on the “New” button. A dropdown menu will appear with four options: Free-form snip, Rectangular snip, Window snip, and Full-screen snip. Select the option that best suits your needs:
   • Free-form snip: Allows you to draw an irregular shape around the area you want to capture.
   • Rectangular snip: Lets you capture a rectangular area by dragging the cursor across the screen.
   • Window snip: Allows you to capture a specific window or dialog box.
   • Full-screen snip: Captures the entire screen.
3. Capture the screenshot: Once you’ve selected the type of snip, your screen will dim and the cursor will change to a crosshair. Use the crosshair to select the area you want to capture.
4. Save the screenshot: After capturing the screenshot, it will automatically open in the Snipping Tool window. You can make annotations or highlight areas if needed. To save the screenshot, click on the “File” menu and select “Save As.” Choose the location on your computer to save the file.
5. Exit the Snipping Tool: Once you have saved the screenshot, go ahead and close the Snipping Tool window.
6. That’s it! You have successfully captured a screenshot using the Snipping Tool in Windows 10.

These methods provide different options for capturing screenshots in Windows 10, depending on your specific needs.