4 Ways to Take Screenshots on Windows

Taking screenshots is basically an easy job to do, and the action can be applied to any OS platform. On Windows-based operating systems, for example, everyone seems to already know that screenshots can be taken by pressing the Prt Sc (print screen) button above the keyboard.

And if you are a MacBook Air user, the key combination cmd + shift + 3 will help you take screenshots of all parts of the screen; meanwhile the combination cmd + shift + 4 will help select a small portion of the screen you want to capture.

Most computer users are already using Windows OS, maybe their whole life. One thing that makes us wonder: why the Windows OS platform does not have the same shortcut feature as that of the MacBook Air. taking a full screen image and moving it around in MS Paint seems a hassle to most Windows users.

This is because there are too many things to do just to take one screenshot. Luckily there are much better ways to take screenshots on Windows.

We will show you 4 easy ways to take screenshots on Windows based OS. But keep in mind that these methods will only work on operating systems based on Windows XP or later versions of Windows. Also keep in mind that these 4 tricks will not work through tools like the Snipping Tool, which is only available on Windows Vista and Windows 8, 10 operating systems.

1. Save screenshot to clipboard

Here’s an easy way to save the screenshot to the clipboard:

• Press the Print Screen key (or the FN + Print Screen key combination) which will copy the captured image to the clipboard.
• Open the MS Paint application, Word, or other applications that are helpful in processing images.
• Press Ctrl + V to move the screenshot into the selected application.
• After that you can save the result file anywhere.

2. Save a screenshot of the entire screen in a specific file

Here’s how:

• Press Windows key + Print Screen. This method will save the captured image in the Pictures folder on your computer drive.
• To find screenshots, users just need to open Explorer and click on the menu labeled “Pictures” on the left side of the Windows window. That’s where you’ll find the screenshot you just saved.

3. Take a screenshot of a part of the screen

Use a tool such as the Windows Snipping Tool, and follow these steps:

• Open the Snipping Tool, which can be found under Start Menu >> All programs >> Accessories. You can also use the Search feature to become the tool.
• Once the Snipping Tool is opened, you will find a down arrow located right next to Next.
• Choose Free-form Snip or Rectangular Snip. Free-form Snip helps you to draw any shape on the screen and take screenshots only in the created drawing area. Meanwhile Rectangular Snip will help you take rectangular screenshots.

Layout Snipping Tool

This method will help the user to save time, because only a certain part of the screen you want to take a picture of.

4. Take screenshots on open windows

If you just want to take a screenshot of an open application or window, here’s how:

• Click the application you want to take a screenshot of. Make sure that the application is open in the foreground and not working in the background.
• Press alt + Print Screen.
• Open MS Paint or any application of your choice.
• Press Ctrl + V.
• Then you can save the result anywhere.

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