Screenshots have become one of the most popular practices on modern smartphones, PCs, and other devices. They essentially allow users to take a snap of their screen and share the digital image with others or archive the past. For instance, you can capture your high score in a game to send to your peers or get a quick snap of a trending product deal so you can view it later on when you’re free.

Taking screenshots on smartphones and tablet is a fairly straightforward process. However, Microsoft’s desktop operating systems provide several ways to capture screens. Having too many methods can leave users confused or even frustrated, especially when they upgrade to newer versions.

Therefore, in this post, we’ll share how to take screenshots on your Windows 11 PC using seven different methods.

7 Ways to Take Screenshots on Your Windows 11 PC

1. Use the Legendary Snipping Tool

The snipping tool has been around since the Windows Vista days. Therefore, most Windows users are familiar with this screenshot utility that allows them to capture their screens from an open window. The snips can also be annotated and cropped as per user requirements and stored as an image file in a specified folder.

On Windows 11, the developers combined the tool with Windows 10’s snip and sketch tool, which caused a lot of confusion among users. Now, you can simply access the tool by pressing the Windows key + Shift + S. Once the tool opens, you can click the new button to begin the process using rectangular selection (default), freehand selection, or full-screen capture.

The only thing to remember is that the Snipping Tool doesn’t save screenshots automatically. You’ll need to save your snaps manually before closing the application.

2. Use the Print Screen Function

Another great way to capture a screenshot on your Windows 11 PC is to use to good old Print Screen key on your keyboard (often labeled as PrtScn). This is one of the fastest ways to take screenshots, even though the image won’t be saved as a file.

Instead, the desktop image will be copied to your clipboard, so you’ll need to access an image editing tool, such as Paint 3D, Adobe Photoshop, or the traditional Paint app, etc. Once you’ve pasted the image, you can save it to your desired location on your hard drive.

3. Use the PrtScn Key With OneDrive

On Windows 11, there’s another way to leverage the PrtScn key to take screenshots. You can use OneDrive to automatically create an image file and avoid using an app to paste it from the clipboard before saving it. This saves valuable time, especially if you take multiple screenshots every day.

To set it up, simply right-click on OneDrive’s icon and then go to settings>Backup tab, where you’ll find the Automatically Save Screenshots option. Check the box, and you’re all set to go. The app will now automatically create a OneDrive folder that you can access from any device.

4. Windows Key + PrtScn Keyboard Shortcut

If you don’t use OneDrive or would prefer to save your screenshots somewhere else, you can use the Windows Key + PrtScn keyboard shortcut command instead. This method causes the desktop screen to dim momentarily before automatically placing the snapped image into the Pictures folder on My Computer. You can then copy and paste the image to another location if you need to.

5. Game Bar

If you’re looking to take screenshots during gameplay, you can use the Game bar for this purpose. All you need to do is press the Windows Key + G key together to pop up the Game Bar. Form there, you simply need to click the screenshot button or press Windows Key + Alt + PrtScn to capture a full-screen desktop image.

You can also set a custom keyboard shortcut for this tool by going to Settings>Gaming>Game bar. Additionally, you can also record game clips and broadcast them using this innovative solution on Windows 11.

6. Windows Logo + Volume Down

Microsoft Surface owners have a much simpler way to capture screenshots of their entire screen – one that’s similar to taking a screenshot on any phone or tablet. All you need to do is hold down the Windows Logo touch button at the bottom of the screen and press & hold the volume-down rocker on the side.

You’ll see the screen dim automatically, and your screenshot will be saved briefly to the Pictures> Screenshots on My Computer.

7. Use a Third-Party Screenshot Tool

If you’re not satisfied with the options above, you can opt for a third-party screenshot tool for Windows 11. For instance, many users like to do more than snap images of their screens. They like to record their screens and capture videos of their actions, such as scrolling and using applications. Some offer other functions, such as instant access, freehand capturing, real-time sharing via email or social media, and scrolling capture, to name a few.

Popular screenshot utilities in the market today include:

▪ Apowersoft
▪ Gyazo
▪ ShareX
▪ Snagit
▪ PicPick
▪ ScreenRec, etc.

Some of these apps are paid, so be sure to assess your screenshot needs and choose the best solution accordingly in terms of functions, benefits, and cost.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – how to take screenshots on your Windows 11 PC using seven great methods. With this information, you can choose the method that best fits your needs and preferences. As you can see, taking screenshots on your PC is a relatively long process compared to taking one on your smartphone or tab.

However, the latest Windows OS has simplified the function as a way to improve the overall user experience. For more related Windows how-to’s and emerging software and technologies, we recommend visiting Percento Technologies.