Taking screenshots in Windows 11 is more flexible than ever. You can try out the different methods available and find out which one best suits your tasks and preferences.Capturing what happens on your computer screen has become an everyday necessity. Whether it’s to share an image, save a tutorial, or retain an important piece of data, screenshots are essential tools in Windows 11 .
The truth is that carrying out this procedure has always been quite simple , with several options available. Fortunately, the new version of Microsoft’s operating system retains what was already offered in Windows 10 , adding its own, even making it possible to record a video of what happens on the screen.
How to take a screenshot in Windows
The methods range from some keyboard shortcuts to more modern and capable tools, such as the Snipping Tool, which is an app that comes integrated into the system, and which we will talk about later in this article.
With these options available, you can choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences when taking screenshots in Windows 11. Whether you need to capture the entire screen, just a specific window, or even make custom snippings, the system offers the right tools to do it quickly and easily.
- Using keys
- Crop tool
- Game bar
- Third-party applications
Capture Screen with Keyboard Shortcuts
There are several ways you can take a screenshot in Windows. They are all very easy to do, as well as being effective. The first is by using the Print Screen key (PrtSc) . When you press it, the entire desktop image will be copied to the clipboard.
If you want to capture only the window of the active application, you must add the Alt key to it. In the end, the result is that, by combining these keys, the current window you are using will be saved to the clipboard . When pasting to the clipboard, you must keep in mind that you will have to open the application you use to edit photos and paste the capture.
Print Screen in OneDrive
If you have OneDrive installed on your computer, you can associate it with the Print Screen key (PrtSc). The result is different from the previous one, even though it involves pressing the same key, since it will save us the step of entering any app to paste what is on the clipboard. In this case, it creates a photo directly with the screenshot .
To find out if you have this feature enabled, right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon on the right side of the taskbar. Choose Settings and then the Backup tab of the dialog box, then check Automatically save screenshots I take to OneDrive .
Windows + PrtSc
Another way to capture the screen is to use the Windows key together with Print Screen , so that they are automatically saved on the computer, but the OneDrive cloud service does not intervene .
This method causes the screen to dim briefly and places a PNG file in the Pictures > Screenshots folder by default.
Crop tool
You can use the Windows 11 Snipping Tool to take a screenshot of your screen. To do this, press Windows + Shift + S . You will then see how the screen dims and the menu for this Windows application appears at the top.
It is worth noting that you can capture the screen using a rectangular selection, a freehand selection, a window or a full screenshot, something you can choose from the top menu.
You can also record your screen using the snipping tool. Go to the Start menu and type Snipping Tool and click on the option that appears called Snipping Tool .
It is time to click on the video camera icon that appears at the top of the tool, right next to the previous one we had of a photo camera.
Now tap on the video camera icon and then press New . Choose an area of the screen to record, wait for a 3-2-1 countdown and you’re done recording. Once it stops recording, you’ll be able to play back the video and save or share it as if it were a still screenshot.
Game bar
The Game Bar is a built-in feature in Windows 11 that offers a number of tools and features designed to enhance your PC gaming experience . In addition to allowing you to record and stream gameplay, it also gives you the ability to take screenshots quickly and easily.
To access it, press the Windows key + G on your keyboard while in-game or any other app. This will open the tool at the top of the screen, where you’ll find a number of options and controls.
One of the main features of the Game Bar is the ability to take screenshots. To do this, simply click on the camera icon or press the PrtScn key on your keyboard. This will capture an image and automatically save it to your pictures library.
Third-party applications
There are applications such as SnagIt that take screenshots of your computer screen. You can try it for 15 days and then you will have to purchase the paid version if you like its features.
Once downloaded and installed (registration required), once the program has started, just click Capture (red button on the right side).
Select a tab or create your own selection. After that, the capture will be made and you can choose whether to save it to the library location, although there are also options such as Dropbox , OneDrive and several more. Next, you are given the option to edit with various capture options.
Any of the methods we have just shown you are effective for taking screenshots in Windows 11. You no longer have to complicate your life as you did years ago to immortalize what is happening on your computer screen.
The ability to take screenshots is a basic skill that all users should master, as it is useful in a variety of situations, whether saving important information , sharing visual content, or troubleshooting technical issues.