What Is the Purpose of Taking a Screenshot?
Screenshots are a reliable tool for capturing and documenting data visible on your desktop screen. They serve various roles, including recording essential information, documenting issues for troubleshooting, crafting tutorials, or sharing visual data with others.
TheGeekyThings will guide you through the various methods of capturing your screen and system actions, providing you've mastered one of the crucial skills for any Windows PC or laptop owner.
How To Make a Screenshot on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 provide several built-in methods to take screenshots, each with its advantages. Here are some of the most popular:
Basic Screenshot
Press the 'Print Screen' key on your keyboard - PrtScn captures the entire screen. To save it as an image, you can paste (Ctrl + V) it into an image editing program for example - Paint, or directly into a document, and save the file in the required format
Another option for a quick full-screen screenshot is simply to press the Windows key (Win) + PrtScn. The resulting image will be saved in the Screenshots folder inside your Pictures folder.
Capturing Active Window
To capture a single window, click on the window you wish to screenshot, then hold down the Alt key and press the PrtScn. Next, open an image editing program like Paint, press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot, and save the file.
Selective Screenshots
For detailed captures, use the Snipping Tool. Depending on the Windows version, open the tool and select your desired screenshot mode, then follow the given instructions.
- For users of Windows 11, the Snipping Tool can be accessed by clicking on the Search bar in the taskbar, typing "snip", and clicking on the Snipping Tool app. Here, you can choose the type of screenshot you wish to take (Rectangle, Window, Full-screen, or Free-form) and then save the captured image.
- Previous versions of Windows (10, 8.1, and 7) still have access to the Snipping Tool through the Start menu. The process of taking a screenshot with this tool is the same as described above.
Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcut
To access Snipping Tool manually press the Win + Shift + S. The screen will dim as you choose the area for your screenshot. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard automatically. You'll receive a notification after capturing it, where you can choose more editing options.
How To Take Screenshots on Laptops
Regarding laptops like Asus, Acer, HP, Dell, Lenovo, and others, the process for taking a screenshot is similar to PC (above). If the previous methods didn't work, you can attempt the following:
- To capture a screenshot: Fn + PrtScn
- To capture a screenshot of the active screen: Fn + Alt + PrtScn
- If there's no PrtSc key on your keyboard, the quickest and easiest way to capture a screenshot is by using the combination: Win + Shift + S. The process thereafter remains the same as on a PC.
How To Manage Screenshots Storage
Where Are Screenshots Stored by Default
By default, screenshots taken using the above methods are placed in the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder.
How to Change Default Settings
- Open File Explorer using the Win + E.
- Navigate to the Pictures folder and then click on the Screenshots folder.
- Right-click on the Screenshots folder, select Properties, go to the Location tab, and click on the Move button to select a new location for your screenshots. Confirm these changes by clicking Apply and then OK
Bottom Line
Knowing how to create, edit, and share screenshots gives you an advantage in many scenarios. So now making your memory from the digital world is fine for you. Stay tuned for new posts by TheGeekyThings
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