We have been using Windows for decades and still wonder why there is no such shortcut on Microsoft’s platform. First capturing the entire screen, then pasting it into the Microsoft Paint app. This process does not seem easy at all. After this, we started searching for other ways to take screenshots. Did you know that there are many better ways to take screenshots on Windows devices? Keep in mind that these methods will work only with Windows XP or newer versions of the OS. Except for the Snipping Tool which was introduced only for Windows Vista.
1. How to save full screen screenshot to a file
Here’s how to store a full-screen screenshot directly to a file on Windows:
1. Press the Windows button followed by Print Screen. After doing this, the screenshot will be stored in your computer’s Pictures library.
2. To find the screenshots, launch Explorer. Then click on Pictures on the left side. Now open the Screenshots folder, here you will find the screenshots.
2. How to save a screenshot to the clipboard
To take a screenshot easily, follow these steps:
1. Press Print Screen. This copies the screen to the clipboard.
2. Now open MS Paint, Word or any app that can handle images.
3. Now press Ctrl + v. After this, paste the screenshot on the app.
4. Now you will be able to store this file at the location of your choice.
3. How to take a screenshot of an open window
If you want to take a screenshot of an app or window, follow this method.
1. Open the app of which you want to take a screenshot. Make sure that the app is in the foreground and not the background, i.e. the page of that app is visible.
2. Now press alt + Print Screen.
3. Now open MS Paint or any app of your choice.
4. Press ctrl+v.
5. After doing this, the screenshot of the open window will be stored in Paint.
After this you will be able to store the screenshot at any place of your choice.
4. How to take a screenshot of a part of the screen
This is where you need to use the Windows Snipping Tool. To take a screenshot of a specific part of the screen, do the following:
1. Open the Snipping Tool. You’ll find it under menu > All programs > Accessories. You can also search for it by opening the Start menu and typing the app’s name in the search box.
2. Now click on the down arrow next to New.
3. After this, choose Rectangular Snip or Free-Form Snip. With Rectangular Snip, you will be able to take rectangular screenshots. Whereas, with the help of Free-Form Snip, you can create any shape on the screen. And after that, you will be able to take a screenshot of that specific part.
4. After doing this, you will be able to store the screenshot in any part of the personal computer with the help of the snipping tool.
The interesting thing is that the last method lets you take a screenshot of a specific portion of the screen. This will save you a lot of time in the whole process.
This is how you can take a screenshot on Windows.