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Print Screen in Windows 11

If you're a frequent user of the Windows "Print Screen" <PrtScr> button, then you might be wondering what has happened to it in Windows 11.

The answer is, it's been improved and is better and easier to use than ever, but it might not do what you expect it to from previous Windows versions, so read on...


Here's a summary of the new functionality and default keyboard shortcuts depending on what you need to snap.



Screen grab a portion of the screen

<PrtScr>


  • The default function of the <PrtScr> button in Windows 11 is to grab a selection of the screen, it's basically a Snipping Tool shortcut.

  • Pressing the <PrtScr> button will grey out the screen and give you a selection cursor to select the area that you want to grab.

  • It will copy the selection to the clipboard and also save the selection to your Pictures\Screenshots\ folder and label it with the date and time.

  • You will also see a notification from Snipping Tool which if clicked will let you mark up, edit and save your selection.



Screen grab your entire view

<Win> + <PrtScr>


  • There are additional key combinations to do different things, like the Windows Key. Pressing <Win> + <PrtScr> keys together will take a snapshot of your entire view, including multiple monitors if you have more than one.

  • This is similar to what pressing the Print Screen key alone did in Windows 10

  • It won't save it to the Screenshots folder like the first method, it'll just copy it to your clipboard



Screen grab the active window

<Alt> + <PrtScr>


  • Pressing <Alt> + <PrtScr> together will screen grab the current window and nothing else.

  • Like the entire view method it will just copy the active window grab to your clipboard, it won't save it to the Screenshots folder or offer to open it in Snipping Tool.


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