The Windows screen snip tool allows users to capture screenshots of their screen easily. This guide will show you how to use the Snipping Tool for capturing screenshots on Microsoft Windows 11, Windows 10, and earlier versions.

Before you start: Ensure you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11 for the latest version of the Snipping Tool.

How to capture screenshots using the snipping tool

This section outlines the steps required to effectively use the Snipping Tool for capturing screenshots.

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  • Open the Snipping Tool. Click the Start menu and enter snipping tool. Click the first option to open the application.
  • If you’re running an older version of Windows, you may not have all the options available for the Snipping Tool on Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices.
  • Click + New. This is at the top-left corner of the Snipping Tool window.
  • Alternatively, you can press Win + Shift + S to quickly start a new snip.
  • Select the snipping mode. By default, your screenshots will be shaped like a rectangle. If you want to change this, click the Snipping Mode icon (rectangle icon, or current mode icon), and then select a new mode.
    • Rectangle: drag the cursor to take a rectangular screenshot
    • Window: select and capture an entire window
    • Full screen: screenshot the entire screen
    • Freeform: draw a freeform shape around the object you want to screenshot
  • Select a delay (optional). If you want to take a screenshot after a short delay, you can set a timer. This is helpful if you need to navigate to a certain window or app before you take the screenshot.
    • Click the timer icon in the top toolbar, and then select: 3-second delay, 5-second delay, or 10-second delay.
    • To remove the timer, select No delay.
  • Select the screenshot object. This will vary depending on the snipping mode you selected. If you set a timer, you can start selecting when the screen turns gray.
    • Rectangle: click and drag the cursor to form a rectangle
    • Window: select the window you want to capture
    • Full screen: instantly captures the entire screen
    • Freeform: draw a shape around the object you want to screenshot
  • Your screenshot will be saved in your Screenshots folder, which is in your Pictures folder.

Once you’ve captured a screenshot, it opens in the Snipping Tool’s editor automatically for further editing.

  • Open your screenshot. If it doesn’t open automatically, you can find it in Pictures > Screenshots. To open it in the editor, right-click the screenshot file, select Open with > Snipping Tool.
  • Annotate your snip. You can use tools like Pen, Highlighter, Shapes, and Text actions to annotate your snip.
  • To erase annotations, select the Eraser tool.
  • Use the Quick redact tool to black out sensitive information in screenshots.
  • To edit screenshots further in Microsoft Paint, click Edit in Paint.

Capturing a video snip

  • Open the Snipping Tool. You can also use the Windows Snipping Tool to record the screen by clicking the Start menu and entering snipping tool.
  • Click the Record icon, which is the video camera icon next to the camera icon.
  • Click + New at the top-left corner of the Snipping Tool window.
  • Alternatively, you can press Win + Shift + R to quickly start a new video snip.
  • Keep in mind that video snips can only be in rectangular form.
  • Select the area you want to record by clicking and dragging the cursor over the area. The non-recording area will be greyed out.
  • Click Start to begin recording. You’ll see a countdown before the recording starts.
  • If you don’t want the system audio recorded, click the icon next to the trash can to mute audio.
  • Click the stop button to end the recording.
  • After recording, you can add captions or audio in Clipchamp, Microsoft’s video editor.

Pro tip: Consider creating a shortcut for the Snipping Tool on your desktop for quick access.

Using the Snipping Tool effectively can significantly improve your productivity, especially for those who frequently need to share visual information. By mastering this tool, you not only become efficient at capturing images but also at annotating and sharing them seamlessly. These skills can be quite beneficial in both personal and professional contexts, ensuring that you convey information clearly and accurately.