Just like on Windows 10, there are many ways to take a screenshot on Windows 11. Dedicated tool, Xbox Game Bar, keyboard shortcuts, there is no shortage of options. In this article, you will find all the ways to save your screen, a window, or a specific area of your desktop.
Windows 11 has been available for a few days and has landed with its share of new features. A revisited design, simplified menus, lots of new features, in short, the operating system has had a facelift. While some say they are disappointed by a revolution which, it must be admitted, is not really one, Microsoft has nonetheless been able to capitalize on the successes of its predecessors.
On Windows 10, one of them is screen capture. Many methods exist on the OS to take a “photo” of your screen, which we have summarized in this tutorial. In the latest version, not much has changed in the end. It is nevertheless advisable to recall all the techniques which are available to you on Windows 11. Here is a small summary.
How to take a screenshot with the dedicated tool
Like Windows 10, Windows 11 includes a small application specially dedicated to screen capture. Here’s how to use it:
- Press the Windows key and search Snipping Tool
- Open the app
- Click on New and choose the capture mode: Rectangular capture, Freeform Capture, Window Capture or Full screen capture
- Select the area to capture
- In the window that opens, click on the Save icon at the top right
- You can also change the image by cropping it or by adding annotations
- If you just want to copy the capture to the clipboard, click on the Copy icon or use the shortcut Ctrl + C
Note that it is also possible to postpone the screenshot using the small clock icon. You can then choose after what delay the image will be taken, giving you time to prepare your desktop accordingly.
On the same subject: Is Windows 11 really less powerful than Windows 10? Here are the results of our benchmarks
How to take a screenshot with a keyboard shortcut
The Windows 11 screenshot tool can also be accessed from a number of keyboard shortcuts. Here they are:
- Windows + Shift + S: open the screenshot tool
- Print Screen: takes a screenshot of the entire desktop
- Windows + Print Screen: takes a screenshot of the entire desktop and automatically saves it to Pictures > Screenshots
- Alt + Print Screen: takes a screenshot of the active window
Note that for shortcuts involving the Print Screen key, it is necessary to go through another application to save the screenshot, since it is copied to the clipboard. You will therefore need to open Paint or Photoshop, to name a few. But if all these combinations seem too complicated, know that there is a way to make it even easier. Indeed, it is possible to configure the Print Screen key so that it opens the screenshot tool on its own. Here is how to do it:
- Type Windows + I to open Settings
- Go to Accessibility > Keyboard
- Look for the section On-screen keyboard, shortcut keys and print screen
- Activate the option Use the Print Screen button to open screen capture
Once this has been done, all you have to do is press this key to have access to all the options mentioned above. It is therefore the equivalent of the shortcut Windows + Shift + S but much faster. However, check beforehand that your keyboard has the Print Screen key, since this is not the case for all models, especially on laptops.
How to take an in-game screenshot
Windows 11 includes, like its predecessor, capture options dedicated to gamers. Want to save a shot of a sublime landscape or epic action, but the game in question does not have a photo mode? No problem, follow the guide:
- Open the game of your choice
- Type Windows + G to open Xbox Game Bar
- In the Capture window, locate the camera icon
- Click on it to take your capture
- You can also capture video with the dot icon
Your image or video will then appear once you quit the game. Note that the shortcut Windows + Alt + Print Screen allows you to capture directly with Xbox Game Bar without having to open it.
Finally, note that some launchers offer their own screenshot tool. This is particularly the case with Steam, which allows you to take an image of the game by simply pressing F12. You will then find the image on the page dedicated to the game within the application. Likewise if you play a Blizzard game, like World of Warcraft or the very recent Diablo II Resurrected (which we highly recommend, like Disco Elysium serving as an illustration above). To do this, just press Print Screen to, again, find the capture on the game page.
There you have it, you know all the secrets of screen capture on Windows 11. All you have to do is test all these techniques to discover your favorite or, failing that, the one that best meets your needs at the moment. If none of these suits you, know that there are many third-party applications that also do the job perfectly. In the meantime, you can discover our other tips for Windows 11, such as using Linux through the Microsoft Store or changing your default browser. If this tutorial has helped you or if you know another technique, do not hesitate to tell us in the comments!