The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 lets you capture part of the screen, a window, the full screen, or a freeform area without installing another app. The quickest way to start a screenshot is Windows + Shift + S. You can also open Snipping Tool from Start when you want access to delayed captures, editing tools, Text Actions, settings, and screen recording.
How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11
The basic process is to open Snipping Tool, choose a capture mode, select what you want to capture, and then edit, copy, save, or share the result. The steps below cover the normal screenshot workflow.
Step 1: Open Snipping Tool
Open Start, type Snipping Tool, and select the app.
If you only need to start a screenshot quickly, press Windows + Shift + S. That opens the capture overlay immediately without requiring you to open the full app first. If you need more ways to launch it, see our guide on how to open Snipping Tool in Windows 11.
Step 2: Choose a Screenshot Mode
Select the screenshot mode you want. Windows 11 currently offers Rectangle, Window, Full screen, and Freeform image captures.
- Rectangle: drag a box around the exact area you want.
- Window: capture one open app or dialog box.
- Full screen: capture everything visible on the screen.
- Freeform: draw an irregular shape around the area you want.
Step 3: Select New and Capture the Screen
Select New, then choose the area or window you want to capture. With Rectangle and Freeform modes, click and drag over the screen. With Window mode, select the window. Full screen captures the display immediately.
If you started with Windows + Shift + S, choose a mode from the small toolbar at the top of the screen and make your selection.
Step 4: Edit or Mark Up the Screenshot
After the capture opens in Snipping Tool, use the available editing controls to crop the image, draw with the pen, highlight an area, erase annotations, or add supported shapes and other markup.
You can also use Text Actions when you need to recognize text inside a screenshot. This can let you copy text from the image instead of typing it manually. Current versions can also help redact detected email addresses and phone numbers.
Step 5: Save, Copy, or Share the Screenshot
Select the Save button if you want another copy in a location and filename you choose. You can also press Ctrl + C to copy the snip or use the Share command to send it through a supported app.
Recent versions of Snipping Tool can automatically save captures to the Screenshots folder. Open the Snipping Tool menu and choose Settings if you want to change automatic saving behavior or the default Screenshots folder.
How to Use Windows + Shift + S
Windows + Shift + S is usually the fastest way to take a Snipping Tool screenshot. Press the three keys together, choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform mode, and make the capture. The screenshot is copied to the clipboard, and Windows can also show a notification that you can select to open the capture in Snipping Tool for editing.
How to Take a Delayed Screenshot
A delay is useful when you need to capture a menu, tooltip, or other item that disappears when you click somewhere else.
- Open Snipping Tool.
- Select the Delay control.
- Choose the delay you want.
- Select your snipping mode and choose New.
- Open the menu or item you want visible before the countdown ends, then make the capture.
How to Record the Screen with Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool also includes video capture on supported Windows 11 systems. You can open the app and switch to Record, or press Windows + Shift + R to open the video capture overlay. Select the part of the screen you want to record, start the recording, and stop it when you are finished.
Screen recording is a separate task from taking screenshots, so use the image mode when you only need a still picture. After a recording, current Snipping Tool versions can also hand the clip off to Clipchamp for additional work such as captions or audio editing.
Useful Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcuts
- Windows + Shift + S: open the screenshot capture overlay.
- Windows + Shift + R: open the video capture overlay on supported Windows 11 versions.
- Alt + M: choose a snipping mode while using the app.
- Alt + N: create a new snip using the previous mode.
- Alt + D: set a delayed capture.
- Ctrl + C: copy the current snip.
- Ctrl + S: save the current snip.
Can the Print Screen Key Open Snipping Tool?
Yes. Windows 11 includes a keyboard setting that can make the Print Screen key open screen snipping. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and look for the Print Screen option. Turning it on gives you a one-key way to start a snip; turning it off restores the normal Print Screen behavior on systems that use this setting.
What to Do If Snipping Tool Is Not Working
If Snipping Tool will not open, the shortcut stops responding, or captures fail to save, start by closing and reopening the app and checking Windows Update and Microsoft Store updates. Windows also provides Repair and Reset options under Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Snipping Tool > Advanced options.
If the problem continues, see our dedicated Snipping Tool troubleshooting guide for a fuller sequence of fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Snipping Tool save screenshots in Windows 11?
Current versions can automatically save captures to the Screenshots folder. You can review automatic saving and the default Screenshots folder from Snipping Tool Settings. You can also use Save As to create a copy somewhere else.
Can Snipping Tool copy text from a screenshot?
Yes. Use Text Actions after making a capture to recognize and copy text from the image. The OCR processing is performed locally on the device according to Microsoft.
Can Snipping Tool take a screenshot of a menu?
Yes. Use the Delay feature when the menu would otherwise close before you can capture it.
Can Snipping Tool record video?
Yes, supported Windows 11 versions include video capture in Snipping Tool. You can switch the app to Record mode or use Windows + Shift + R.
Does Snipping Tool support scrolling screenshots?
Microsoft’s standard Snipping Tool documentation does not list a scrolling-page capture mode. For a long web page or document, you may need another capture method or software that specifically supports scrolling capture.
Summary
- Open Snipping Tool or press Windows + Shift + S.
- Choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen, or Freeform mode.
- Select the area you want to capture.
- Edit, crop, annotate, or use Text Actions if needed.
- Copy, save, or share the finished screenshot.
For most Windows 11 users, Windows + Shift + S is the quickest everyday method, while opening the full Snipping Tool gives you access to delay, settings, OCR, editing, and video features.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.