To change what the Print Screen key does in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then switch Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping on or off. When it is on, the key opens a capture bar so you can pick an area. When it is off, the key copies the whole screen to the clipboard.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
What the Print Screen setting controls
The Print Screen key is usually labeled PrtScn or PrtSc. Windows 11 can treat a press of that key in two ways, and one switch in Settings decides which one you get:
- Setting on: pressing PrtScn opens screen snipping, the same capture bar that the Snipping Tool uses. You choose a region of the screen, and the picture is copied to the clipboard. Microsoft’s keyboard shortcut list describes this as the default behavior.
- Setting off: pressing PrtScn takes a picture of the whole screen and copies it to the clipboard right away, with nothing to click. This is how the key worked for many years.
Neither choice removes a feature. It only changes which action sits on the single key, so pick the one you use most and reach the other with a shortcut from the table below.
Change the Print Screen key setting in Windows 11
- Select Start, then select Settings. You can also press Windows logo key + I. The Settings window opens.
- Select Accessibility. Pressing Windows logo key + U opens Settings directly at this section.
- Select Keyboard. A page of keyboard options opens.
- Find Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.
- Set the switch to Off if you want PrtScn to copy the whole screen at once, or to On if you want it to open the capture bar. The change is saved as soon as you move the switch; there is no Save button.
The wording of this switch can differ slightly from one Windows 11 update to the next. If you do not see the exact text above, look on the same page for the switch that mentions the Print Screen key, or type print screen in the search box at the top of Settings.
Confirm the change, or undo it
Close Settings and press PrtScn once.
- If a capture bar appears and Windows waits for you to choose an area, the setting is on.
- If nothing seems to happen, the setting is off and the whole screen is already on the clipboard. Open an app that accepts pictures, such as Paint or a document, and press Ctrl + V to paste it.
To undo the change, go back to the same Keyboard page and move the switch the other way.
Screenshot shortcuts that work with either setting
These shortcuts are listed by Microsoft for Windows 11 and do not depend on the Print Screen switch, so you keep both kinds of capture whichever way you set it.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | Opens the capture bar so you can select a region. The picture goes to the clipboard. |
| Windows logo key + PrtScn | Captures the full screen and saves it as a file in the Screenshots subfolder of the Pictures folder. |
| Alt + PrtScn | Captures only the active window and copies it to the clipboard. |
| Windows logo key + Shift + R | Lets you select a region to record as a video, which then opens in the Snipping Tool. |
| Windows logo key + V | Opens clipboard history, where earlier captures can be pasted again. It is off until you turn it on from the prompt this shortcut shows. |
The capture bar offers four modes: Rectangle, Window, Full screen and Freeform. For a walk-through of each one, see how to clip your screen on a Windows 11 PC.
Change where Snipping Tool captures are saved
Captures made with the Snipping Tool are saved automatically to your Screenshots folder. That behavior is a setting in the app, not in Windows Settings:
- Select Start, type snipping tool, and select Snipping Tool from the results.
- Select See more, then select Settings.
- Change the automatic save behavior or the default Screenshots folder.
If a capture seems to have vanished, our guide on where to find screenshots in Windows 11 lists each place Windows puts them.
Troubleshooting
The switch is not on the Keyboard page
Search for print screen in the Settings search box first. If nothing matches, the PC may be on an older Windows 11 build, so install any pending updates from Windows Update and look again.
The switch is greyed out or changes back
On a work or school PC, your organization can manage settings and apps centrally. If the switch cannot be moved, or resets after you sign in again, ask your IT administrator; it is not something you can override from your own account.
Pressing PrtScn does nothing in either position
Many laptop keyboards share PrtScn with another function, so the key may only work while you hold Fn. Some compact keyboards have no PrtScn key at all; in that case use Windows logo key + Shift + S. Microsoft also lists key combinations for Surface keyboards on its Surface screenshot page.
Another program opens instead
Screenshot utilities and some cloud storage apps can claim the Print Screen key for themselves. Check that program’s own settings for a Print Screen or hotkey option and turn it off there. The Windows switch only decides what Windows does with the key.
The picture is not saved anywhere
With the switch off, PrtScn only copies to the clipboard, so the picture is lost when you copy something else. Paste it into an app and save it, or use Windows logo key + PrtScn to get a file in Pictures > Screenshots.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Print Screen open the Snipping Tool in Windows 11?
Because the switch described above is on. Microsoft’s shortcut list gives region capture as the default action for PrtScn and notes that you can turn it off at Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
Does turning the setting off disable the Snipping Tool?
No. The app stays installed, and Windows logo key + Shift + S still opens the capture bar.
Can I make Print Screen save a file instead of copying?
Not with this switch. Use Windows logo key + PrtScn, which saves a full-screen picture to the Screenshots folder, or capture with the Snipping Tool, which saves its snips automatically.
Can I assign Print Screen to a different app?
Windows Settings only offers the on or off choice. Apps that want the key have their own hotkey settings, and they generally work best with the Windows switch set to off so the two do not compete.
Is the setting the same in Windows 10?
Microsoft’s shortcut page covers both Windows 11 and Windows 10 in a single list, but the steps in this article were checked for Windows 11 only.
Once the key behaves the way you want, the full list in Microsoft’s keyboard shortcuts for Windows is worth a look, and the Snipping Tool instructions cover editing and sharing what you capture.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.