To clip part of your screen on a Windows 11 PC, press Windows logo key + Shift + S, pick a snip shape, and drag around the area you want. To clip a short video instead, press Windows logo key + Shift + R, select the area, and choose Start. Both shortcuts use Snipping Tool, which comes with Windows 11.
Applies to: Windows 11 with the built-in Snipping Tool app. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
What “clip” means on a Windows 11 PC
People use the word clip for two different things, so decide which one you need before you start:
- A still image of part of the screen. Microsoft calls this a snip. It is what you want for an error message, a receipt, a chart, or a section of a web page.
- A short video of something happening on screen. Snipping Tool calls this a Video snip. It is what you want for showing someone the steps you followed or a problem that only appears while you click.
Both are covered below, starting with the still image because it is the more common request.
What you need
- A PC running Windows 11. Snipping Tool is included, so there is nothing to buy or download.
- A keyboard with a Windows logo key. If yours has no such key, use the Start menu method further down.
- The thing you want to clip already open and visible on the screen.
Clip part of the screen with Windows logo key + Shift + S
- Arrange the screen so the content you want is visible. Anything hidden behind another window will not be in the clip.
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. The Snipping Tool overlay opens so you can capture an image snapshot.
- Choose a snip type. Rectangle lets you drag a box, Window captures one window such as a dialog box, Full screen captures everything, and Freeform lets you draw any shape around an object.
- For Rectangle, drag the cursor around the area to form a rectangle and release. For Freeform, draw around the object. For Window, select the window you want.
- Look for the result. Microsoft states that after you capture a snip, it is automatically saved to your Screenshots folder, so you can attach or insert that file wherever you need it.
Which snip type should you choose? Use Rectangle for most jobs, because you control exactly what is included. Use Window when you want a clean capture of one app or dialog box without trimming the edges yourself. Use Full screen when the layout of the whole desktop matters, and Freeform when the item is an odd shape and you want to leave out what surrounds it.
Clip from the Snipping Tool app
Opening the app first is the better route when you have no Windows logo key, when you need a delay, or when you plan to mark up the image straight away.
- Select the Start button, type snipping tool, and select Snipping Tool from the results.
- Choose a snipping mode. With the app open, Alt + M opens the mode choices from the keyboard, and Shift + arrow keys move between the snip types.
- If you need to capture a menu or tooltip that closes when you click elsewhere, set a delay. Alt + D delays the capture by 1 to 5 seconds, which gives you time to open the menu.
- Select New, or press Alt + N to create a new snip in the same mode as the last one, then select the area.
- Press Ctrl + S to save the snip, or select Save as, choose the location and filename, and select Save.
For a longer walkthrough of the app itself, see how to use Snipping Tool in Windows 11.
Once a snip is open in Snipping Tool, you can change it before you send it:
- Pen and Highlighter draw on the image or highlight part of it. Eraser removes those marks.
- Shapes adds shapes or emojis, which is handy for pointing at one button.
- Image crop trims the snip if you captured too much.
- Text actions uses optical character recognition (OCR, which reads the words in a picture) so you can copy text out of the image. The same tool offers Quick redact to hide email addresses or phone numbers.
- Ctrl + C copies the snip to the clipboard. Switch to your email, document or chat and press Ctrl + V to paste it.
- To send the image to another app, select the See More menu at the top right, then select Share.
If a mark is wrong, use Undo rather than starting again. Check the image for private details such as account numbers or addresses before you share it, and crop or redact them.
Clip the whole screen with the Print Screen key
The Print Screen key, often labeled PrtSc, is the older way to clip. Microsoft describes it as taking a static image snapshot of your entire screen and placing it on the clipboard. Nothing appears to happen, so open a document, email or image editor and press Ctrl + V to paste the picture.
Microsoft also notes that, depending on your hardware, Windows logo key + PrtScn takes a screenshot. Because this key behaves differently from one keyboard to another, the Snipping Tool shortcut is the more predictable choice. If your key does something unexpected, see how to change Print Screen settings in Windows 11. For every still-image method side by side, read how to take a screenshot in Windows 11.
Clip a video of your screen
- Press Windows logo key + Shift + R to open the Snipping Tool overlay for a video clip. Alternatively, open Snipping Tool, select the Record button, then select New.
- Select the area of the screen you want to record. A video snip records a rectangular selection, so drag a box around the window or region.
- Select Start, then carry out the actions you want to show.
- When you are done, select Stop.
- Save the recording as it is, or select Edit in Clipchamp to open it in the Microsoft Clipchamp video editor for changes.
Our guide on recording your screen with Snipping Tool in Windows 11 goes further into video. If you want to clip gameplay rather than a desktop app, Windows also has Game Bar, which Microsoft documents on Xbox Support.
Confirm the clip worked, or redo it
A still clip has worked when you can find the image in your Screenshots folder or paste it with Ctrl + V. A video clip has worked when the recording plays back after you select Stop.
Clipping never changes the app or page you captured, so there is nothing to undo on the screen itself. If the clip is wrong, press Alt + N in Snipping Tool to take a new snip in the same mode. If you no longer want a saved clip, delete the file from the folder where it was saved.
Troubleshooting
The shortcut does nothing
Check that you are holding all three keys together: the Windows logo key, Shift and S. If the overlay still does not open, start the app from the Start button instead and select New. Another program can claim the same key combination, so close any capture or overlay software that is running and try again.
My keyboard has no Print Screen key
Many compact and laptop keyboards leave it out or combine it with another key. You do not need it: Windows logo key + Shift + S does the same job with more control.
The menu closes before I can capture it
Use the delay in the Snipping Tool app. Press Alt + D to delay the capture by 1 to 5 seconds, start the snip, then open the menu before the time runs out.
I captured the wrong area
Use Image crop to trim an image that is too large. If part of the content is missing, press Alt + N and capture it again.
Snipping Tool is missing or blocked
On a work or school PC, your organization can restrict apps and capture features. Ask your IT administrator rather than looking for a workaround. On a personal PC, install pending Windows and app updates, restart, and search for the app again.
I do not see Perfect screenshot or Color picker
Microsoft lists Perfect screenshot, which adjusts the capture framing automatically, and Color picker, which captures exact color values from the screen, as features for Copilot+ PCs. Other Windows 11 PCs will not show them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to clip on Windows 11?
Press Windows logo key + Shift + S for a still image, or Windows logo key + Shift + R for a video clip. Both open the Snipping Tool overlay.
Where do clips go on Windows 11?
According to Microsoft, a snip is automatically saved to your Screenshots folder after you capture it. To put a copy somewhere else, use Save as in Snipping Tool and choose the folder.
Can I clip just one window?
Yes. Choose the Window snip type, then select the window, such as a dialog box, that you want to capture.
Can I copy text out of a clip?
Yes. Open the snip in Snipping Tool and select Text actions. It recognizes the text in the image so you can copy it, and it can redact email addresses and phone numbers.
Do I need to install anything to clip on a PC?
No. Snipping Tool is part of Windows 11 and handles both image and video clips. Microsoft’s full reference is Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots.
Can I clip a video and edit it afterward?
Yes. After you select Stop, choose Edit in Clipchamp to open the recording in the Clipchamp editor.
Try Windows logo key + Shift + S on whatever is on your screen now, then open the result in Snipping Tool and practice with Image crop and Highlighter so the tools are familiar the next time you need them.
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.