How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11

Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. Choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen or Freeform at the top of the screen, then drag or select what you want to capture. The snip is copied, and you can select the preview to open it in Snipping Tool to mark it up and save it.

Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 29, 2026.

Take a snip

1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + S. The screen dims and the snipping bar appears at the top.
2. Pick a mode:

• Rectangle: drag a box around what you want.
• Window: select a window.
• Full screen: captures everything right away.
• Freeform: draw any shape around it.

3. Drag or select to capture.

The snip is copied, so you can paste it into an email or document with Ctrl + V. You can also open Snipping Tool from Start and select New.

Mark up and save the snip

1. Select the notification that appears after you take the snip. It opens in Snipping Tool.
2. Use the Pen or Highlighter to draw on it. Eraser removes marks, and Image crop trims the edges.
3. Select Save (or press Ctrl + S), choose a folder and name, and select Save.

Take a delayed snip

To capture a menu or tooltip that disappears when you press keys, open the Snipping Tool app, set Delay to 3, 5 or 10 seconds, and select New. Open the menu while the timer counts down. In the app, Alt + D also sets a delay.

Record a video of your screen

1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + R, or select Record in Snipping Tool, then New.
2. Drag a box around the area you want to record, then select Start.
3. Select Stop when you’re done. The video opens in Snipping Tool and is saved to Videos > Screen Recordings on most PCs.

Hide private details before you share

Open a snip in Snipping Tool, select Text actions, and then Quick redact. It covers email addresses and phone numbers it finds in the image. Check the result before you send it.

More shortcuts

• Print Screen (PrtSc): captures the whole screen and copies it. On many PCs, it opens the snipping bar instead. You can change what the Print Screen key does in Settings.
• Windows logo key + Shift + R: records a video of part of the screen.
• Text actions: in Snipping Tool, select Text actions to copy text from a snip.

If Snipping Tool doesn’t work

• Windows logo key + Shift + S does nothing: go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to Snipping Tool, select Advanced options, and choose Repair. If that doesn’t help, choose Reset.
• No preview appears after a snip: turn on notifications for Snipping Tool in Settings > System > Notifications. The snip is still copied, so you can paste it.
• Snips aren’t saved automatically: in Snipping Tool, select See more > Settings and turn on automatic saving.

Frequently asked questions

Where are my snips saved?

Snipping Tool saves snips to Pictures > Screenshots automatically on most PCs. See how to take screenshots in Windows 11 for every screenshot method.

Is this different on Windows 10?

The shortcut is the same. See how to take a screenshot on Windows 10.

Can I capture a whole web page that scrolls?

Snipping Tool captures only what’s on the screen. In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + S for Web capture and select Capture full page.

Can I add arrows or boxes to a snip?

Yes. Select Shapes in the toolbar and pick an arrow, rectangle, oval or line, then drag on the snip. You can change the color before you draw.

Can I mark up a screenshot I took earlier?

Yes. Right-click the image in File Explorer and select Open with > Snipping Tool, or press Ctrl + O in Snipping Tool to open it.

For bigger edits than the Snipping Tool pen allows, open the picture in Paint. Here’s how to make the eraser bigger in Paint.

Microsoft’s reference is Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: how to take a scrolling screenshot in Windows 10.

Related: how to freeze your screen on Windows 11.