Take a screen capture (print your screen)

Windows 10

Sometimes it's simpler to show someone what's on your screen than it is to explain it. Windows lets you take a picture of the screen so you can save, print, or share what you see. This is referred to as taking a screenshot or screen capture.

You can take a screenshot and automatically save it as a file, take a screenshot without saving it as a file, or take a screenshot of only one window (instead of the whole screen).

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To take a screenshot and save it as a file

Press the Windows logo key +PrtScn. Or, if you're using a tablet, press the Windows logo button + the volume down button.
The screen will dim for a moment when the screen is copied and saved as a file in the Screenshots folder (which is in your Pictures folder).
The Screenshots folder

To take a screenshot (without saving it)

Press PrtScn.
A picture of the screen is copied and you can paste it wherever you'd like.

To take a screenshot of only one window

Tap or click the window you want to capture.
Press Alt+PrtScn.
A picture of the window is copied and you can paste it wherever you'd like.

Notes

On some keyboards, PrtScn might appear as PrtSc or a similar abbreviation.
Certain laptops and other devices don't have a PrtScn key or might use a different key combination to take screenshots. Check the manual that came with your laptop or device for more info.
Another way to capture a picture of part of the screen is to use the Windows Snipping Tool. To learn more, see Use Snipping Tool to capture screen shots.

Windows 7

Sometimes it's easier to show someone what you're seeing on your computer screen instead of explaining it. In Windows, one easy solution is the PrtScn key. When you press it, an image of your screen is copied to the Clipboard. This is called a screen capture or screen shot.

To print the screen capture or send it to someone in an e‑mail, you'll first have to paste it into Paint or some other image-editing program and save it.

Watch this video to learn how to print your screen (1:53)

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To take a screen capture of the entire screen

Press PrtScn.
Open Paint by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Paint.
In Paint, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Paste.
If you want to resize the image, on the Home tab, in the Image group, click Resize, and enter a new percentage or pixel size.
Click the Paint button , and then click Save.

It's also possible to capture a specific active window when you press PrtScn.

To capture an active window

Press Alt+PrtScn.
Open Paint by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Paint.
In Paint, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Paste.
If you want to resize the image, on the Home tab, in the Image group, click Resize, and enter a new percentage or pixel size.
Click the Paint button , and then click Save.

Notes

On some keyboards, PrtScn might appear as PRTSC, PRTSCN, or a similar abbreviation.
Certain laptops and other mobile devices that lack a PrtScn key might use other key combinations, such as FN+Insert, to capture the screen. Check the manual the came with your laptop or device for specific instructions.

Windows Vista

You can take a picture of what is on your screen by pressing PRINT SCREEN (PRTSC or PRTSCN on some keyboards). This is called a screen capture. You can then paste the screen capture into a document, e‑mail message, or other file. There are two types of screen captures you can take: the entire screen, or just the active window. For example, if you have three programs open at the same time, you might want a screen capture of only the active window.

Note

Some keyboards or mobile PCs that don't have the PRINT SCREEN button might use other keyboard combinations, such as FN+INSERT, to take a screen capture. Check the information that came with your computer or the manufacturer's website for more information.

To copy the entire screen

Press PRINT SCREEN.

To copy only an active window

Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN.

Tip

You can paste your screen capture into Paint, which is a drawing program you can use to crop, rotate, and resize pictures.
To paste a screen capture into a Paint file
1. Open Paint by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Paint.
2. Click Edit, and then click Paste.