We all use screenshots to express the obvious things that we are experiencing. Whether you are an employee or a professional, you used to take screenshots to show the current progress of work or an error facing, to your clients or superiors. Taking screenshots on Android phones is much simple by pressing volume up/down + power buttons together. But how to take screenshots on Windows 10?

Why take screenshots and what are the uses?

A screenshot is an image captured from a real-time computer/mobile screen of an on-going process. As a famous quote says “A picture is worth a thousand words”, you can use a single screenshot instead of typing long text to describe a situation.

For example,

If you want to report a bug/error, facing with software or online service

(or)

You want to share the daily progress report to your superior/boss.

In such cases, instead of typing a full description, simply you can use screenshots to share the reports.

As we know taking screenshots on mobile is as simple as a blink of an eye. But, here are the 6 simple methods to take screenshots on Windows 10 without any third-party software?

Method #1: Quick Screenshot

The quick method uses Windows’ built-in ‘print screen’ function to take screenshots. The print screen function button – ‘PrtSc’ is mostly available on the right side of the top row (function buttons row) the keyboard.

One quick press of ‘PrtSc’ will copy the whole screen to the clipboard for later use purposes. This option will come handy when you want to share a screenshot online or save it to an existing document. You need to just press the ‘PrtSc’ and paste using ‘Ctrl + V’ in the online chatting placeholder or in a document you are working on or just paste it to MS-Paint or Photoshop for some post-editing work.

Method #2: Quick Cropped Screenshot

The quick cropped method will used to capture a part of the visible screen using Win + Shift + S. This method will also copy the cropped screenshot to the clipboard for later use.

By pressing win + Shift + S together a small toolbox will appear on top of the screen which offers 3 options to take screenshots. (1) to select a part of the screen to copy to clipboard (cropped), (2) free-form clip – a selection tool to copy a part of the screen, and (3) full-screen copy. As this option also copy the screen to the clipboard, you can paste it where ever you want or a paste to a photo editing software to edit some details.

Method #3: Save screenshot to a file

Use this method if you want all the screenshots to store directly on your computer as image files. By pressing Win + PrtSc together the entire screen will be captured and saved to C:\Users\USER_NAME\Pictures\Screenshots path.

If you want to change the default location of screenshots by following the below steps:-

Goto default screenshots folder location, ie. C:\Users\USER_NAME\Pictures
Right-click on the screenshots folder and select “Properties” from the menu.
On the properties window, click on the “Location” tab.
Click on the “Move” button.
Choose your desired location path from the dialogue box. Then hit “Apply” and “OK”.

Method #4: Save cropped screenshot to a file

The snipping tool is an in-built tool to take screenshots and edit them in the tool itself. The snipping tool offers a variety of features like multiple modes of snipping, delay snipping, and edit features like a pen. highlighter and eraser for post-editing.

Method #5: Screenshot only a single active window

If you find it hard and boring to crop an image and using the freeform selection tool? There is an option for you too, by “Alt + PrtSc” together you’ll be able to take a screenshot of only that particular active window. So, remember to highlight that window by clicking on it before you want to capture it.

Method #6: Screenshot on Microsoft Surface Windows tablet

It will be a bit different for Microsoft Surface device users while using it without a keyboard. Similar to any other mobile device, a key combination of “Win + Volume Down” will capture the whole screen and save to Pictures > Screenshots path.

Note:- Some laptops may require to use the “PrtSc” button with combination with the “Fn” key. For example:

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