How to Take Screenshots on Windows 7, 8, 10

Taking screenshots serves a great purpose by allowing users to capture an image or a webpage that they want. The screenshots help to easily express some things which could be hard to express without a visual aid. Screenshots let you capture exactly what you're seeing on your screen to share with others or reference later.

Taking, saving, and sharing screenshots can be extremely helpful. In fact, some insist that the screenshot is the most important thing on the internet. This article will guide you on the various simple ways of how to take screenshots on Windows 7, 8, and 10 - all without having to use any third-party app.

How to Take Screenshots on Windows 7

Method 1: The default key combination

1. You can capture the entire screen of your computer by simply pressing on the Prt Scr (Print Screen) key. This is the short form for print screen key.
2. To take a screenshot of an active window, press the Alt + PrtSc keys.
3. Please note that pressing this keyboard shortcut does not give any sign that the screenshot is captured, nor does it save the screenshot. Therefore, you need to use another program to save it as an image file. For example, you can use Paint
4. Click on the Accessories and select Paint
5. Click “paste” button at the top or press Ctrl + V
6. Click save button (on the drop-down button at the top menu bar as below) to save the screenshot on your PC.

Method 2: Using a Snipping Tool

A windows 7 built in snipping tool allows users to capture the whole screen or part of the screen. The tool provides users with four options for capturing screenshots:

1. Free-form Snip – Draw a free-form shape around what you intend to capture
2. Rectangular Snip – Drag a cursor around the object to capture a rectangular shape using your mouse button
3. Windows Snip – Select a window that you want to capture
4. Full-screen Snip – Capture the entire the screen

To use the snipping tool, follow the following steps:

1. Select Start button, type snipping tool in the search box and select it from the results. Alternatively you can find it under > Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool.
2. Choose the snip shape you intend to use.
3. Click New (or mode for some older versions) to choose a new snip and drag the snip around the section you want to capture or select a window to screenshot once the screen fades.
4. Once a snip is created, a new window will open allowing you to add highlights and texts on the image by selecting the pen or highlighter buttons. Select Eraser to remove any unwanted highlights.
5. On the disc icon click save snip to save the captured screenshot or simply key in Ctrl + S

You can also use some keyboard shortcuts when using a snipping tool. Here are a few:

1. Alt + M: Choose a snipping mode
2. Alt + N: Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one
3. Shift + arrow keys: Move the cursor to select a rectangular snip area
4. Alt + D: Delay capture by 1-5 seconds
5. Ctrl + C: Copy the snip to clipboard
6. Ctrl + S: Save the snip

How to Take Screenshots Under Windows 8

Windows 8 makes it easier to capture a screenshot. You can automatically save a screenshot in the pictures folder in png format. Here are 2 ways to take a screenshot on your Windows 8 PC.

Method 1: Using Windows + Print Screen keys

This method is used to capture the whole screen display area.

1. Set up the screen to the object you intend to capture.
2. Press Windows + Print Screen keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
3. A new screenshot will be saved in the pictures folder in your library. You can access the screenshot by opening your windows explorer and navigating to the library.
4. Open the Pictures folder and you'll find the screenshots folder - there is no need to use any screenshot app or any screencast device.

Method 2: Using the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool comes with Windows and is created specifically for taking screenshots. This is a screenshot tool that can capture the whole screen, a custom area, or a window. To use the tool in Windows 8, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the start screen and choose All Apps at the bottom-right corner.
2. Locate the Snipping tool under the category of Windows Accessories on the Apps interface
3. You can also find the snipping tool through the search bar. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap search, and type snipping tool in the empty search box.
4. After opening the snipping tool application, you can then take a screenshot by pressing Ctrl + Print Screen button to capture the whole screen.
5. To capture a window, choose the snip you intend to use on the menu bar by clicking New.
6. Use the Free-Form to draw an irregular line around an object or area to take a partial screenshot.
7. Use the Rectangular Snip to take a rectangular-shaped screenshot by dragging the cursor around the area you wish to take a screenshot of.
8. Use a Window Snip to select a window, for instance, your internet browser.
9. Use the Full-Screen Snip to capture the entire screen.
10. Drag the cursor around the area you want to capture and the image will then appear. Once the image appears, the snipping tool allows you to add or remove highlights or texts.
11. Save the image by selecting the save snip button or pressing the keys Ctrl+S simultaneously.

You may also use the following keyboard shortcuts when capturing a screenshot using the snipping tool:

1. Alt + M: Choose a snipping mode
2. Alt + N: Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one
3. Shift + arrow keys: Move the cursor to select a rectangular snip area
4. Alt + D: Delay capture by 1-5 seconds
5. Ctrl + C: Copy the snip to clipboard
6. Ctrl + S: Save the snip

How to Take Screenshots Under Windows 10

Windows 10 allows you to take a screenshot of the entire screen, one Window, and a section of the screen using certain keys as well as the Snipping Tool.

How to capture the entire screen

1. The quickest way to capture a screenshot of the whole screen is to hold down the Windows key + Prt Scn button (Print Screen).
2. You'll notice a slight dimming of the display when the screenshot is successfully captured.
3. You can take multiple screenshots this way, and the saved screenshots are saved directly in the Pictures folder or Photos app in your PC.
4. To access the folder, go to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots

How to capture a single Window

1. Open the Window that you plan to screenshot.
2. Use the Alt+Prt Scr combination to take the screenshot.
3. The screenshot will be copied to the windows clipboard. You can now paste the screenshot into another program such as the built-in Paint and save.

To open Paint on Windows 10:

1. Go to the Start menu, expand All apps, open Windows Accessories and choose Paint.
2. Click paste on the top menu bar. The image will appear on the blank space.
3. Click ‘File’ at the top menu bar to save the screenshot.

Capturing a screenshot using the Snipping Tool

The built-in snipping tool allows a user to capture a specific area of the screen. To use the tool:

1. Go to Start Menu and type snipping tool on the empty search box and click on the result.
2. Once you open the snipping tool, click New on the menu bar and select the preferred snip tool from the list:

1. Free-form snip: It draws an irregular shape around the object.
2. Rectangular snip: Forms a rectangle around the image.
3. Window snip: Select a window, such as a dialog box that you want to capture.
4. Full-screen snip: To capture the entire screen.
5. After selecting the preferred snip shape, the screen then becomes faded and a cross appears to replace the normal mouse pointer.
6. Hold the mouse and drag the cursor around the area you want to screenshot.
7. After releasing the mouse, the highlighted area will be captured.
8. Save the screenshot by selecting save snip on the disc icon.

You may also use the following keyboard shortcuts when capturing a screenshot using the snipping tool:

1. Alt + M: Choose a snipping mode
2. Alt + N: Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one
3. Shift + arrow keys: Move the cursor to select a rectangular snip area
4. Alt + D: Delay capture by 1-5 seconds
5. Ctrl + C: Copy the snip to clipboard
6. Ctrl + S: Save the snip