How to Take Screenshots on a Laptop, Windows 11/10/7: Without using third-party Software

This blog guides How to Take Screenshots on a Laptop. A screenshot is a photo of your computer screen. In our digital life screenshots are important. in case you are capturing clips in a video, saving important information, or error messages for troubleshooting. Let’s see different methods for different operating systems with a step-by-step guide.

How to Take Screenshots on a Laptop

Method 1: Using the Print Screen Key on the Keyboard

The simple way Take Screenshots on a Laptop or Desktop using the Print Screen/PrtScn key (different for each PC). On most keyboards, this key was usually found on the upper-right side of the corner.

• Full-Screen Capture: Press the Windows Key + PrtScn. The captured screenshot will be saved in your Pictures directory.
• Active Window Capture

1. Click on the specific window you want to capture.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn (PrtSc), after pressing the key the active window will be copied to your clipboard.
3. Now open ‘Paint’ (You can use any image editing or document tool). If you can’t find it then search for it.
4. Click on ‘New’ to open a new blank page.
5. Then click on ‘Paste’ on a new page.
6. Click on ‘File’ and select ‘Save As’.
7. Choose the directory (location) of your computer and name the new file, click on ‘save’.

Method 2: Using Snipping Tool

Windows has a built-in tool called Snipping Tool that provides more flexibility in capturing screenshots.

• Open the Snipping Tool from the Start Menu if you can’t find it then search for it.
• In the ‘Snipping Tool’ click on New and select the type of capturing method you want: rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen.
• Once you make your selection, then the cursor will be charged to a crosshair pointer.

• Move the crosshair to the area you want to capture.
• Click and drag to capture an area. The area was selected.
• Now release your Mouse or Trackpad.

• Click on ‘File’ and ‘Save As’.
• Choose the directory (location) of your computer and name the new file, click on ‘save’.

Method 3: Using Xbox Game Bar

How to Take Screenshots on a Laptop using Xbox Game Bar is built on Windows 10 and Windows 11. This is a great tool for games and who need to record their screen.

• Press Windows Key + G to open the Game Bar. Note: if Game Bar was not open then enable it. To enable, press the Windows key + I key to open the settings and go to Gaming -> Xbox Game Bar. Then, turn on the Game Bar.
• A menu will appear in the corner of your screen.
• Click the camera icon on the Capture menu to take a screenshot.

• To record a video press the record button.
• Also able to record audio along with video by turning on and off the microphone for your requirement.
• Captured screenshots and videos will be saved in PNG and MP4 file format, find them in the directory of Video -> Captures on your computer.

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