How to Use Microsoft Snipping Tool for Screenshots and Screen Recording

You can use the Microsoft Snipping Tool to take screenshots and record your screen. This tool lets you capture pictures or videos from your screen. It makes sharing or editing what you see very easy.

Tip: The Color Picker helps you check colors in HEX, RGB, or HSL formats. This is useful for matching colors when you design things.
The newest update brings new features like Draw & Hold. You can make neat shapes by holding your cursor still.

Key Takeaways

• You can open Snipping Tool fast from the Start Menu. You can also use keyboard shortcuts. You can pin it to your taskbar for quick use.

• Pick a screenshot mode like rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen. This helps you capture just what you want.

• Use the delay timer to catch things like pop-up menus. These menus go away fast, so the timer helps.

• Edit screenshots by cropping, drawing, or highlighting. You can also get text from images. This makes your pictures clear and helpful.

• Record your screen with sound by using easy shortcuts. You can save or share your videos in MP4 format.

Open Microsoft Snipping Tool

You have several ways to open the Microsoft Snipping Tool on your Windows device. These methods work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, but some features may differ depending on your version.

Start Menu and Search

You can find the Snipping Tool quickly using the Start Menu.

• On Windows 10, open the Start Menu and look for "Snipping Tool" under Windows Accessories.

• On Windows 11, open the Start Menu, select "All Apps," scroll to "S," and choose "Snipping Tool."

• You can also type "Snipping Tool" in the search bar and select it from the results.

If you prefer, you can use the Run dialog. Press Win + R, type snippingtool or snippingtool.exe, and press Enter. Another way is to open Command Prompt or PowerShell, type snippingtool, and hit Enter.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts help you open the Snipping Tool even faster.

• Press Windows + Shift + S to open the screenshot overlay.

• On Windows 11, you can also use Windows + Shift + R to start screen recording.

• If the shortcut does not work, check your keyboard keys and update your drivers. Sometimes, you may need to reset or reinstall the app.

Tip: If you have trouble launching the tool, try updating Windows, checking your keyboard, or reinstalling the app from the Microsoft Store.

Pin to Taskbar

For easy access, you can pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar or Start Menu:

1. Open the Start Menu and find the Snipping Tool.

2. Right-click the icon.

3. Select "Pin to taskbar" or "Pin to Start."

You can also create a desktop shortcut by dragging the Snipping Tool from the Start Menu to your desktop.

The Microsoft Snipping Tool comes pre-installed on most Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. Windows 11 offers extra features like screen recording and text extraction. If you cannot find the tool, you can reinstall it using the Microsoft Store or PowerShell commands.

Screenshots

Capture Modes

You can use the Microsoft Snipping Tool to capture your screen in different ways. Each mode helps you get the exact screenshot you need. Here is how you can use each capture mode:

1. Open the Snipping Tool and press the New button to start a screenshot.

2. By default, you will see a rectangular box. Drag this box to select the area you want to capture.

3. If you want a different shape, select the Mode option. You can choose from:

   • Rectangular Snip: Draw a rectangle around the area you want.

   • Free-form Snip: Draw any shape with your mouse or finger.

   • Window Snip: Capture a specific window, like a browser or app.

   • Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire screen at once.

4. Release your mouse or finger to take the screenshot.

5. The captured image will appear in a new window. You can save or share it from there.

Tip: Use the Window Snip mode to capture only the active window. This keeps your screenshot clean and focused.

Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts make taking screenshots much faster. You do not need to open menus or click buttons. Here are the main shortcuts you should know:

• Press Windows + Shift + S to open the snipping bar right away. You can pick any capture mode from the bar.

• After you take a screenshot, it opens in Snip & Sketch for quick editing.

• The shortcut works with Windows Clipboard History (Windows + V). You can paste or find old screenshots easily.

Using shortcuts saves time and helps you work faster. You can capture what you need without stopping your workflow.

Note: If you use shortcuts, you can take screenshots while working in other apps. This helps you stay productive.

Delay Timer

Sometimes you need to capture something that disappears quickly, like a menu or tooltip. The delay timer in the Microsoft Snipping Tool helps you with this. You can set a timer for 3, 5, or 10 seconds before the screenshot is taken. This gives you time to get your screen ready.

For example, set a 5-second delay, then open the menu you want to capture. The tool will wait and then take the screenshot at the right moment. This feature makes it easier to capture tricky parts of your screen.

Tip: Use the delay timer to capture pop-up messages or dropdown menus that close when you click away.

Quick Tips

You can get better screenshots by following a few expert tips:

1. Use Full-Screen Snip or Window Snip to capture everything you need in one shot.

2. Save your screenshots as PNG files. PNG keeps the image clear and sharp.

3. Make sure the window you want fills the screen. Zoom in if you need to show details.

4. Try not to capture the mouse cursor. It can block important parts of your screenshot.

5. Avoid resizing your screenshot after you take it. This keeps the quality high.

6. Send screenshots as files, not through chat apps. Some apps lower the quality.

7. Screenshots look better on high-resolution screens. If your device supports it, use higher resolution settings.

8. Some computers have special graphics settings that make screenshots even sharper.

Remember: The quality of your screenshot depends on your screen and how you save the file. Always check your image before sharing.

Edit and Annotate

After you capture a screenshot, you can use the Microsoft Snipping Tool to edit and annotate your image. These tools help you highlight important details, remove unwanted parts, or add notes before you save or share your work.

Crop and Resize

You can crop your screenshot to focus on the most important part.

• Select the Crop icon in the toolbar.

• Drag the edges to adjust the area you want to keep.

• Press Apply to finish cropping.

If you want to change the size, you can use the resize option. This helps you make your image smaller or larger. Cropping and resizing keep your screenshots clear and easy to understand.

Tip: Cropping removes extra space and makes your screenshot look more professional.

Draw and Highlight

You can draw or highlight directly on your screenshot.

• Use the Pen tool to write or draw freehand.

• The Highlighter tool lets you mark text or areas with color.

• You can pick different colors and thicknesses for each tool.

These features help you point out key information or add simple notes. You can also use the Eraser to remove marks you do not want. While the Snipping Tool offers basic drawing and highlighting, some other screenshot tools give you more advanced editing options, such as adding shapes or text boxes.

Note: If you need more editing features, you may want to try other screenshot apps.

Redact or Extract Text

You can cover sensitive information by drawing over it with the pen or highlighter. This helps you protect private details before sharing your screenshot.

The Snipping Tool also includes a text extraction feature. This tool uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to pull text from your screenshot.

• Tap the Text Extractor button.

• Select the area with text.

• You can copy all the text, pick certain lines, or remove line breaks.

This feature saves you time because you do not need to type out the text by hand. It works well for grabbing text from images, PDFs, or websites where you cannot select the text.

The built-in OCR makes it easy to copy text quickly and reduces mistakes.

You can copy your edited screenshot to the clipboard or share it using the built-in sharing options. This makes it simple to send your work by email or chat.

Screen Recording with Microsoft Snipping Tool

Screen recording helps you capture video of your screen. You can use this feature to make tutorials, record gameplay, or save online meetings. The Microsoft Snipping Tool makes screen recording easy for everyone.

Start Recording

You can start a screen recording with a simple shortcut. Press Windows + Shift + R on your keyboard. This opens the recording overlay. If you do not see the overlay, make sure you have the latest version of Windows 11. The screen recording feature works best on Windows 11.

You can also open the Microsoft Snipping Tool from the Start Menu. Click the camera icon at the top of the window. This switches the tool from screenshot mode to recording mode.

Tip: Close any windows or apps you do not want to record before you start. This keeps your video focused and private.

Select Area

After you open the recording overlay, you need to select the part of the screen you want to record. You will see a crosshair cursor. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want. You can record the whole screen or just a small part.

• To record the full screen, drag from one corner to the opposite corner.

• To record a window, drag the box around that window.

• To record a custom area, draw the box around the exact spot you want.

When you finish selecting, click the "Start" button. The tool will count down from three, then begin recording.

Note: You cannot change the area once you start recording. If you need a different area, stop the recording and start again.

Audio Options

You can choose to record audio with your video. This is helpful if you want to explain what you are doing or capture sounds from your computer.

• Click the microphone icon before you start recording.

• Turn the microphone on to record your voice.

• Turn the microphone off to record only the screen.

You can also record system audio, like sounds from videos or games. Make sure your microphone and speakers work before you start.

Tip: Test your microphone before recording. Speak into it and check the sound levels.

Save Video

When you finish recording, click the "Stop" button in the control bar. The Microsoft Snipping Tool will show a preview of your video. You can watch the video before saving it.

• Click "Save As" to choose where to save your video.

• The tool saves videos in MP4 format. This format works on most devices and apps.

• Pick a folder and give your video a name you will remember.

You can also copy the video to your clipboard or share it directly from the tool. Look for the share icon to send your video by email or upload it to the cloud.

Note: By default, the tool saves your videos in the "Videos" folder on your computer. You can change the save location in the settings.

Screen recording with the Microsoft Snipping Tool gives you a simple way to capture and share what happens on your screen. You do not need extra software or special skills.

Save, Share, and Settings

Save and Copy

You can save and copy your screenshots or recordings in a few ways. When you take a screenshot, it goes to your clipboard first. You can paste it into apps like Paint, Word, or email. If you want to keep the image, save it from the Snipping Tool window.

• Use the Save As button to pick a folder and file name.

• Screenshots do not save to disk automatically. You must save them yourself.

• If you use Windows + PrtScr, Windows saves the screenshot to the Pictures\Screenshots folder.

• Temporary files may go to a hidden folder on your computer. These are hard to find.

Tip: Create a special folder for your screenshots. This helps you find them later and keeps your desktop clean.

Organize your files by date or project. Use clear names for each screenshot or video. You can also use tags or folders to sort your captures.

Share Options

After you capture an image or video, a thumbnail appears in the app. You can edit, save, or share from there. The tool copies your capture to the clipboard. You can paste it into chat apps, documents, or websites.
A banner shows when your screenshot is ready. You can share by pasting into Teams, Outlook, or other programs. This makes sharing fast and easy.

Note: You do not need to save the file first to share it. Just paste from the clipboard.

Customize Settings

You can change some settings to make the tool work better for you.

• Choose a theme: Light, Dark, or High Contrast.

• Screenshots go to the clipboard by default. You can save them to a folder if you want.

• The tool does not let you pick a new auto-save folder inside the app.

• Use keyboard shortcuts to work faster:

  1. Windows + Shift + S opens the snipping menu.

  2. Alt + N starts a new snip in the last mode.

  3. Alt + M switches snip modes.

  4. Shift + Arrow keys moves the snip area for better control.

Try using shortcuts to speed up your work. You can capture, edit, and share in less time.

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You can use the Microsoft Snipping Tool to capture and edit your screen with ease.

1. Open the tool from the Start menu or press Windows + Shift + S.

2. Pick a snip mode: rectangular, window, full screen, or free-form.

3. Capture your screenshot and edit it in the tool.

4. Save or share your work.

Many users like the tool because it is simple, always available, and easy to use. You can record your screen, extract text, and hide private info with just a few clicks.

Try the tool today and see how it helps you. If you have questions or want to share your experience, leave a comment below.

FAQ

How do you fix the Snipping Tool if it will not open?

Try restarting your computer first. If the tool still does not open, uninstall it from Settings. Download and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. This usually solves most problems.

Can you record audio with screen recordings?

Yes, you can record your voice. Click the microphone icon before you start recording. Make sure your microphone works. The tool will capture your voice along with the video.

Where do your screenshots and recordings get saved?

Screenshots go to your clipboard. You must save them manually. Videos save to your "Videos" folder by default. You can choose a different location when you click "Save As."

What file formats does the Snipping Tool support?

You can save screenshots as PNG, JPG, or GIF files. Videos save as MP4 files. These formats work with most devices and apps.

Can you extract text from screenshots?

Yes, you can use the Text Extractor feature. Select the area with text. The tool will copy the text for you. This helps you avoid typing it out yourself.