How to use the snipping tool windows 11

Master the Windows 11 Snipping Tool: Your Complete Guide to Perfect Screenshots

Welcome back to Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

Taking a quick screenshot is one of the most fundamental tasks you do on any computer. While the old Print Screen key works, it often captures your entire desktop, leading to frustrating cropping and editing.

Fortunately, Windows 11 includes the powerful and intuitive Snipping Tool, which allows you to capture precise areas, specific windows, or even freeform shapes with incredible ease. Whether you’re creating a technical document, highlighting a bug for support, or just sharing something cool with a friend, mastering this tool is a huge efficiency boost.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Snipping Tool—from opening it up to using its best keyboard shortcuts. Let’s dive in!

How to Launch the Windows 11 Snipping Tool

For beginners, the easiest way to access the Snipping Tool is through the Start Menu.

1. Open the Start Menu: Click the Windows icon on your taskbar (or press the Windows key on your keyboard).
2. Use the Search Bar: Start typing “Snipping Tool.”
3. Click the App: The application should appear as the top result. Click on the Snipping Tool icon to launch the application interface.
4. Ready to Capture: Once open, click the + New button to initiate a screen capture.

The Essential Power User Shortcut: Win + Shift + S

If you want to skip the Start Menu entirely and jump straight into action, the Windows 11 Snipping Tool has a brilliant keyboard shortcut that we highly recommend you memorize. This is the fastest way to capture a screen area instantly!

The Shortcut Command:

Press and hold these three keys simultaneously:

$$\text{Windows Key} + \text{Shift} + \text{S}$$

As soon as you execute this command, your screen will dim slightly, and a small toolbar will appear at the top center of your display. This toolbar is where you select your capture mode.

Taking Different Types of Screenshots with the Snipping Tool

Once you have activated the Snipping Tool (either by clicking ‘+ New’ or using the Win + Shift + S shortcut), you will see four distinct icons at the top of your screen. These modes define exactly how your screenshot will be captured.

Here are the four modes and when to use them:

1. Rectangular Snip (Default Mode)

This is the most common capture type, allowing you to draw a perfect rectangle around the area you want to capture.

• How to Use: Click the rectangular icon (usually the first one). Click and drag your mouse across the screen. When you release the mouse button, the selected area is immediately captured.

2. Freeform Snip

Need to capture a weird shape? The Freeform Snip lets you draw any outline you desire—circles, irregular curves, or custom shapes.

• How to Use: Click the freeform icon (the second one). Draw a freehand outline around the content. When the outline connects, the content inside is captured.

3. Window Snip

This mode is perfect when you only want to capture the contents of a single active application window, without including the taskbar or other desktop elements.

• How to Use: Click the window icon (the third one). Simply hover your mouse over the window you wish to capture (it will be highlighted), and then click once.

4. Fullscreen Snip

While similar to the traditional Print Screen key, using this mode via the Snipping Tool shortcut ensures your capture is immediately ready for editing or saving in the Snipping Tool environment.

• How to Use: Click the fullscreen icon (the fourth one). This instantly captures everything across all connected monitors.

Editing, Annotating, and Saving Your Snips

After you take any snip, Windows 11 will display a notification pop-up in the bottom right corner of your screen. Clicking this notification will open your captured image in the Snipping Tool’s dedicated editing window.

This window gives you powerful options to refine your image before saving:

• Markup Tools: Use the pen, highlighter, or eraser to draw, annotate, or redact information on your screenshot. This is essential for tutorials or pointing out specific areas.
• Cropping: You can fine-tune the borders of your captured image, removing unnecessary space around the edges.
• Saving: To save your screenshot to your computer, click the Save icon (it looks like a floppy disk). You can choose standard image formats like PNG, JPG, or GIF.
• Copying: If you just need to paste the image directly into an email, chat, or document, click the Copy icon.

Wrapping Up: Take Control of Your Screen Captures!

The Windows 11 Snipping Tool is far more powerful and flexible than the legacy screen capture methods. By learning the quick launch methods and understanding the four different snip modes, you can capture exactly what you need, every single time.

Start using the Win + Shift + S shortcut today—it will instantly become a foundational part of your workflow!

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out the full video tutorial on Darren’s Tech Tutorials for a visual walkthrough! Don’t forget to Like the video and Subscribe to the channel for more clear, accessible technology guides delivered weekly! Happy snipping!