Taking a screenshot on Windows 11 without grabbing the Print Screen key isn’t as complicated as it seems — if you know where to look. Sometimes, the Print Screen button can be broken, disabled, or just inconvenient to reach. Luckily, Windows offers plenty of built-in options to capture your screen easily. These methods work whether you’re trying to snip out a small section, grab a whole window, or just get that quick full-screen shot without fuss. Bonus — most of these tools also let you annotate or edit the screenshot afterward if needed. So, if you’ve been stuck looking for alternatives, these are the ones to try.
How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 Without Print Screen Button
Use Snip & Sketch Tool
Snip & Sketch is a pretty reliable tool that’s part of Windows. You can open it by typing Snip & Sketch into the Start menu and clicking on the app. It’s great because it allows you to select different snip modes, such as freeform, rectangular, window, or full-screen capture. What’s kind of weird is that it’s not the most obvious app at first, but once you get used to it, it’s super handy. You can also press Windows + Shift + S as a shortcut. When that overlay pops up, you can pick your area and directly save or copy the snapshot. On a lot of setups, sometimes this shortcut might briefly not register after a restart or update, but usually, re-opening the app or resetting the shortcut fixes it.
Use Windows + Shift + S Shortcut
This combo is kinda the star of the show — it instantly brings up the snipping overlay. No need to open the app manually. It works well for quick captures, especially if you want to grab a portion of your screen, a single window, or the whole display. The image is stored in your clipboard automatically, so you just need to paste it into an editor like Paint, Word, or any note-taking app. Keep in mind, this shortcut applies to Windows 11 (and Windows 10), but sometimes it gets funky after a big update or if certain settings are disabled. If it’s not working, double-check if the shortcut’s enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Use Shortcut for Snipping Tool.
Use the Snipping Tool
The classic Snipping Tool is still kicking around in Windows 11, though it’s kind of like grandma’s old camera — reliable but not flashy. Search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu, open it, and you’ll get options for delayed or immediate snips. This app is especially useful if you want to delay your screenshot by a few seconds, maybe to click on a menu or hover over something important. Sometimes it feels like Windows is moving towards the new Snip & Sketch, but the Snipping Tool still works fine for most snipping needs and can be quicker if you’re in a hurry.
Use Xbox Game Bar
`Windows + G` is more known for gamers, but it’s actually a pretty capable screenshot tool for anything. Once the overlay pops up, look for their capture widget, which has a camera icon for screenshots. On some devices, you might need to enable the Xbox Game Bar in Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. It’s super useful if you want to grab screen content from apps that don’t let you take screenshots directly, like some streaming or DRM-protected videos. Plus, it captures quickly and you can set hotkeys for automatic saving — if you’re into that kind of workflow.
Save Your Screenshot
After capturing, most tools will prompt you to save or copy the image. With Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool, just hit File > Save As or use the save icon. Make sure to give your file a meaningful name and stash it somewhere easy to find, like the Desktop or a dedicated folder. With the Xbox Game Bar, screenshots are usually found in C:\Users\YourUsername>\Videos\Captures.Sometimes, if your Windows updates throw a wrench in things, the save locations or hotkeys might reset — so keep an eye out for that if things feel off.
Tips for Taking Screenshots on Windows 11 Without Print Screen Button
- Use Snip & Sketch to quickly edit and annotate your shots — takes the clutter out of your workflow.
- Try the delay feature in Snipping Tool for capturing menus, tooltips, or dropdowns that vanish otherwise.
- Remap keyboard shortcuts in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard if the default combos don’t sit right.
- Look into third-party apps like Greenshot, ShareX, or Lightshot if you want extras like automatic uploads or more editing features.
- Get into the habit of organizing your screenshots in folders — on one setup it’s saved me hours hunting down that one perfect shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if Snip & Sketch doesn’t open with the Windows + Shift + S shortcut?
This can happen if the app isn’t properly installed or if a recent update jacked with your shortcuts. Make sure Snip & Sketch is installed and running. Check for updates in the Microsoft Store. If it’s still dead, try resetting the app via PowerShell with: Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft. ScreenSketch* | Remove-AppxPackage then reinstall it from the Store. Sometimes, toggling the shortcut in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard helps too.
Can I still capture video content or full screens?
Absolutely, use the Xbox Game Bar for that — it’s designed for both screenshots and quick videos. Keep in mind some apps or streaming services might block this due to DRM restrictions, but most of the time, Xbox Game Bar will do the trick.
How to take a screenshot of just one window?
Use the same snipping methods, but select the Window mode or click on the specific window after pressing Windows + Shift + S. It captures just that window without any extra clutter. Handy for clean document pictures or app snapshots.
Any way to auto-save while taking these snaps?
Not automatically with default shortcuts, but you can tweak it: set up a macro or use third-party apps. For quick manual save, just paste your clipboard content into Paint (Ctrl + V) or another editor, then save. On some setups, if you want automation, tools like ShareX can be configured for that.
Can I edit screenshots without saving first?
Yep. Tools like Snip & Sketch or the Snipping Tool allow for immediate editing — crop, draw, annotate, and highlight before you hit save. Makes it easier to get things just right.
Summary
- Use Windows + Shift + S to open the snip overlay instantly.
- Open Snip & Sketch directly for more options and editing.
- Try the Snipping Tool if you prefer a classic method.
- Xbox Game Bar is great for quick captures, especially if you’re into gaming or recording.
- Save and organize your screenshots so they don’t get lost in the digital chaos.
Wrap-up
Getting used to these alternatives can save a lot of hassle, especially if the Print Screen key is missing or broken. Each method has its quirks, but knowing multiple ways to capture your screen gives you more flexibility. Plus, once you’ve set up shortcuts or preferred tools, it’s just a matter of pressing a few keys and grabbing whatever you need. Not sure why, but sometimes the shortcuts do require a bit of troubleshooting after Windows updates — a quick reinstall or reset usually sorts it out. Fingers crossed this helps someone save time — it worked for me on several machines.