Took a screenshot of the whole screen and only need a few words (or a picture)? Find out here how to crop an image or screenshot to size right in Snipping Tool (Snip and Sketch).
First, Beethoven the Beancounter
Beethoven did not compose 180 hours of music with piano, paper, and quill alone; he also consumed copious amounts of coffee, for example.
For each deliciously invigorating cup, the connoisseur did not weigh or guess the amount of coffee; he counted beans: sixty reportedly went into one cup.
Now, do you guess an image is not quite cut to size? Let’s start counting pixels—right in Windows Snipping Tool.
How to Crop an Image in Snipping Tool (Snip and Sketch)
Time needed: 2 minutes
To crop an image to size in Windows Snipping Tool (and Snip and Sketch for Windows 10):
- Select Image Crop in the bottom Windows Snipping Tool toolbar.
Snipping Tool keyboard shortcut: You can also press Alt R to start cropping.
- Use the handles in the current selection’s corners to adapt it to crop the desired part of the image.
Move crop selection: Click and drag inside the current selection (or press the arrow keys) to move it over the image (without changing the selection’s size or dimensions).
Zoom: See below for zooming in and out of the image for cropping.
- Click Apply in the toolbar to crop when you are happy with the current selection.
Snipping Tool keyboard shortcut: As an alternative, press Enter to crop.
Cancel: Click Cancel in the toolbar or press Esc to return to the screenshot without any changes.
Zoom an Image While Cropping in Snipping Tool
To zoom in on part of an image or get an overview in the Windows Snipping Tool cropping view:
- Click Zoom in the toolbar.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt Z to open the slider. - Use the slider to zoom in and out of the image.
Fit on screen: Best fit is on the very left.
You can also use the keyboard to zoom:
- Press Ctrl + (plus) to zoom in.
- Use Ctrl - (minus) to zoom out.
- Press Ctrl 1 to see the image’s actual size.
How to Crop an Image in Snipping Tool: FAQ
Is there a way to keep the aspect ratio constant for the crop selection?
No.
You can only change the Snipping Tool selection for cropping using the handles in the corners, and the selection will always adapt in both directions. There is no way to keep the original aspect ratio.
Can I see the dimensions of the cropping selection?
No.
Snipping Tool and Snip and Sketch do not display the crop dimensions anywhere. You cannot set the selection to a specific size either.
Can I undo cropping an image in Snipping Tool?
Yes, not using Undo.
To undo cropping an image in Snipping Tool (Snip and Sketch):
- Click Image Crop in the toolbar again.
- Restore the original crop or dimensions using the cropping handles.
- Press Enter.
(How to crop an image tested with Windows Snipping Tool 11.2303 and Snip and Sketch 10.2008; updated in November 2023)