Want to take screenshots quickly and use tools to mark them up with ease? Find here the Snipping Tool (or Snip and Sketch) shortcut for Windows screenshots as well as keyboard shortcuts to use inside the app.
First, the Way That Can Be Gone Straight Is Not the Direct Way
When you approach an animal in the wild to be close enough to take a picture, let the Daode Jing’s very beginning (and maybe Tom Mangelsen) be your guide: don’t do it directly.
Instead of heading straight up to a herd and scaring it, approach in a zig-zag motion with many a pause along the way.
The way to take a picture on your Windows machine, of course, need not be a detour:
How to Use the Windows Snipping Tool (Snip and Sketch) Shortcut for Screenshots
Using the Snipping Tool (Snip and Sketch) Keyboard Shortcut
Time needed: 1 minute
To take a screenshot quickly using a Windows keyboard shortcut with Snipping Tool on Windows 11 or Snip and Sketch on Windows 10:
- Press Windows Shift S.
- Alternative shortcut: You can also set up the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) key to launch Snipping Tool or Snip and Sketch; see below.
- Choose the type of screenshot you want to make.
Here’s how: The choices are the same as if you had started the screenshot from Snip & Sketch.
- Click to grab the screen.
Take a Windows Screenshot Using Mouse or Touchscreen
To make screenshots quickly using Snip & Sketch shortcuts for mouse and touchscreen:
- Pin Snip & Sketch to your Windows 10 taskbar or the Start menu.
Steps: Open the Start menu and start typingsnipping tool(orsnip & sketch); now click on the corresponding result and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. - Click or tap and hold Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch in the taskbar or Start menu.
- Select Take a new snip from the context menu to immediately start grabbing a screenshot.
Get a countdown timer: Choose New snip in 3 seconds or New snip in 10 seconds instead for time to set up your screenshot.
Use Snipping Tool with Keyboard Shortcuts
To take quick actions inside Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch, you can use the following shortcuts:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Start a new screenshot | Ctrl N |
| Save the current screenshot | Ctrl S or Alt S |
| Open a screenshot (to annotate) | Ctrl O |
| Set a delay for taking a screenshot | Alt D |
| Ctrl P | |
| Undo | Ctrl Z |
| Redo | Ctrl Y |
| Share the current screenshot | Alt A |
| Crop the image | Alt I |
| Write | Alt T |
| Select ballpoint pen | Alt B |
| Use ruler/protractor menu | Alt L |
| Select the highlighter | Alt H |
| Select the eraser | Alt E |
| Open zoom menu | Alt Z |
How to Use the Snip and Sketch Keyboard Shortcut for Screenshots: FAQ
Can I use “Print Screen” (PrtScn) as the Snipping Tool Shortcut?
Yes.
To configure Windows 11 to use Print Screen for taking screenshots (using Snipping Tool):
- Open Settings in the Start menu.
Windows keyboard shortcut: Press Windows I to open Settings. - Go to the Accessibility section.
- Select Keyboard under Interaction.
- Turn On the setting to Use the Print screen key to open Snipping Tool.
To set up the Print Screen (or PrtScn) key for taking a new screenshot in Snip & Sketch on Windows 10:
- Open the Start menu in Windows.
- Select the Settings gear icon (⚙︎).
- Now open the Ease of Access category.
- Select Keyboard under Interaction on the left.
- Turn On the option Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping under Print Screen shortcut.
- Close the settings window.
(The Snipping Tool and Snip and Sketch shortcut tested with Snipping Tool11.2304–11.2312 and Snip & Sketch 10.2008; first published January 2021, last updated July 2024)