How to Take a Screenshot on a Laptop (Windows) – Easy Methods & Shortcuts

How to Take a Screenshot on a Laptop

Hello there,

In this post, I’m going to show you how to take a screenshot on a Windows laptop. I’ll also cover how to use built-in screen recorders to capture your screen if needed. So, let's get started!

How to Take a Screenshot on a Windows Laptop (Dell, HP, ASUS, Acer, Lenovo)

When it comes to taking a screenshot, there are three possible scenarios you might be looking for:

1. Capturing the entire screen
2. Capturing the active window
3. Capturing a specific region (rectangular or freeform)

There are different shortcuts for each of these functions. Let’s go through them one by one.

Snipping tool will look something like this and will appear on top

How to Take a Screenshot of the Entire Screen

On your keyboard, locate the PrtSc (Print Screen) key. Once found, press the following key combination:

🔹 Windows + PrtSc

If the Snipping Tool opens up, click on the drop-down icon at the top and select Full Screen. This will capture and save the entire screen to the following location:

📂 C:\Users\(Your Username)\Pictures\Screenshots

For some Windows 10 users, the Snipping Tool may not open automatically. In that case, check the above-mentioned folder to see if the screenshot has been saved.

📌 Note: You might notice that the taskbar is also captured in this type of screenshot. This is the key difference between capturing the entire screen and just the active window.

Entire Screen Screenshot

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How to Take a Screenshot of the Active Window (Without Taskbar)

If you only want to capture the active window (excluding the taskbar), use the following shortcut:

🔹 Fn + Alt + PrtSc *(If your Fn key is locked, use only Alt + PrtSc)

This will copy the screenshot of the active window to your clipboard. To share it via WhatsApp, email, or any other platform, simply paste it using Ctrl + V.

You can also:

• Open Paint, paste the screenshot (Ctrl + V), and save it at your desired location.
• Use the Snipping Tool with the shortcut Windows + Shift + S, then select Window to capture the active tab. The screenshot will be saved in:

📂 C:\Users\(Your Username)\Pictures\Screenshots

Active Window Screenshot (Notice that Taskbar is missing)




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How to Take a Screenshot of a Specific Section of the Screen

If you want to capture only a particular section of the screen (e.g., while teaching online and capturing a question), follow these steps:

1. Open the Snipping Tool by pressing:
   🔹 Windows + Shift + S (or just PrtSc, depending on your configuration)

2. Once the Snipping Tool opens, click on the drop-down icon and select Rectangular or Freeform.

3. Drag your mouse (or use your touchpad) to select the region you want to capture.

4. Once you release the mouse/touchpad, the selected region will be copied to the clipboard. You can then:

• Paste it (Ctrl + V) into an email or chat.
• Open Paint, paste it, and save it.

Capturing specific section (Notice how the tabs are also missing)

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How to Record Your Screen in Windows (Without Third-Party Software)

If you need to record your screen without installing any additional software, you can do so using the Snipping Tool. Here’s how:

1. Open the Snipping Tool by pressing:
   🔹 Windows + Shift + S (or just PrtSc, depending on your configuration)

2. Once the Snipping Tool opens, you’ll see two buttons:

   • Camera icon – for taking screenshots
   • Video icon – for screen recording

3. Click the video icon to start screen recording.

4. Select the specific region of the screen you want to record by dragging your mouse (Windows does not provide an option to record the entire screen or active window by default).

5. Click the Start button at the top to begin recording.

6. Once you’re done, click the Stop button to finish recording.

Your recordings will be saved in .mp4 format in the following location:

📂 C:\Users\(Your Username)\Videos\Screen Recordings

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📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1️⃣ Where do my screenshots go after I take them?

📂 If you use Windows + PrtSc, your screenshots are saved in:
➡️ C:\Users\(Your Username)\Pictures\Screenshots

📂 If you use the Snipping Tool, the screenshot is copied to your clipboard. You need to manually paste (Ctrl + V) it into Paint or another app to save it.

2️⃣ Why isn’t my PrtSc button working?

✔️ Some laptops require you to press Fn + PrtSc instead of just PrtSc.
✔️ If you're using an external keyboard, check if the PrtSc key is disabled in BIOS settings.

3️⃣ Can I take a screenshot without the keyboard?

Yes! You can use the Snipping Tool:

1. Click on Start and search for "Snipping Tool."
2. Open it and select the type of screenshot you need.

4️⃣ How do I find my screen recordings?

Your recordings are saved in:
📂 C:\Users\(Your Username)\Videos\Screen Recordings

5️⃣ How can I take a screenshot on a laptop without the Snipping Tool?

Use the built-in shortcuts:
🔹 Windows + PrtSc – Captures the full screen and saves it.
🔹 Alt + PrtSc – Captures the active window and copies it to the clipboard.

6️⃣ How can I change the default location of saved screenshots/recordings?

1. Open the Snipping Tool by searching for it in the Windows search bar.
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Under settings, you’ll find options to change the default save location for both screenshots and screen recordings.

7️⃣ Can I add a timer to take a screenshot?

Yes! You can delay a screenshot in the Snipping Tool:

1. Open the Snipping Tool (same process as above).
2. Click on the clock icon (⏳) in the toolbar.
3. Choose the delay time (e.g., 3 seconds, 5 seconds, etc.).

This feature is useful when you need to capture pop-ups or hover-over menus that disappear quickly.

That’s it! Now you know how to take screenshots and record your screen on a Windows laptop. I hope this guide was helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Happy screenshotting! 😊