How to Use the "Print Screen" Function on the Keyboard: 10 Steps

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How to Use the "Print Screen" Function on the Keyboard: 10 Steps
How to Use the "Print Screen" Function on the Keyboard: 10 Steps

Video: How to Use the "Print Screen" Function on the Keyboard: 10 Steps

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This wikiHow teaches you how to use the Print Screen key on a Windows computer keyboard to quickly take screenshots. Learn some keyboard shortcuts so you can capture the entire screen or just one window on the desktop.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Capturing Entire Screen

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 1
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 1

Step 1. Locate the Print Screen button

The location will vary depending on the keyboard used. However, this key is usually placed at the top right of the function keys (F1 to F12). The text on the button can be prnt scrn, prt sc, or other similar abbreviations.

  • If the "Print Screen" button is marked with "Print Screen" under the text for another button, it means that you have to press and hold the button Fn while pressing the button to use it.
  • If there is no such key on the keyboard, you can take a screenshot by pressing Fn and Insert at the same time.
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 2
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 2

Step 2. Set the screen according to the display you want to capture the screen

When you capture the screen in this way, everything that is displayed on the screen (except the mouse cursor [mouse]) is included in the capture.

If your computer screen contains personal information, do not take screenshots of that information and share it with others

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 3
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 3

Step 3. Press Win+⎙ Print Screen simultaneously

By pressing both buttons at the same time, everything on the screen will be captured and saved as an image file. This image will be saved in the Screenshots folder, which is in the Pictures folder.

  • You can find the Screenshots folder by typing screenshots in the Windows Search field and clicking the folder Screenshots displayed. The image name will contain the date when the image was captured.
  • If the Print Screen button also prompts you to press the button Fn for it to work, you have to press the button. This only applies if the Print Screen key must be used in conjunction with another function key.

Method 2 of 2: Capturing One Window

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 4
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 4

Step 1. Locate the Print Screen button

The location will vary depending on the keyboard used. This button is usually placed in the upper right area of the keyboard. The text on the button can be prnt scrn, prt sc, or other similar abbreviations.

  • If the "Print Screen" button is marked with "Print Screen" under the text for another button, it means that you have to press and hold the button Fn while pressing the button to use it.
  • If there is no such key on the keyboard, you can take a screenshot by pressing Fn and Insert at the same time.
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 5
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 5

Step 2. Open the window you want to capture

This method will only capture screens containing one window.

After opening it, do not move from the window. To keep the window in focus, click the title bar at the top

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 6
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 6

Step 3. Press Alt+⎙ Print Screen key

Screenshots of the open window are saved in the clipboard. After taking a screenshot, the image can be pasted into an image editing program for saving.

If the Print Screen button also prompts you to press the button Fn for it to work, you have to press the button. This only applies if the Print Screen key must be used in conjunction with another function key.

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 7
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 7

Step 4. Run Paint

Look for this application in the Start menu in the list of programs in the folder Windows Accessories. You can also run it by typing paint in the Windows search field, then clicking Paint on the search results that are displayed.

If you don't want to save your screenshot to your computer as an image file, you can paste it into a file, email message, or any other application by clicking where you want it and pressing the button. Ctrl + V.

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 8
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 8

Step 5. Click the Paste button

It's a clipboard icon in the upper-left corner. The screenshot will be pasted in the Paint window.

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 9
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 9

Step 6. Save the screenshot by clicking on the diskette icon

You can find it in the upper left corner.

'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 10
'Use the "Print Screen" Function on a Keyboard Step 10

Step 7. Browse the Screenshots folder folder and select Save.

The Screenshots folder is inside the Pictures folder, which can be found in the left pane. The screenshot will be saved in this folder.

Tips

  • The "Print Screen" button can be used to save copies of online receipts or other important documents without having to print a paper copy.
  • For a better screenshot feature, try using Windows Snip & Sketch, which can be used to take and edit screenshots with a simple graphics program.
  • The "Print Screen" button cannot be used to physically print documents.

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