: Press the Windows key + R , type snippingtool , and press Enter. This allows you to create a custom snip of any area of your screen, which can then be saved or copied.
This is the slightly smarter older brother.
| Feature | Built-in (Win+Shift+S) | ShareX / Greenshot | |--------|------------------------|--------------------| | Annotate (arrows, text, blur) | ❌ No (basic edit only) | ✅ Yes | | Auto-save to folder | ✅ (Win+PrtScn) | ✅ Customizable | | Upload to cloud (Imgur, etc.) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | | Record screen to GIF/MP4 | ❌ (Game Bar basic) | ✅ Yes (ShareX) | | OCR text capture | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (ShareX) |
If you are still using the Paint method, you are working too hard. Microsoft introduced the and the Screen Sketch features to make life easier.
However, for 95% of users, is the only shortcut you truly need to memorize. Stop opening MS Paint. Start snipping like a pro.
| Shortcut | Result | Best Used For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Captures all screens to clipboard | Quick temporary grabs | | Alt + PrtScn | Captures active window to clipboard | Error messages, single apps | | Win + PrtScn | Saves full screen to file | Quick saving without editing | | Win + Shift + S | Opens Snipping Tool (Partial capture) | The Daily Driver. Precision. | | Win + G | Opens Game Bar (Screen Record) | Recording short video tutorials |
When you press this combination, your screen dims, and you can choose from four different capture modes: Click and drag to select a specific box.
