The Print Screen key (prtsc) is a very handy feature that lets you capture the image displayed on the screen and copy it to the clipboard . You can then paste this image into image editing software , such as Paint , or into a document, such as Word. This can be useful for illustrating a tutorial, demonstrating a problem, or sharing information.
But how do you use the Print Screen key in Windows 10/11? And what if it doesn't work? In this article, we'll explain how to capture your screen with this key , how to change the settings related to this feature, and how to troubleshoot the most common problems.
How do I capture my screen using the Print Screen key?
The Print Screen key is usually located in the upper right corner of the keyboard, next to the F12 key . It may be indicated by the abbreviations PrtSc , PrtScn , Print Screen , or Impr screen . To capture your screen with this key, simply:
- Press the print screen only key to capture the entire screen .
- Press Alt + PrtSc to capture the active window .
- Press the Windows + PrtSc to capture the entire screen and save the image to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
- Press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool and select an area of the screen to capture.
After capturing your screen, you can paste the image into the software or document of your choice using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V or by clicking the Paste .
How do I change the settings for the print screen key?
If you want to customize the behavior of the Print Screen key , you can change the settings related to this feature in Windows 10/11. To do this, you need to:
- Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I or by clicking the Start and then the gear icon.
- Click on System and then on Screenshot in the left menu.
- In the Print Screen key , you can enable or disable the following options:
Use the Print Screen key to open the Snipping Tool : If you enable this option, the Print Screen key will launch the Snipping Tool directly instead of copying the image to the clipboard.
Automatically save screenshots to the Screenshots folder : If you enable this option, images captured with the Print Screen key will be automatically saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
Show a notification after taking a screenshot : If you enable this option, you'll see a notification in the bottom right corner of the screen after taking a screenshot. You can then tap the notification to open the image in the Photos app and edit it.
How to resolve problems related to the print screen key?
Print Screen key may Windows 10/11 . Here are some possible solutions to resolve this issue:
- Make sure your keyboard is configured with the correct layout ( AZERTY or QWERTY) and language (French or English). You can change these settings by clicking the language bar icon in the bottom right corner of the screen, next to the clock, or by pressing the Windows + Space . If you don't have the language bar, you can enable it by going to Settings > Time & Language > Language > Language bar .
- Check that the Print Screen key isn't blocked by another key, such as the Fn Num Lock key . Some keys can modify the behavior of other keys on the keyboard. You can try enabling or disabling them to see if that resolves the issue.
- Check that the print screen key is not damaged or dirty . You can clean your keyboard with a soft cloth and a suitable product, or use a can of compressed air to remove dust . If the key is broken, you can try replacing it or changing your keyboard.
- Check that your clipboard is working correctly . The Print Screen key might capture the image, but you might not be able to paste it. You can check the contents of your clipboard by pressing the Windows + V or by clicking the Start button and then the paperclip icon. If you see the captured image, you can select and paste it. Otherwise, you can try clearing your clipboard by clicking the Clear All .
- Check that your paid antivirus or firewall isn't blocking the screenshot function . Some security software may consider the Print Screen key a potential threat and prevent it from working. You can try temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you can add an exception for the Print Screen key in your security software settings.
If none of these solutions work, you can always use another way to capture your screen in Windows 10/11, such as the Snipping , the Xbox Game Bar app, the Win + Shift + S keyboard shortcut , or third-party software like Snagit or Lightshot.
FAQs
What is the difference between PrtSc and PrtScn?
There is no difference between PrtSc and PrtScn . These are two possible abbreviations for the Print Screen key on the keyboard . Other abbreviations also exist, such as Print Screen or Impr screen.
How do I take a screenshot on a laptop?
To take a screenshot on a laptop, you can use the same methods as on a desktop computer: press the Print Screen key alone or use the Alt, Windows , or Shift . However, you may also need to press the Fn to activate the screenshot function. The Fn key is usually located in the bottom left corner of the keyboard, next to the Ctrl key. It allows you to modify the behavior of other keys, such as the F1 through F12 . You can identify the keys that require the Fn key by their different color or symbol.
How do I take a screenshot on a touchscreen?
To take a screenshot on a touchscreen , you can use the same methods as on a traditional screen : press the Print Screen key alone or use the Alt, Windows , or Shift keys. You can also use the Snipping Tool or the Xbox Game Bar app .
Another method is to simultaneously press the Volume Down and Power buttons on your device . This method works particularly well on Windows tablets and smartphones . The captured image will be saved in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
To take a screenshot on a Mac , you cannot use the Print Screen key, as it does not exist on Apple keyboards. You must use the following keyboard shortcuts:
- Press Command + Shift + 3 to capture the entire screen .
- Press Command + Shift + 4 to capture an area of the screen that you can select with the cursor.
- Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the Snipping Tool and choose between several capture options.
- Press Command + Shift + 6 to capture the Touch Bar , if your Mac has one.
The captured images will be saved to the desktop in PNG format . You can change the format, name, or destination folder for the captures in your Mac .
How do I edit a screenshot?
To edit a screenshot , you can use image editing software, such as Paint , Photoshop , or GIMP . You can then crop, resize, annotate, draw on, or apply effects to your image .
You can also use the Windows 10/11 Photos app , which allows you to easily edit your screenshots. To do this, you need to :
- Open the Photos app by clicking the Start and then the flower icon.
- Click on the Collection and then on the Screenshots .
- Select the screenshot you want to edit and click the Edit and Create button in the top right corner.
- Choose between the following options:
Crop and rotate : to adjust the size and orientation of the image.
Filters : to apply color effects to the image.
Adjust : to modify the brightness, contrast, saturation, or sharpness of the image.
Draw : to add annotations, shapes or drawings to the image.
Create a collage : to combine several images into one.
Create an album : to group several images into one album.
How do I share a screenshot?
To share a screenshot, you can use several methods:
To share a screenshot, you can use several methods:
- Send the image via email , instant messaging, or social media . You can attach the image as a file or copy and paste it directly into the message body.
- Use the Windows 10/11 Share toolTo do this, you need to:
- Open the image with the Photos app or with File Explorer.
- Click the Share button in the top right corner or right-click on the image and choose Share.
- Select the application with which you want to share the image, such as Mail, Skype, or Facebook.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to send the image to your contacts.
- Use an online cloud service for storing or sharing images, such as OneDrive , Google Drive , Dropbox , Imgur , or Flickr . You can upload your screenshot to these sites and get a link that you can share with your contacts. Some of these services also offer options for editing, compressing, or protecting images.
Conclusion
The Print Screen key is a simple and effective tool for capturing the image displayed on the screen in Windows 10/11. It allows you to copy the image to the clipboard or save it to a folder. It also offers several options for capturing the entire screen, the active window, or a custom area.
print screen key may . In this case, you should check your keyboard, clipboard, and security software settings, or clean or replace the key if it is faulty.
