The print screen key (prtsc) is a very handy feature that allows you to capture the image displayed on the screen and copy it to the clipboard . You can then paste this image into image processing software , such as Paint , or into a document, such as Word. This can be useful to illustrate a tutorial, show a problem or share information.
But, how to use Print Screen key in Windows 10/11? And what to do if it doesn't work? In this article, we will explain how to capture your screen with this key , how to change the settings related to this feature and how to solve the most common problems.
How to capture your screen with the print screen key?
The print screen key is usually located at the top right of the keyboard, next to the F12 key . It may be indicated by the abbreviations PrtSc , PrtScn , Print Screen or Print Screen . To capture your screen with this key, simply:
- Press the print screen key alone to capture the entire screen .
- Press Alt + PrtSc to capture the active window .
- Windows + PrtSc keys to capture the entire screen and save the image to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.
- Press Windows + Shift + S to open the Screen Capture tool and select an area of the screen to capture.
After capturing your screen, you can paste the image into your desired software or document by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V or by clicking the Paste .
How do I change the print screen key settings?
If you want to customize the behavior of Print Screen key , you can change the settings related to this feature in Windows 10/11. For that it is necessary :
- Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I or by clicking the Start and then the gear icon.
- Click on System 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 Screen Capture tool : if you enable this option, the Print Screen key will directly launch the Screen Capture tool instead of copying the image to the clipboard .
Automatically save screenshots to 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 will see a notification at the bottom right of the screen after taking a screenshot. You can then click on the notification to open the image in the Photos app and edit it.
How to Fix Print Screen Key Issues?
Print Screen key may Windows 10/11 . Here are some possible solutions to resolve this issue:
- Check that your keyboard is configured with the correct layout ( AZERTY or QWERTY) and the correct language (French or English). You can change these settings by clicking the language bar icon at the bottom right of the screen, next to the clock, or by pressing Windows + Space . If you don't have the language bar, you can enable it by going to Settings > Time & language > Language > Language bar .
- Verify that the print screen key is not blocked by another key, such as the Fn or the Num Lock . Some keys can change the behavior of other keys on the keyboard. You can try enabling or disabling them to see if that fixes the problem.
- 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 keyboards.
- Check that your clipboard is working properly . The print screen key may capture the image fine, but you may not be able to paste it. You can check the contents of your clipboard by pressing Windows + V or by clicking the Start button and then the paperclip icon. If you see the captured image, you can select it and paste it. Otherwise, you can try clearing your clipboard by clicking the Clear All .
- Check that your paid antivirus or firewall is not blocking the screenshot functionality . Some security software may view the print screen key as a potential threat and prevent it from working. You can try temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall to see if that fixes the problem. If so, 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 Screenshot tool , Xbox Game Bar app, 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 to indicate the print screen key on the keyboard . Other abbreviations also exist, such as Print Screen or Print Screen.
How to 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 with the Alt, Windows or Shift . However, you may also need to press the Fn to activate the screenshot feature. The Fn key is usually found at the bottom left of the keyboard, next to the Ctrl key. It allows you to modify the behavior of other keys, such as the F1 to F12 . You can recognize the keys that require the Fn key by their different color or symbol.
How to take a screenshot on a touch screen?
To take a screenshot on a touch screen , you can use the same methods as on a classic screen : press the print screen key alone or with the Alt, Windows or Shift keys. You can also use the Screenshot tool or the Xbox Game Bar app .
Another method is to press the Volume Down and Power buttons on your device . This method works in particular on Windows tablets and smartphones . The captured image will be saved in the Images > Screenshots folder.
How to take a screenshot on a Mac?
To take a screenshot on a Mac , you cannot use the print screen key, because 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 Screenshot 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 capture format, name, or destination folder in your Mac .
How to edit a screenshot?
To edit a screenshot , you can use image editing software, like Paint , Photoshop , or GIMP . You can then crop, resize, annotate, draw or apply effects to your image .
You can also use the Windows 10/11 Photos app which allows you to easily edit your screenshots. For that it is necessary :
- Open the Photos application by clicking on the Start then on the flower icon.
- Collection tab then on the Screenshots .
- Select the screenshot you want to edit and click the Edit & Create button at the top right.
- 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 change the brightness, contrast, saturation or sharpness of the image.
Draw : to add annotations, shapes or drawings to the image.
Create a collage : to combine multiple images into one.
Create an album : to group several images into an album.
How to share a screenshot?
To share a screenshot, you can use several methods:
To share a screenshot, you can use several methods:
- Send the image by email , instant messaging or social network . You can attach the image as an attachment or copy and paste it directly into the body of the message.
- Use theWindows 10/11 Share tool. For that it is necessary :
- Open the image with the Photos app or File Explorer.
- Click the Share button at the top right or right-click the image and choose Share.
- Select the application you want to share the image with, such as Mail, Skype or Facebook.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to send the image to your contacts.
- Use an online cloud image storage or sharing service, 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 modifying, compressing or protecting images.
Conclusion
Print Screen key is a simple and effective tool to capture 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 to capture the entire screen, the active window or a custom area.
print screen key may . In this case, check the keyboard, clipboard and security software settings, or clean or change the key if it is defective.
