Windows 11 was launched in 2021 with several enticing features, led by a simplistic design, integration of Android apps, and improved accessibility. The most recent Microsoft operating system also fine-tuned the elementary yet excellent Snipping Tool, an inbuilt utility to capture a snapshot from any part of the screen.
It covers text, images, etc., allowing you to capture notes for personal use or sharing. For example, you can screenshot a recipe and send it to your spouse or capture a Venn diagram to refer to for your college assignment.
Simple Steps to Use the Snipping Tool
Have you used older versions like Windows 8? You will be familiar with the traditional method to capture a screenshot: the Print Screen button (PrtSc). But Microsoft now opens up the Snipping Tool instead, unfurling advanced functionalities.
Getting started:
To open the tool, you can do any of the following:
- Hit “Snipping Tool“ from the Start menu
- Press the Print Screen button (PrtSc)
- Press this key combination for a static capture: Windows Logo Key + Shift + S
- Press this key combination to record a video: Windows Logo Key + Shift + R
- Pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar if you access it several times during a typical workday.
Capturing snips:
Now that you have the interface, you can snip as required. Windows 11 lets you capture free-form or rectangular images.
You may also snip an entire window or the whole screen. These options are available under “Mode.” You can access them via keyboard shortcuts as well:
- Alt + M (pick the mode for your snip)
- Alt + N (new snip, same mode)
Further, you can record a video of a rectangular selection. If you wish to snip a menu, press Ctrl + PrtSc to gray out the screen. Then, proceed to snip as required from the options under “Mode.”
You can get a delayed snip, i.e., an image composed after the tool is activated. You can do this by pressing “Delay” and selecting a time interval in seconds. Optionally, press Alt + D. It is a lifesaver to record click-triggered screen items.
Editing your snips:
Windows 11 has several editing options, including annotating, drawing, cropping, rotating, etc.
- Use Pen or Highlighter options to add text or lines to the snip.
- Use Eraser to delete any edits.
- Press “Edit with Paint” under the Edit menu to crop, resize, etc.
- If you wish to remove the URL from your snips, you can uncheck the “Include URL below snips (HTML only)” check box. It is a helpful feature for users who frequently need to capture browser windows.
Sharing snips:
Your snips can be saved locally on the computer (with the “Save Snip” button or Ctrl + S). You can print or share them with the “Send Snip” option.
Windows 11 2023 Update: New features in the Snipping Tool
The November 2023 update for Windows 11 introduced AI-based enhancements to the Snipping Tool. It now offers OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, to extract text from an image and copy it to your clipboard. Likewise, you can hide text (“redact”) on the screenshot to maintain the sensitivity of the image while sharing it. These options are available under “Text Actions,” a fresh button in the editor window.
Another noteworthy addition is the ability to record audio. You can change the recording settings and capture sound with your microphone.
So, does the Snipping Tool mean a permanent farewell to the classic Print Screen of older times? No. You can travel in time from the Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard menu. It is best to do whatever floats your boat.