How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows with Screenshots

How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows with Screenshots

Introduction: The Snipping Tool is a built-in utility in Microsoft Windows that allows you to capture screenshots or snips of various parts of your screen. This knowledge base article will guide you through the steps of using the Snipping Tool effectively, supplemented with screenshots to make the process even clearer.

Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool

1. Press the "Windows" key on your keyboard.
2. Type "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search bar.

3. Click on the "Snipping Tool" app in the search results to open it.

Step 2: Choose a Snip Type

1. In the Snipping Tool window, you'll see a "New" button. Click on it.

2. Click the "Mode" button which will display the four snip types to choose from:
   • Free-form Snip: This allows you to draw any shape around the area you want to capture.
   • Rectangular Snip: This lets you capture a rectangular portion of your screen.
   • Window Snip: Capture the content of a specific window, such as an application or browser window.
   • Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire screen.

* Recommend using the "Rectangular Snip"

Step 3: Capture the Snip

1. After selecting your snip type, your screen will dim, and you'll have a crosshair cursor.

2. Click and drag your cursor to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button to take the snip.

Step 4: Annotate and Save the Snip (Optional)

1. Once you've taken the snip, a new Snipping Tool window will open.

2. Here, you can use various annotation tools such as a pen, highlighter, or eraser to mark up the snip.

3. To save the snip, click the "File" menu and select "Save As." Choose the location and file format (typically JPEG or PNG) for your snip, then click "Save."

Step 5: Exit the Snipping Tool

1. After saving your snip, you can exit the Snipping Tool by clicking the "X" button in the top-right corner of the Snipping Tool window.

Additional Tips:

• You can also use keyboard shortcuts to capture snips:
  • For a rectangular snip, press "Ctrl + Shift + S."
  • For a free-form snip, press "Ctrl + Shift + F."
  • For a full-screen snip, press "Ctrl + Print Screen."
  • For a window snip, press "Alt + M."
• The Snipping Tool offers basic annotation features, but for more advanced editing, you can paste your snip into an image editor like Microsoft Paint or a third-party application.
• Snips can be copied to the clipboard by clicking the "Edit" menu and selecting "Copy" or by using the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + C."
• You can set a delay for capturing snips by clicking "Delay" in the Snipping Tool's main window. This can be useful when you need to capture a specific state of a dynamic element on your screen.

Conclusion: The Snipping Tool is a versatile tool for capturing, annotating, and saving screenshots on Windows. With these step-by-step instructions and accompanying screenshots, you can easily master the Snipping Tool and use it to capture and share information from your screen effectively.