Snipping Tool in Windows 11: The Complete Guide

Capturing the perfect moment on your screen is now a breeze with Windows 11 Snipping Tool. Whether you are a professional creating tutorials or a student preparing a presentation, screenshots can be an essential part of your workflow.

Additionally, the Snipping tool in Windows 11 has been revamped to offer a fluid and intuitive experience, making it easier than ever to crop, edit, and share your captures.

Here is a quick step guide to use snipping tool as your screenshot app in Windows 11:

• Firstly, click the Start button, type “snipping tool,” in the search bar and select the app from the search results.

• Alternatively, press Windows logo key + Shift + S simultaneously. This is the quickest way to open the Snipping tool to take screenshots.

• Once the snip & sketch tool is open, you have four snipping options:

• Rectangular Crop (default): Captures a rectangular area that you define by dragging the mouse.

• Freeform Crop: Draw an irregular shape around the area you want to capture.

• Window Snip: Captures the entire window you click.

• Full Screen Snip: Captures the entire screen.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of using the Snipping tool, making sure you can capture exactly what you need with minimal effort. Moreover, we’ll explore the world of screenshots and discover the full potential of this handy Windows 11 feature.

How to use snipping tool in Windows 11 ?

The Snipping Tool on Windows 11 isn’t just for taking screenshots anymore. In fact, it is now a powerful tool with new features for different needs. First watch the video, then follow the steps to use snipping tool in Win 11.

With the latest update called Windows 11 23H2, the Snip & sketch Tool can now recognize and copy text from pictures, thanks to a new feature called OCR (optical character recognition).

Consequently, follow below mentioned steps to use snipping tool in windows 11:  

Using Quick Snip

• To begin, press keyboard shortcut (Shift + Windows Key + S) to open the Snipping Tool directly.

• Next, you’ll see a box at the top of your screen with snip button options for different types of screenshot options:

• Rectangular selection: Highlight a specific area on your screen.

• Freehand selection: Use the free-form mode to draw a custom shape for your screenshot.

• Window: Capture an active window.

• Full-screen: Capture the entire screen in full-screen mode.

• After capturing your screenshot, a thumbnail image will appear at the lower-right corner of your screen.

• Additionally, the Snipping Tool automatically copies the current window screenshot to your clipboard, so you can paste it (using CTRL+V) into another app if needed.

• Moreover, you can also edit the screenshot using the Snipping Tool’s user-friendly interface, which allows you to highlight using various kinds of tools such as the highlighter tool, crop the image with the image crop tool, add colors, and write on the image with pen tool.

• Finally, once you’ve made your edits, you can save the screenshot or use the share button to share the screenshot as desired.

Active window capture (Using the Print Screen Key)

• Firstly, the Print Screen key is usually located at the top-right corner of most keyboards.

• Secondly, to capture an active window, select the window you want to screenshot and press keyboard shortcut (ALT + Print Screen).

• Alternatively, for a quick screenshot to capture the entire screen, simply press the Print Screen key.

• Next, paste the screenshot (using CTRL+V) into an Office program or any other app of your choice.

• Furthermore, for saving Screenshot as an Image File:

• First, press Windows + Print Screen.

• Then, navigate to Pictures > Screenshots in your directory to find your screenshot in PNG format.  

• Additionally, you can edit the screenshot using various image file editing tools or the built-in Snip Tool before saving it.

• Finally, once you’ve made the necessary edits, You can save the screenshot in your desired format and location, or it will be saved by default in your screenshots folder.

Also Check: How to record screen in Windows 11 with Audio ?

How to download Snipping tool for Windows 11 ?

The Snipping tool is a built-in feature in Windows 11, so you don’t need to download it separately. The Snipping Tool comes pre-installed with Windows 11, allowing for immediate use. Here’s how to open it:

Open the snipping tool:

• Press Windows logo key + Shift + S simultaneously.

• Or click Start, type snipping tool, and select it from the search results.

Use the snipping tool:

• Choose the type of crop you want to make (rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, or full screen snip).

• Capture your screenshot, which will be copied to your clipboard.

• Edit or annotate your screenshot as necessary.

If for some reason the Snipping Tool is missing from your Windows 11, you can reinstall it through the Microsoft Store:

• Go to the Microsoft store.

• Find “Snipping Tool.”

• Click on the app and select “Install.” 

Also Check: How to install Realtek Audio driver for Windows 11 ?

How can I disable snipping tool in Windows 11 ?

To disable the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, you can use Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor. Consequently, follow below mentioned steps to disable snipping tool in windows 11:

Using Registry Editor:

• Firstly, press Windows key + R simultaneously to open Run dialog box.

• Secondly, type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.

• Then, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft.

• After that, check if there is a key called TabletPC. If it’s not there, create it by right-clicking on Microsoft, selecting New > Key, and naming it TabletPC.

• Following that, right click on TabletPC, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it DisableSnippingTool.

• Subsequently, double-click DisableSnippingTool, set the value data to 1, and click OK.

• Finally, restart your computer and the snipping tool will be disabled.

Using the Group Policy Editor:

• First, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

• Then, To access the Group Policy Editor, input gpedit.msc and confirm with the Enter key.

• After that, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Tablet PC > Accessories.

• Next, find the Do not allow Snipping Tool to run setting and double-click it.

• Subsequently, set it to Enabled and click OK.

Note: Remember, Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 11 Home Edition. If you are using that version, you will need to use the Registry Editor method to disable snipping tool.

Precautionary Note:

Before making changes using Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor, keep in mind that these are powerful tools that can affect the stability and security of your system if used incorrectly. Therefore, it is recommended:

• Firstly, back up your registry before making changes, so you can restore it if something goes wrong.

• Secondly, follow the instructions carefully and make only changes that are necessary.

• Additionally, seek professional help if you are unsure of what you are doing.

• Moreover, making incorrect changes to the registry can cause serious system problems and may require a complete reinstallation of Windows.

With this precaution in mind, you can proceed to disable the snipping tool if necessary for your situation.  

Also Check: Fix the computer has rebooted from a bugcheck error

Why snipping tool in Windows 11 not working ?

The snipping tool in Windows 11 may not work due to various reasons, from temporary glitches to system file issues.

Consequently, below are some common problems and solutions:

Restart the app: Firstly, sometimes simply restarting the snipping tool app can solve the problem. You can do this through the Task Manager by ending the task and reopening the application.

Background App Permissions: Secondly, make sure the snipping tool has permission to run in the background. You can adjust these settings in the “Applications” section of Windows Settings.

Repair or reset app: thirdly, Windows 11 allows you to repair or reset apps. This can be done in the application settings found in the Windows search menu options.

Reinstall the app: Furthermore, if none of the above solutions work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store.

Update graphics drivers: Additionally, outdated graphics drivers can cause problems with the snipping tool. Check for updates and install any available for your graphics hardware.

Interference from other applications: Moreover, sometimes other applications, especially antivirus software, can interfere with the snipping tool. Consider performing a clean boot to see if this resolves the issue.

Check for Windows updates: Consequently, an outdated Windows system can lead to several problems, including issues with the snip & sketch tool. Ensure that your system has the most recent Windows updates installed.

Use alternative tools: In last, if the Snip tool continues to perform poorly, consider using alternative tools like Snip & Sketch, which is also built-in tool in Windows.

Try these solutions to see if they resolve the issue with the snip & sketch tool on your Windows 11 PC. If the issue persists, you may consider using an alternative screenshot tool or contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Windows 11 Snipping tool is not just a utility; It’s a versatile companion for anyone who needs to capture and annotate screenshots effectively. With its easy-to-use interface and robust feature set, it meets a wide range of needs, from quick cropping to detailed editing.

Moreover, the Snipping tool in Windows 11 is meticulously designed to increase your productivity and unleash your creativity, making it an indispensable part of your digital toolkit.

Additionally, whether you’re compiling a professional report, creating engaging tutorials, or capturing memories, the Snipping tool is equipped for precision and flexibility.

Ultimately, the Snip Tool in Windows 11 is a powerful tool that streamlines your workflow and enhances your visual communication abilities.b

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Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)