Screenshots are essential parts of tutorial posts and classroom presentations. People will get a clear idea of what they are learning as solid proof is presented to them to confirm things.
If you are collecting teaching materials online, screenshots can be taken easily using built-in features and browser extensions.
Windows allows you to take screenshots in 11 different ways. Today, we will explain all those methods and share some interesting browser extensions to record your visible screen, selected portion, an entire page, etc.
Windows 11 Shortcuts for Screenshots
Fast method
1. PrtScn
This is the easiest method to take a screenshot in Windows 11. Open the desired page and press the PrtScn button from the top row of your keyboard.
A small toolbox will overlay your current screen. Pick a screenshot mode to capture the image.
By default, ‘Rectangular mode’ is selected. Drag and draw in the desired portion to record a screenshot. Windows will save your captured image in the clipboard, and you will see an instant notification immediately after releasing the mouse click.
Windows will save screenshots in the Screenshots folder in the Pictures shortcuts menu.
Open a photo editor and press Ctrl + V on the keyboard, or choose ‘Paste’ from the Edit menu to insert your screenshot image. Add text or crop the image as per your requirements and save.
2. Windows key+ Shift + S
Open a web page or app for which you want to take a screenshot. Press the Windows key + Shift + S together on the keyboard.
Now, a small menu will overlay your screen with rectangular, free-form, Windows, and screen snip tools.
Choose a snip type and draw a shape on the main screen to take a snapshot of your screen. Windows will store the output on your clipboard. Open a photo editing app and use Ctrl + V to edit and save the screenshot.
3. Windows key + PrtScn
This is another quick method to take a Windows 11 screenshot. Press the Windows logo key + PrtScn, and it will dim the screen for a second to confirm that the window is recorded. Go to Pictures > Screenshots folder to see your output.
4. Alt + PrtScn
Press the Alt + PrtScn keys together. Windows will take a screenshot of your visible screen and copy it to the clipboard. Use any image editor to view and modify your screenshot.
5. Ctrl + PrtScn
Use the Ctrl + PrtScn keys together to quickly take screenshots on a Windows desktop and laptop. Open Paint or similar editing software, and paste the image from your clipboard to view and share.
6. Windows + Alt + PrtScn
Windows 11 users got another shortcut for screen recording with Creators and newer updates. Windows + Alt + PrtScn takes a screenshot of the whole current screen, and on save, you will see a small confirmation box from the Windows Game bar on the right side.
Unlike other screenshot shortcuts, it will save the output in Videos > Captures.
7. Fn + PrtScn
Do you have a laptop with an Fn key? It will appear between the Ctrl and Windows logo keys. The combination of Fn + PrtScn keys works just like Ctrl + PrtScn and will copy your screen to the clipboard. You can collect the snapshot using a photo editing app like Photoshop or Paint (Ctrl + V)
8. Fn + Windows + PrtScn
Use the Fn + Windows + PrtScn keys simultaneously to record your current screen. It will instantly save the file in the Screenshots folder (Pictures > Screenshots).
9. Fn + Alt + PrtScn
This is very similar to the Alt + PrtScn method. Press Fn + Alt + PrtScn on the keyboard to snap a screenshot, which will be copied to the clipboard. You can edit and save it using an image editor.
10. Windows + G or Windows Game Bar
Do you want to take screenshots of playing games or something else on a Windows 11 PC? Press the Windows key + G to open the Game bar, which has many interesting options.
It lets you take snapshots or record short videos of the current screen. Click the ‘Capture’ button to save the file in PNG format. Visit Videos > Captures to find your screenshot image.
Advanced Method
11. Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is a built-in Windows app that allows you to take and customize screenshots according to your requirements. Click the Start menu and open Snipping Tool from all apps. Alternatively, open the search box from the Windows taskbar and type ‘Snip’ there. Select ‘Snip & Sketch’ from the results to open.
It is a fantastic, tiny tool for taking screenshots of any screen in Windows 11. Click the ‘New’ button from the top left corner of the app and choose any of these options—Snip now, Snip in 3 seconds, Snip in 10 seconds. Thereafter, open your desired window to snap. Wait.
Tools overlay the screen with various screenshot options. Use your mouse to drag and store the required portion as a snip. On mouse release, it will automatically redirect you to the app window, where you can see the saved shot along with customizing tools.
It contains touch writing, a highlighter, a ruler, and other options to conveniently mark important points or explain things. Once finished, hit the Save button to confirm the changes made.
Browser extensions
Several screenshot extensions are available on the Google Chrome store to record screens, with advanced options to edit and beautify them. Here are some of them.
1. Awesome Screenshot
It is the most popular screen recorder for Google Chrome. Awesome Screenshot can create snips, annotate, and share them with others through project management tools or the cloud. It also allows you to type and highlight texts, insert shapes and emojis, blur images, etc.
With built-in integrations to many cloud storage services and online platforms, you can instantly share files with teammates to collaborate better and improve your project workflow. The screenshots can also be downloaded to your device, printed, or converted to a PDF file right from the settings panel.
2. FireShot
FireShot is another Chrome extension that allows you to record screenshots for free. It lets you quickly convert files to PDF or image formats and send them to recipients through Gmail. Unlike the Awesome Screenshot, you won’t be able to edit screenshots here without upgrading to the premium version.
3. Nimbus Screenshot
Nimbus is my favourite browser extension for taking screenshots. It has all the options required to customize screenshot images like annotation, highlighter, shapes, effects, and others. Download the final images to your local storage, send them to Slack, print, or upload to your cloud storage account.
Which is your favourite method to take screenshots? Let us know through the comment form below.
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