How to Capture Part of the Screen in Windows 10

To capture part of your screen in Windows 10, press Windows + Shift + S. Choose Rectangular snip or Freeform snip, drag around the area you want, and release. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard; press Ctrl + V in a document, message, or image app to paste it. To annotate or save it as an image file, open the Snipping Tool capture notification.

Capture a screen region step by step

1. Arrange the screen so the content you want is visible. Close or move anything you do not want included.
2. Press Windows + Shift + S. Windows dims the screen and opens the snipping overlay.
3. Select Rectangular snip for a standard crop, or Freeform snip to trace an irregular shape. Depending on the Snipping Tool version, the mode icons appear along the top of the screen.
4. For a region, click and hold the mouse button, drag around the area, and release. With a freeform snip, trace the outline you want before releasing.
5. Paste the capture with Ctrl + V, or click the notification that appears to open the capture in Snipping Tool for editing and saving.

Microsoft documents Windows + Shift + S as the shortcut that opens the snipping overlay. Its [Snipping Tool instructions](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots) cover the capture modes and editing or saving a capture.

Choose the right snip mode

Mode	What it captures	Use it when
Rectangular	A rectangle you draw on the screen	You need a typical cropped screenshot of a chart, dialog, or part of a page.
Freeform	An irregular area traced with the pointer	You want to include a non-rectangular area. The result still appears as an image capture.
Window	A selected app window	You want one window without drawing around its edges.
Full screen	The whole display	You need everything visible on the screen.

The overlay may show the mode choices as icons. You can also open Snipping Tool from Start and use its New and Mode controls. Microsoft lists rectangular, freeform, window, and full-screen snips in its [official guide](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots).

Where the screenshot goes and how to save it

A capture made with Windows + Shift + S is copied to the clipboard. It is not necessarily saved as a file automatically. Paste it into the app where you need it:

• Paste into a document or message: click in the destination and press Ctrl + V.
• Save an image file: open the capture notification to bring it into Snipping Tool, then use the save control and choose a folder and filename.
• Annotate or share: open the notification in Snipping Tool and use the available editing or sharing controls.

If the notification disappears, try opening Snipping Tool from Start. If the capture is still on the clipboard, paste it into an image editor and save it there. Microsoft describes the [clipboard workflow](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/copy-the-window-or-screen-contents) and saving from the [Snipping Tool app](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots).

Other ways to capture the screen

Open Snipping Tool directly

Open Start, search for Snipping Tool, and launch it. Select New, choose a mode if needed, and make the capture. This is a useful fallback if the keyboard shortcut does not open the overlay.

Use Print Screen

PrtScn copies a full-screen image to the clipboard. To make the Print Screen key open the snipping interface instead, Microsoft lists this Windows 10 path: Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, then enable the Print Screen shortcut setting. The wording of the setting can vary by Windows release. See Microsoft’s [Windows keyboard shortcuts](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec).

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Windows + Shift + S does nothing	The shortcut or overlay may not be available in the current session, or the app may need to be opened directly.	Search for Snipping Tool from Start and use New. If the tool opens, try again from there.
I cannot find a screenshot file	The shortcut copies the image to the clipboard; that does not necessarily create a saved file.	Paste with Ctrl + V into an app, or open the capture notification in Snipping Tool and save it.
The wrong area was captured	The drag began or ended in the wrong place, or a different mode was selected.	Start a new snip and use Rectangular for a conventional crop. Check the selected mode before dragging.
The Print Screen key captures the whole display	Its shortcut setting may be off.	Enable the Print Screen shortcut setting under Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, or use Windows + Shift + S directly.
The capture notification is gone	The notification was dismissed, but the image may still be on the clipboard.	Try pasting into an image editor. For another capture, open Snipping Tool from Start.

Or skip the browser setup

Windows Snipping Tool captures the local display. If you need an image of a website in an automated workflow, [ScreenshotNeo](https://screenshotneo.com) captures a URL through one API request. The API accepts parameters for output formats including PNG, JPEG, and WebP, or a PDF; see the [ScreenshotNeo API docs](https://screenshotneo.com/docs/) for configuration and options.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);

ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the capture. Bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots, and the free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. [Sign up for free](https://screenshotneo.com/account/sign-up/).

Windows 10 support context

Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The PC continues to work, but Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. This does not change the Snipping Tool shortcut described above. See Microsoft’s [Windows keyboard tips and tricks](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/input-devices/windows-keyboard-tips-and-tricks).

FAQ

Can I capture a shape other than a rectangle?

Yes. Choose Freeform snip and trace the outline with the pointer. Use Rectangular snip for a standard crop.

Does the shortcut save directly to my Pictures folder?

The documented shortcut copies the capture to the clipboard. Paste it into an app or open it in Snipping Tool and save it as a file.

Can I capture a whole app window instead?

Yes. Choose Window snip, then select the window you want to capture.