How to Take a Screenshot on a Dell XPS 13

On a Dell XPS 13 running Windows 10 or Windows 11, press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool overlay. Choose a capture mode, select what you need, then use the notification or Snipping Tool to annotate, copy, or save the image.

Use a different shortcut when you want a specific result:

What you want	Shortcut	Result
Selected region, window, or freeform shape	Windows + Shift + S	Opens Snipping Tool; the capture is copied to the clipboard and can be edited or saved.
Entire screen saved automatically	Windows + PrtScn	Saves an image in Pictures\Screenshots.
Active window only	Alt + PrtScn	Copies the focused window to the clipboard; paste it with Ctrl + V.

1. Capture part of the screen with Windows + Shift + S

1. Show the page, app, or desktop area you want to capture.
2. Press Windows + Shift + S.
3. When the Snipping Tool toolbar appears, choose rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, or full-screen snip.
4. Drag over the region, select a window, or choose the full-screen option.
5. Click the notification that appears. Snipping Tool opens the image for markup, copying, or saving.
6. Choose the save button, or press Ctrl + S, and select a folder and file name.

Microsoft documents this workflow in its Snipping Tool instructions. The shortcut works for a custom rectangle, an irregular freeform shape, one window, or the whole display.

2. Save the entire screen directly to a file

1. Press Windows + PrtScn at the same time.
2. Open File Explorer and go to Pictures\Screenshots.
3. Open, rename, move, or share the image from that folder.

This is the quickest option when you do not need to crop or annotate first. Microsoft lists Pictures\Screenshots as the destination for this shortcut.

3. Copy only the active window

1. Click the window you want so it has focus.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn.
3. Open Paint, Word, an email, or another image-capable app.
4. Press Ctrl + V to paste the clipboard image.
5. Save it from that application.

This captures the focused window rather than every monitor or the entire desktop. The image is initially in the clipboard, so it will not appear in Pictures\Screenshots unless you save it there yourself.

4. What to do when your XPS 13 has no PrtScn key

Keyboard layouts differ between XPS 13 generations and regions. Inspect the printed legends on your keyboard instead of assuming one universal key location. If there is no Print Screen key, Microsoft documents Fn + Windows + Space as an alternative on supported devices.

You can also use Windows + Shift + S, which does not require locating a dedicated Print Screen key.

5. Change Print Screen behavior

On some Windows installations, pressing PrtScn alone copies the full screen; on others it opens screen snipping. Microsoft says this behavior can be changed in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. If the key does something unexpected, check the Use the Print Screen key to open screen snipping setting, then try the shortcut again.

6. Choose the right method

Situation	Best method	Why
I need one part of a webpage	Windows + Shift + S, rectangular snip	Select only the relevant content.
I need an irregular shape	Windows + Shift + S, freeform snip	Trace around the object or area.
I need one application window	Windows + Shift + S, window snip, or Alt + PrtScn	Excludes unrelated desktop content.
I need the whole desktop as a file	Windows + PrtScn	Saves directly under Pictures\Screenshots.
I need to paste a capture immediately	Alt + PrtScn or Windows + Shift + S	Places the image in the clipboard.

7. Troubleshooting

The shortcut does nothing

Confirm that Windows has focus and press the keys together. On compact keyboards, hold Fn if the Print Screen function shares another key. If Windows + Shift + S still fails, open Start and launch Snipping Tool manually.

I cannot find the screenshot

Windows + PrtScn saves to Pictures\Screenshots. Captures made with Alt + PrtScn or the selection mode are copied to the clipboard first. Open an editor and press Ctrl + V, then save the file.

Only one monitor was captured

Use full-screen snip and select the required display, or use Windows + PrtScn to capture the full desktop arrangement supported by your Windows configuration.

The wrong window was captured

Click the target window before using Alt + PrtScn. Alternatively, use Windows + Shift + S and choose window snip so you can select the window explicitly.

The image is missing menus or hover states

Open the menu or move the pointer into the required state before starting the snip. For repeatable captures of a webpage, an automated browser or screenshot API can wait for a selector or delay before capturing.

My XPS 13 runs Linux

The shortcuts above describe Windows behavior. Dell hardware can run other operating systems, but Linux screenshot shortcuts depend on the desktop environment. Use that environment’s screenshot tool or consult its documentation.

8. Or skip the browser setup

If you need screenshots of websites in code or a repeatable workflow, ScreenshotNeo provides a single GET request that returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for all 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}`);

• Cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot.
• Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed; response headers report the page verdict and billing status.
• An MCP server lets Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients take screenshots with AI-agent tools.
• The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.

Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to get started.

9. Performance and reliability notes

• Keyboard shortcuts are immediate and require no network connection.
• Clipboard captures can be lost if you copy something else before pasting; save them promptly.
• For repeatable website captures, wait until the page is ready and use a selector or delay when dynamic content matters.
• Automated captures can be affected by login requirements, bot checks, network failures, lazy-loaded content, and viewport size. Record the URL, viewport, and capture method when debugging differences.

10. FAQ

What is the easiest Dell XPS 13 screenshot shortcut?

Windows + Shift + S is the most flexible choice because it lets you select a region, window, freeform shape, or full screen.

Where are screenshots saved on Windows?

Images made with Windows + PrtScn are normally in Pictures\Screenshots. Other methods initially use the clipboard or Snipping Tool.

Can I capture just the active window?

Yes. Focus it and press Alt + PrtScn, then paste the result with Ctrl + V.

Does every XPS 13 have the same Print Screen key?

No. Key placement and Fn behavior vary by model and keyboard layout. Use the printed legends or the Windows + Shift + S method.

11. Official references

• Microsoft: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots
• Microsoft: Copy the window or screen contents
• Microsoft: Keyboard shortcuts in Windows
• Microsoft: Keyboard shortcut for Print Screen