How to Take Screenshots on Windows 10 Without a Print Screen Button

You can take screenshots on Windows 10 even when your keyboard has no Print Screen key. The most reliable method is Windows logo key + Shift + S: choose a capture mode, select what you need, then paste the result or open it in Snipping Tool to edit and save.

Fastest method: Windows + Shift + S

1. Press Windows logo key + Shift + S.
2. When the capture overlay appears, choose a mode: rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, or full-screen snip.
3. For a rectangular or freeform capture, drag around the area you want. For a window capture, select the window. Full-screen capture records the entire display.
4. Windows copies the capture to the clipboard. Press Ctrl + V in an email, document, chat, or image editor to paste it.
5. Select the notification that appears after the capture to open it in Snipping Tool. From there you can add notes or edits and use Save or Save as to create an image file.

This shortcut does not require a Print Screen key and gives you more control than a full-screen-only capture.

Which capture mode should you choose?

Mode	Captures	Best for
Rectangular	A rectangle you drag	A specific part of a page or app
Freeform	An outline you draw	Irregular shapes
Window	One application window	Capturing an app without the rest of the desktop
Full screen	The complete display	Everything visible on one monitor

Save the screenshot as a file

Windows + Shift + S initially places the image on the clipboard. To save a file:

1. Take the capture.
2. Click the notification in the lower-right corner, if it is visible.
3. In Snipping Tool, choose the save button or Save as.
4. Pick a folder, file name, and image format, then save.

If the notification disappears, open Snipping Tool from the Start menu. Your capture may still be available in the app depending on when it was opened; otherwise, take a new snip.

Open Snipping Tool with the mouse

If you cannot use the shortcut, the app itself provides a mouse-led workflow:

1. Open Start.
2. Type Snipping Tool.
3. Open the app and select New.
4. Choose rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen capture when the mode selector is shown.
5. Capture the screen, then edit and save it from the app.

This is useful when a keyboard is missing keys, a shortcut is intercepted by another program, or you need to choose the output location immediately.

Try the hardware-dependent Fn shortcut

Microsoft documents Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar as a possible screenshot shortcut on devices without a PrtScn button. It depends on the laptop or keyboard firmware, so it will not work on every Windows 10 computer.

If it works, check Pictures > Screenshots for the resulting file. Storage behavior can vary by hardware and configuration. For predictable clipboard access and capture modes, use Windows + Shift + S instead.

Use the On-Screen Keyboard when physical keys are unavailable

Windows includes an On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) that you can operate with a mouse or another pointing device:

1. Open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
2. Turn on On-Screen Keyboard.
3. Use the on-screen keys to enter a shortcut if needed, or open Snipping Tool directly with the mouse.

The OSK is an input-accessibility feature; Snipping Tool is the component that performs the capture.

Where does a Windows 10 screenshot go?

• Windows + Shift + S: the capture is copied to the clipboard first. Paste it with Ctrl + V, or open the notification to edit and save it.
• Fn + Windows + Space: if supported by your hardware, check Pictures > Screenshots. The exact behavior can vary.
• Snipping Tool: the image is saved wherever you choose through Save or Save as.

If you pasted the screenshot into an app but cannot find a file, save a copy from that app or retake the capture and use Snipping Tool’s save command.

Common problems and fixes

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Nothing happens after Windows + Shift + S	The shortcut was mistyped, Snipping Tool is unavailable, or another app intercepted it	Press the keys together, then try Start > Snipping Tool. Restarting Snipping Tool can also clear a stuck session.
The capture is not in the document	The destination app does not accept pasted images or focus is elsewhere	Click the destination, press Ctrl + V, or open the notification and save a file first.
No notification appears	Notifications are disabled or expired	Open Snipping Tool from Start and take a new capture, then save it from the app.
Fn + Windows + Space does nothing	The keyboard does not implement that hardware shortcut	Use Windows + Shift + S or launch Snipping Tool.
Only one monitor is captured	The selected mode targeted a window or display	Use full-screen capture and verify which display is active, or capture each monitor separately.
The screenshot contains a menu that closed	Opening the overlay changed focus	Use window or full-screen capture, or open Snipping Tool first and start a new snip.

Quality, privacy, and workflow tips

• Use rectangular capture for smaller files and clearer sharing.
• Use window capture when a screenshot should exclude notifications, the taskbar, or another app.
• Before sharing, inspect the image for passwords, account numbers, private messages, and browser tabs.
• For a long webpage, a desktop snip captures only what is visible. Use the page’s print or export feature, or a browser capture tool, when you need the full document.
• Clipboard contents can be replaced by the next copy operation. Save important captures promptly.

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 after that date. This does not change the screenshot shortcuts above; it is a separate platform-support consideration.

Or skip the browser setup

If what you need is a screenshot of a webpage rather than your local desktop, ScreenshotNeo can return an image or PDF from one GET request. Its capture service accepts consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers.

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the full option list, including full-page capture, element selectors, device presets, dark mode, custom CSS and JavaScript, waits, blocking rules, cookies, headers, PDFs, caching, signed links, asynchronous jobs, webhooks, and bulk capture.

cURL

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

Python

import requests

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

Node.js

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot failed: ${res.status}`);
const data = Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer());
await import('node:fs/promises').then(fs => fs.writeFile('shot.webp', data));

ScreenshotNeo has an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots, and every feature is available on every plan. Use the free ScreenshotNeo sign-up to get started.

FAQ

Can I take a screenshot with only a mouse?

Yes. Open Start, launch Snipping Tool, choose New, select a mode, and drag or select the target with the mouse.

Does Windows + Shift + S save a PNG automatically?

It copies the capture to the clipboard first. Open the notification in Snipping Tool and choose Save or Save as to create an image file.

What if my keyboard has no Windows key either?

Open Snipping Tool from Start with the mouse. The On-Screen Keyboard can also provide virtual keys for supported shortcuts.

Can this capture an entire scrolling webpage?

The standard snipping modes capture the visible desktop area. For a complete webpage, use the browser’s full-page feature, export or print workflow, or a webpage screenshot API such as ScreenshotNeo.