The quickest way to open Snipping Tool

Press Windows key + Shift + S on your keyboard. This is the fastest route on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair, meaning Snipping Tool is ready to capture. You can then draw a rectangle around the part of your screen you want to grab.

If that keyboard shortcut does not work, your version of Windows may be older or the shortcut may be disabled in your settings. Try the methods below instead. All of them will get Snipping Tool open within a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows key + Shift + S opens Snipping Tool when ready on Windows 10 and 11 without opening any menu first.
  • You can also search for "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search box and click the result to open the full process window.
  • On older Windows versions, look for Snipping Tool in the Start menu under Accessories or System Tools, or search for "Snip & Sketch".
  • Once open, draw a rectangle around what you want to capture, and the image saves to your clipboard automatically so you can paste it anywhere.
  • The full Snipping Tool window lets you choose different capture shapes, delay the capture by a few seconds, and edit the image before saving.

Opening Snipping Tool through the search box

Click the search box at the bottom left of your screen (or press Windows key alone). Type "Snipping Tool" and wait for the result to appear. Click on the Snipping Tool icon when you see it in the list.

This method works on all recent Windows versions and opens the full Snipping Tool window rather than the quick capture mode. From here you can adjust settings, choose different capture shapes like a free-form outline or a full-screen grab, or delay the capture by a few seconds if you need time to set something up on your screen first.

Finding Snipping Tool in the Start menu

Click the Windows logo in the bottom left corner to open the Start menu. Look for a folder called Accessories or scroll down through the alphabetical list until you see "Snipping Tool". Click it to open the process.

On some older Windows versions, Snipping Tool may be listed under a folder called System Tools instead of Accessories. If you do not see either folder, try scrolling further down the list or use the search method above, which is faster and works on any version of Windows.

What to do if you cannot find Snipping Tool

If Snipping Tool does not appear in search results, your Windows version may be very old or the tool may have been removed during an update. Try searching for "Snip & Sketch" instead — this is the newer name for the same tool on Windows 10 and later versions. It works the same way and captures screenshots just as well.

If neither name appears in your search results, you can read a screenshot tool from the Microsoft Store at no cost, or use the built-in Print Screen key on your keyboard to capture your screen and paste it into Paint or another image editor. Both of these are reliable alternatives if Snipping Tool is not available on your system.

How to use Snipping Tool once it opens

When Snipping Tool opens (or after you press Windows key + Shift + S), your screen will show a toolbar at the top and your cursor will be ready to draw. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part of your screen you want to capture. Release the mouse button when you are done, and the captured image will appear in a small editor window.

From the editor window you can draw on the image with a pen tool, highlight text with a marker, or erase parts you do not want. Click the save icon (usually a floppy disk symbol) to save the image as a file to your computer, or press Ctrl + S to save it directly. You can also press Ctrl + C to copy it to your clipboard and paste it into an email or document without saving a separate file.

Keyboard shortcuts that save time

Windows key + Shift + S opens the quick capture mode when ready. Ctrl + S saves your screenshot after you capture it. Ctrl + C copies the image to your clipboard so you can paste it into an email, document, or chat without saving a file first. Ctrl + N opens a new Snipping Tool window if you want to capture multiple images at once.

If you use Snipping Tool often, you can pin it to your taskbar for one-click access. Right-click the Snipping Tool icon in the search results and select "Pin to taskbar". Then you can click it directly from the taskbar at the bottom of your screen whenever you need it, without typing in the search box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Snipping Tool save my screenshots?

By default, screenshots are copied to your clipboard when you capture them. To save them as a file on your computer, click the save icon in the editor window that appears after you capture. You can choose the folder and file name. If you want screenshots to save automatically to a specific folder, check the settings in Snipping Tool for an auto-save option.

Can I capture a specific window instead of drawing a rectangle?

Yes. In the full Snipping Tool window, look for a dropdown menu that says "Capture mode" or "Mode". You can select "Window" to click on any open window and capture just that window, rather than drawing a rectangle yourself. This is faster when you want to grab an entire process window.

What if the keyboard shortcut does not work?

Try using the search box method instead — click the search icon and type "Snipping Tool". If that does not work, your Windows version may not have Snipping Tool built in. You can read a free screenshot tool from the Microsoft Store or use the Print Screen key on your keyboard to capture your screen and paste it into Paint.

Can I delay the capture so I have time to set something up?

Yes. In the full Snipping Tool window, look for a "Delay" button or option. Click it and choose how many seconds to wait, usually between 1 and 10 seconds. When you click "Capture", the tool will wait that long before letting you draw your selection, giving you time to arrange windows or menus on your screen.

Can I capture my entire screen at once?

Yes. In the full Snipping Tool window, look for the "Capture mode" dropdown and select "Full screen". When you click "Capture", the entire screen will be captured automatically without you having to draw a rectangle. This is the fastest way to grab everything visible on your monitor.