Windows 10 has three built-in tools for capturing your screen

Windows 10 comes with Screenshot Tool, Snip & Sketch, and the Game Bar — you do not need to read anything. Screenshot Tool lets you capture a rectangular area, full screen, or a single window. Snip & Sketch does the same thing but saves to your clipboard and lets you annotate before saving. Game Bar records video of what is on your screen, with or without audio from your microphone or speakers.

Each tool serves a different purpose. Use Screenshot Tool or Snip & Sketch when you need a still image — a photo of an error message, a receipt, or part of a webpage. Use Game Bar when you need video — to show someone how to navigate a program, record a presentation, or capture gameplay.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Windows key + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch, which captures a screenshot and holds it in your clipboard until you save it.
  • Press Windows key + G to open Game Bar, which records video of your entire screen or a single window with audio from your microphone or speakers.
  • Screenshots save to your Pictures folder by default, and video recordings save to your Videos folder.
  • Snip & Sketch lets you draw, highlight, or type on a screenshot before you save it; Game Bar does not edit video.

Taking a screenshot with Snip & Sketch

Press Windows key + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch. Your screen will dim slightly and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the screenshot appears in a small window at the bottom right of your screen.

From that window, you can click the pencil icon to draw on the screenshot, the highlighter icon to mark text, or the eraser icon to remove marks. Click the crop icon to trim the edges. When you are done editing, click the save icon (a floppy disk) to save the image to your Pictures folder, or click the copy icon to copy it to your clipboard so you can paste it into an email or document.

If you want to capture your entire screen instead of a rectangle, press Windows key + Print Screen. This captures the whole screen and saves it directly to your Pictures folder without opening an editor. If you want to capture only the active window, press Alt + Print Screen — this copies the window to your clipboard, and you can paste it into a document or image editor.

Recording video with Game Bar

Press Windows key + G to open Game Bar. A panel will appear at the top of your screen with a record button (a red circle). Click it to start recording. Your screen will show a timer in the corner so you can see how long you have been recording. When you are done, click the stop button (a red square) or press Windows key + Alt + R.

Game Bar records your entire screen by default. If you want to record only one window — for example, just your web browser or a single program — click the window first to make it active, then open Game Bar and start recording. The recording will capture only that window, not your entire desktop.

By default, Game Bar records video but not audio. To include audio from your microphone, click the microphone icon in the Game Bar panel before you start recording. To include audio from your speakers (for example, if you are recording a video tutorial or a video call), click the speaker icon. You can use both at the same time.

Where your files are saved and how to find them

Screenshots taken with Snip & Sketch or Print Screen save to your Pictures folder. Open File Explorer, click Pictures in the left sidebar, and look for files named "Screenshot" followed by a date and time. Game Bar recordings save to your Videos folder in a subfolder called "Captures". Open File Explorer, click Videos, then double-click the Captures folder to see your recordings.

You can change where files are saved. Open Settings, click System, then click Storage. Scroll down to "Save locations" and change the folder for Screenshots or Videos. Some programs also let you choose a save location when you export or save a file.

Using the older Screenshot Tool

If you prefer the original Screenshot Tool instead of Snip & Sketch, you can still use it. Press Windows key + Shift + S opens Snip & Sketch in newer versions of Windows 10, but you can also search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu to find the older version. The older tool works the same way — you draw a rectangle, and the screenshot opens in an editor window where you can save or copy it.

The main difference is that Snip & Sketch is faster and newer, while the older Screenshot Tool has been around longer and some people find it more familiar. Both do the same job. If you have a strong preference, you can pin either one to your taskbar by right-clicking it in the Start menu and selecting "Pin to taskbar".

Keyboard shortcuts for quick access

Memorizing a few keyboard shortcuts makes screen capture much faster. Windows key + Shift + S opens Snip & Sketch for a rectangular screenshot. Windows key + Print Screen captures your entire screen and saves it when ready. Alt + Print Screen captures only the active window and copies it to your clipboard. Windows key + G opens Game Bar to record video.

If you use screen capture often, consider pinning Snip & Sketch or Game Bar to your taskbar. Right-click the program in the Start menu and select "Pin to taskbar". Then you can click it directly instead of using a keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record audio from my speakers while using Game Bar?

Yes. Click the speaker icon in the Game Bar panel before you start recording. This captures audio from your speakers — for example, music, video sound, or audio from a video call. You can record speaker audio, microphone audio, or both at the same time.

What if I want to edit my screenshot after I save it?

Open your Pictures folder, right-click the screenshot, and select "Open with" to choose an image editor like Paint or Photos. You can also use Snip & Sketch to edit before you save — draw, highlight, or type on the screenshot while it is still open in the editor window.

How long can I record with Game Bar?

Game Bar can record for as long as your hard drive has space. There is no built-in time limit. Longer recordings use more storage, so if you are recording for more than an hour, check that you have enough free space on your computer.

Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?

Yes. Press Windows key + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch, then click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want. Only that area will be captured. You can also use the older Screenshot Tool the same way.

Where do I find my Game Bar recordings?

Open File Explorer, click Videos in the left sidebar, then double-click the Captures folder. Your recordings are saved there with the date and time in the filename. You can move them to another folder or delete them from here.