The fastest way: Windows key + Print Screen

On an Acer laptop running Windows, press Windows key + Print Screen at the same time. Your screen will dim briefly, and the screenshot saves automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. You do not need to open any program first — this works from anywhere, whether you are in an email, a web browser, or on your desktop.

If you want to capture only part of your screen instead of the whole thing, use Windows key + Shift + S. A small toolbar appears at the top of your screen with four capture options: a rectangular selection tool, a freeform tool, a window tool (captures just one open window), and a fullscreen tool. Click the tool you want, then click and drag to select the area. The image goes to your clipboard, and you can paste it into an email, document, or image editor.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows key + Print Screen saves a full screenshot directly to your Pictures/Screenshots folder with no extra steps.
  • Windows key + Shift + S lets you select just the part of the screen you need and copies it to your clipboard for pasting.
  • The Snipping Tool (search for it in the Windows search bar) offers more control and lets you annotate screenshots before saving.
  • For recording video of your screen, use Windows key + Alt + R to start and stop recording with the built-in Game Bar.
  • Screenshots and recordings save in different places — know where to look so you can find them later.

Using the Snipping Tool for more control

If you want to annotate a screenshot — draw on it, highlight text, or add notes — the Snipping Tool gives you that option. Search for "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search bar (click the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar), and open it. Click "New" to start a capture, then select the area of your screen you want to grab the same way you would with Windows key + Shift + S.

Once you have captured the image, a small editor window opens. You can use a pen tool to draw, a highlighter to mark text, or an eraser to remove marks. When you are done, click "Save" and choose where to store the file. The Snipping Tool is slower than the keyboard shortcuts, but it is worth using if you need to mark up the image before sending it to someone or saving it for reference.

Recording your screen with Game Bar

To record a video of what is happening on your screen — useful for showing someone how to do something, or capturing a moment from a video call — use the built-in Game Bar. Press Windows key + Alt + R to start recording. A small control panel appears in the corner of your screen showing a red recording dot. Your screen recording is now active.

Do whatever you need to do on your screen. When you are finished, press Windows key + Alt + R again to stop. The video saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. The file is an MP4 video file, which you can open in any video player or send to someone else. Game Bar records your screen and audio from your microphone at the same time, so make sure your microphone is on if you want to narrate what you are doing.

Where your screenshots and recordings actually go

Screenshots taken with Windows key + Print Screen go to Pictures > Screenshots. To find them quickly, open File Explorer (the folder icon in your taskbar), click "Pictures" on the left side, then double-click the Screenshots folder.

Screen recordings made with Game Bar go to Videos > Captures. Open File Explorer, click "Videos" on the left, then double-click Captures. If you used the Snipping Tool, the file goes wherever you chose to save it — check the location you picked in the save dialog.

If you cannot find your files, search for them by date. Open File Explorer, type the date you created the screenshot in the search box at the top right (for example, "today" or a specific date like "12/15"), and Windows will show you all files created on that day.

Acer-specific keyboard differences

Most Acer laptops use the standard Windows keyboard shortcuts listed above. However, some older Acer models or models with custom keyboards may have the Print Screen key in a different location or require you to hold the Fn key at the same time. If Windows key + Print Screen does not work, try Fn + Windows key + Print Screen instead.

If you are not sure where your Print Screen key is, look at the top row of your keyboard. It is usually on the right side, sometimes labeled "PrtScn" or "Print Scrn". On some Acer laptops, it shares a key with another function and requires Fn to set up. Check your laptop's manual or search online for your specific Acer model number (usually found on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop) if the standard shortcuts do not work.

Choosing between screenshot and screen recording

A screenshot is a still image — use it when you want to capture something that is not moving, like an email, a document, or a web page. A screen recording is a video — use it when you need to show a process that takes time, like navigating a website, filling out a form, or demonstrating software steps.

Screenshots are faster to create and take up much less storage space. A single screenshot is usually less than 1 MB. A screen recording of the same area for just one minute can be 10 to 50 MB depending on your screen resolution and what is moving on screen. If you only need a still image, screenshot. If you need to show motion or sound, record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my screenshot look blurry or low quality?

Windows captures at your screen's native resolution, so the quality depends on your display. If your screenshot looks pixelated, your screen resolution may be set lower than your monitor's maximum. Right-click your desktop, select "Display settings", scroll down to "Display resolution", and choose the highest number in the list. Higher numbers mean sharper images.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window without capturing the whole screen?

Yes. Press Windows key + Shift + S, then click the window tool (the third icon in the toolbar that appears). Move your cursor over the window you want to capture and click it. Only that window will be captured, not the background or other windows behind it.

Where do I find my screen recording if I forgot where I saved it?

Game Bar recordings go to Videos > Captures by default. Open File Explorer, click Videos on the left sidebar, then look for the Captures folder. If you saved it somewhere else, search for the file by the date you created it using the search box in File Explorer.

Can I edit my screenshot after I take it?

Screenshots taken with Windows key + Print Screen are saved as image files you cannot edit directly. Use the Snipping Tool instead if you want to draw or highlight on your screenshot before saving. Alternatively, open your saved screenshot in Paint (search for "Paint" in Windows search) to edit it after the fact.

Does recording my screen slow down my laptop?

Screen recording uses your laptop's processor and can slow things down slightly, especially if you are running other programs at the same time. If your laptop feels sluggish while recording, close unnecessary programs first. Recordings made with Game Bar are usually less demanding than third-party recording software.