How to Use Snipping Tool on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Screenshots are an essential part of productivity, whether you’re sharing an error message, saving an online receipt, documenting software issues, or making tutorials. In Windows 11, Microsoft has streamlined the experience with the Snipping Tool, a built-in screenshot utility that replaces both the legacy Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use Snipping Tool on Windows 11 step by step, including shortcuts, advanced features, tips, and troubleshooting.

Table of Contents

📝 Key Highlights

The Snipping Tool is pre-installed in Windows 11.
It allows you to capture the screen in different modes (rectangular, freeform, window, full screen).
You can edit, annotate, copy, and share your screenshots instantly.
Keyboard shortcuts like Windows + Shift + S make it super quick.
You can even set delayed screenshots for menus and pop-ups.

Why Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11?

Snipping Tool is more powerful than the classic Print Screen button because it:

Lets you select a portion of the screen instead of the whole display.
Offers annotation tools like a pen, highlighter, and eraser.
Saves screenshots directly or copies them to the clipboard.
Provides timer/delay capture for menus and tooltips.
Integrates with OneDrive, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams for sharing.

How to Open Snipping Tool in Windows 11

There are multiple ways to access Snipping Tool:

Method 1: From the Start Menu

Click the Start button.
Type Snipping Tool in the search bar.
Click on the app to launch.

Method 2: With Keyboard Shortcut

Press Windows + Shift + S → instantly opens the Snipping Tool in capture mode.

Method 3: Pin to Taskbar for Quick Access

Open Snipping Tool.
Right-click its icon on the taskbar.
Select Pin to taskbar.

Modes of Snipping Tool in Windows 11

Snipping Tool provides four screenshot modes:

Mode	Description	Use Case
Rectangular Snip	Draw a rectangle around the area	Select a portion of a webpage
Freeform Snip	Draw any shape with your mouse	Capture irregular designs/images
Window Snip	Capture a specific window	Save an app or browser window
Fullscreen Snip	Capture the entire screen	Document whole desktop setup

Step-by-Step: Take a Screenshot with Snipping Tool

1. Open Snipping Tool (Start Menu or Windows + Shift + S).

2. Choose your preferred snip mode.

3. Drag/select the area (if using rectangular or freeform).

4. The screenshot preview appears in the bottom-right corner.

5. Click the preview → opens the editor.

6. Use pen, highlighter, eraser, or crop tools to edit.

7. Save the file with Ctrl + S or copy it with Ctrl + C.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Snipping Tool

Shortcut	Action
Windows + Shift + S	Open capture toolbar
Ctrl + S	Save screenshot
Ctrl + C	Copy screenshot to clipboard
Ctrl + Z	Undo last action
Ctrl + P	Print screenshot

Taking Delayed Screenshots

Sometimes you want to capture a dropdown menu or tooltip that disappears when you click elsewhere.

Steps:

Open Snipping Tool.
Click the down arrow next to New.
Select Snip in 3 seconds or Snip in 10 seconds.
Perform the action you want to capture.
The Snipping Tool will auto-capture after the timer.

Editing and Annotating Screenshots

Once you capture, Snipping Tool provides editing options:

🖊️ Pen tool – draw or write on the image.
✍️ Highlighter – emphasize text or sections.
⬜ Crop tool – trim unwanted parts.
🧽 Eraser – remove annotations.

👉 You can also open the screenshot in Microsoft Paint or Photos for advanced editing.

Saving and Sharing Screenshots

After editing, you can:

Save as PNG, JPG, or GIF with Ctrl + S.
Copy to clipboard (Ctrl + C) and paste into apps (Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).
Share directly via the share button to OneDrive, Mail, or nearby devices.

Advanced Tips for Snipping Tool

Auto-copy to clipboard → enable under Settings > Automatically copy snips.
Dark mode support → Snipping Tool follows Windows theme.
Print directly → use Ctrl + P.
Touchscreen friendly → great for Surface devices with stylus.
Multiple monitors → capture across extended displays.

Snipping Tool vs Print Screen vs Third-Party Apps

Feature	Snipping Tool	Print Screen	Snagit/Greenshot (3rd-party)
Select area	✅ Yes	❌ No (captures full screen)	✅ Yes
Annotations	✅ Basic	❌ None	✅ Advanced
Delay capture	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Free	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No (paid/freemium)

Common Issues and Fixes

Problem 1: Snipping Tool not working in Windows 11

Solution: Restart PC → If still broken, reinstall via Microsoft Store.

Problem 2: Screenshots not saving

Solution: Use Ctrl + S manually or check default save folder under Pictures > Screenshots.

Problem 3: Snipping Tool shortcut not responding

Solution: Enable it under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Print Screen Shortcut.

Pros and Cons of Snipping Tool

✅ Pros:

Built into Windows 11 (no installation required).
Easy to use with shortcuts.
Multiple snip modes + editing tools.

❌ Cons:

Limited advanced editing (compared to Snagit/Photoshop).
Cannot record video (use Xbox Game Bar for that).

Conclusion

The Snipping Tool on Windows 11 is a simple yet powerful utility for taking and editing screenshots. Whether you need a quick capture for work, school, or gaming, it’s faster and more versatile than the Print Screen key.

By mastering Windows + Shift + S and using features like delayed snips, annotations, and sharing, you’ll make your screenshot workflow more efficient.

FAQs About Snipping Tool on Windows 11

1. Where are Snipping Tool screenshots saved?
By default, they are saved in Pictures > Screenshots if you manually save them.

2. Can I use Snipping Tool for scrolling screenshots?
No. For scrolling screenshots, use third-party tools like ShareX or Snagit.

3. Can Snipping Tool record video?
No. For video, use Xbox Game Bar or OBS Studio.

4. How do I enable Print Screen to open Snipping Tool?
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Print Screen shortcut and enable the option.

5. Is Snipping Tool free?
Yes, it’s completely free and pre-installed in Windows 11.