How to use the Snipping Tool in Windows

How to use the Snipping Tool in Windows

Sometimes you need to visually document what’s on your screen. Perhaps you want to share an image still from YouTube with a friend or maybe you need to save a copy of a price quote from a website. While using the “PrtSc” key is still popular, there’s a more robust option.  

The Snipping Tool is easy to use and lets you take screenshots, edit them, and annotate them in Windows 10 and other Microsoft operating systems. It’s been around since Windows Vista, though earlier versions were available for some Microsoft tablets.

How to open the Snipping Tool app in Windows

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Snipping Tool in the search box.
3. Open the Snipping Tool app.

How to take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool app

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Snipping Tool in the search box.
3. Open the Snipping Tool app.
4. Press the arrow button next to Mode in the menu.
5. Select Rectangular snip to drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
6. Select Free-form snip to draw a free-form shape around an object.
7. Select Windows snip to select a window to capture, like a dialog box.
8. Select Full-screen snip to capture the full screen.

How to take delayed screenshots with the Snipping Tool

New in Windows 10, you can set Snipping Tool to take screenshots with a delay. This is an excellent option for capturing images of objects that reappear. To take screenshots with a delay, open the Snipping Tool app, and press the arrow button next to Delay. You can choose a delay of up to 5 seconds.

How to edit screenshots with the Snipping Tool app

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Snipping Tool in the search box.
3. Open the Snipping Tool app.
4. Use the Pen to write on the image.
5. Use the Highlighter to highlight parts of the screenshot.
6. Use the Eraser to undo and edits made with the Pen or Highlighter.

How do I copy snips to the Clipboard?

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type Snipping Tool in the search box.
3. Open the Snipping Tool app.
4. Click Options on the top right.
5. Tick the box next to “Always copy snips to the Clipboard”.

Why can’t I see all the options with the Snipping Tool app?

Is your Windows snipping tool not working? Depending on your version of Windows, you might see a message on your screen that says, “Snipping Tool is moving…” This is because Microsoft is planning to phase out the Snipping Tool app for the Snip & Sketch feature. The following section shares how to use the newer Snip & Sketch feature in Windows 10.

How to take a screenshot with Snip & Sketch in Windows 10 and how to edit it

1. Press the Win + Shift + S.
2. Notice your screen darken.
3. Look at the small toolbar above for options.
4. Select Rectangular snip to drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle.
5. Select Free-form snip to draw a free-form shape around an object.
6. Select Windows snip to select a window to capture like a dialog box.
7. Select Full-screen snip to capture the full screen.
8. Click the notification to load the Snip & Sketch editor.
9. Edit your screenshot with the Pen, Pencil, or Highlighter.
10. Use the Eraser to modify edits.
11. Click the Share button to send the edited image.

If you want to take screenshots without using the Snipping Tool, please check out our how to screenshot on Windows blog. Recently, a stalkerware company’s screenshots accidentally leaked online, so safeguard your screenshots to protect your privacy.  Shield yourself from spyware, keyloggers, or a screen scraper attack by staying vigilant.

Regularly scan your computer with anti-malware software. Regularly check for Windows updates to download any security patches.