5 Modern Ways to Take Screenshots on Windows (Skip Print Screen)

Print Screen is outdated—Windows now offers five faster, more organized methods to capture, annotate, and save screenshots. This guide shows you every option so you can pick the workflow that fits how you actually work.

What Are Modern Screenshot Methods?

Windows offers five screenshot methods beyond the outdated Print Screen key: Win+Shift+S (Screenshot Tool), Snipping Tool, Print Screen to clipboard, Built-in Game Bar, and cloud-based solutions like OneDrive and Google Drive. Each method serves different needs—from quick captures to annotated screenshots with automatic organization. This guide covers all five approaches so you can choose what works best for your workflow. Current as of: Windows 10/11 (2024)

Why Use These Methods?

• Capture specific areas in seconds without opening additional programs
• Annotate screenshots immediately with built-in tools (highlighter, pen, eraser)
• Automatically organize screenshots by date in cloud storage
• Access your screenshots from any device—phone, tablet, or another computer
• Save screenshots directly to your preferred location instead of hunting through default folders

Things to Consider

• Some methods require internet connection for cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive)
• Annotation tools vary between methods—not all options offer editing features
• Screenshot storage location differs depending on method chosen (clipboard, Documents, Videos, or cloud folders)

How to Take Screenshots - 5 Methods Explained

Method 1: Win+Shift+S (Fastest for Quick Captures)

1. Press the Windows key, Shift key, and S key simultaneously. Your screen will dim and a small toolbar will appear at the top.

2. Click and drag to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button when done.

3. A notification will appear in the bottom-right corner—click it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool where you can annotate or copy it.

Best for: People who need quick captures without leaving their current window. Fastest method for workflow interruption.

Method 2: Snipping Tool (Best for Annotating)

1. Open the Windows Start Menu and search for ‘Snipping Tool’ (built-in since Windows 10). Click the result to open it.

2. Click ‘New’ button to begin a capture. Choose your capture mode from the toolbar:

   • Freeform: Draw custom shapes around what you want to capture
   • Rectangular: Select a rectangle (most common)
   • Window: Capture one entire window
   • Full Screen: Capture everything

3. Once captured, use the annotation tools (highlighter, pen, eraser) to mark up your screenshot directly.

4. Click ‘Save As’ to choose where to store it. Give it a meaningful name.

Best for: People who need to mark up screenshots with highlights, circles, or arrows before sharing.

Method 3: Print Screen to Clipboard (Simplest Method)

1. Press the Print Screen key once. The screenshot is now copied to your clipboard (no visual confirmation—this is important to remember).

2. Open any program that accepts images: Paint, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or email.

3. Right-click and select ‘Paste’ or press Ctrl+V. The screenshot will appear in your document.

Best for: People who already know this method and want consistency. Works reliably in any application that accepts images.

Method 4: Game Bar (Built-in Organization)

1. Press Windows key + G to open the Game Bar overlay (appears as a dark panel along the top of your screen).

2. Click the camera icon or press Windows+Alt+Print Screen. Your screenshot is automatically saved to your Videos folder in a ‘Captures’ subfolder with the current date and time as the filename.

3. Check your Videos folder to find organized screenshots (no annotation tools needed because images are already organized by date for easy finding later).

Best for: People who want automatic organization by date without thinking about where files go.

Method 5: Cloud Storage (Access Anywhere)

1. Sign into OneDrive (built into Windows 10/11) or Google Drive (requires free account at google.com).

2. In File Explorer, find your Screenshots folder. Right-click it and select ‘Always keep on this device’ to sync all screenshots automatically.

3. From now on, every screenshot you take automatically uploads to your cloud account within seconds. Access your screenshots from any device—phone, tablet, or another computer—by logging into your cloud account.

4. OneDrive offers advanced features like automatic screenshot organization by date and AI-powered search to find screenshots by content.

Best for: People who work across multiple devices and need screenshots accessible everywhere.

Windows gives you five powerful ways to capture screenshots—choose based on whether you need speed (Win+Shift+S), annotation (Snipping Tool), simplicity (Print Screen), organization (Game Bar), or access everywhere (cloud storage). Most people will find Win+Shift+S covers 80% of their needs, but keeping these alternatives in mind means you’ll always have the right tool for the job.