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Take and share your first screenshot

A practical PrintScreen Windows guide: select a region, add annotations, copy or save the image, and check a screenshot-sharing link before sending it.

Reviewed on 11 November 2026

Capture only what you need

  1. Start PrintScreen and find its icon in the Windows notification area.
  2. Press Print Screen or start a capture from the tray icon. On a laptop, the keyboard may also require Fn.
  3. Drag around the required region. Adjust the selection before choosing an action.
  4. Use the editing toolbar for arrows, rectangles, highlighting or text. Undo and redo help correct edits.

Choose an output

  • Copy places the displayed image on the clipboard so it can be pasted into another application.
  • Save opens the file dialog. PNG is useful for interface text; JPEG may be suitable for photographs.
  • Upload sends the displayed image to the server and copies a sharing link after success. Open that link yourself before forwarding it.
  • Escape cancels the selection. If a menu is open, dismiss the menu first.

Keep local and shared captures separate

Use a local file when the image must not be shared. If you have separately enabled cloud backup, review that setting as well: local saving and optional archiving are different actions. Never assume that a private-looking URL is access-controlled.

If Print Screen opens another tool, check the Windows shortcut setting and other running capture applications. Do not start multiple copies of PrintScreen to work around a shortcut conflict.

Read next

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Download PrintScreen for screenshots

The public download is for screen capture, editing and sharing. Translation access is separate and is not publicly available yet.