Using keyboard shortcuts with the Snipping Tool or Snip and Sketch makes life easier. Both the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch, which you can use to take screenshots of your computer, are already part of your Windows 10.
We can also take screenshots with OneNote if we have one. Be aware that these two tools may not work for every situation. Check out our complete guide to taking screenshots for more information.
What is the Snipping Tool in Windows?
As for the Windows utility that has been around for 17 years, many people still don’t know that it exists. It is a simple and handy utility for taking screenshots. You can use it to capture an entire window, a rectangular portion of the screen, or use a freeform tool to draw around objects and only capture that uniquely shaped portion of the screen.
The newest version even has a delay feature. This makes it easier to capture pop-up or right-click menus.
You can take a photo and take notes or draw on it to really highlight what you want to show. It’s easy to share from there too. You can copy and paste it into a document or email, or just email someone directly from the Snipping Tool.
What is Windows Snip and Sketch?
Since Windows Snipping Tool is 17 years old, Microsoft decided to create a similar but updated screen capture tool. Snip and Sketch came out with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update If you don’t have one, you can also get Snip and Sketch from the Windows Store
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Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts
For these shortcuts to work, Snipping Tools must be open and must be the application that has focus. It can’t be open and behind anything, or the shortcuts don’t work. There is no keyboard shortcut to open the Windows Snipping Tools. However, we could create a keyboard shortcut to open Snipping Tools.
In the list of keyboard shortcuts below, Alt + N means pressing the Alt and N keys at the same time. If it says Alt + T, then P, it means press the Alt and T keys at the same time and release, then press P.
| Keyboard Shortcut | What it does |
| Alt + N or Ctrl + N | Runs a new screenshot |
| Alt + M | Set the screen capture mode. Use the ? and ? arrow keys to select: Freeform Slice, Rectangular Tool, Window Slice, Full Screen Slice. Then press Enter to confirm your selection. |
| Alt + D | Set the delay to start capturing. Use the ? and ? arrow buttons to select: No delay, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds. Then press Enter to confirm your selection. |
| Ctrl + S | Save screenshot |
| Ctrl + C | Copy screenshot |
| Ctrl + E | Edit in Paint 3D |
| Ctrl + P < / td> | Print screenshot |
| Alt + F | Access the File menu |
| Alt + F, then T, then E | Email. Requires installed Outlook. |
| Alt + F, then T, then A | Send as email attachment. Requires installed Outlook. |
| Alt + T then P | Select Pen Tool |
| Alt + T then P, then R | Red Pen |
| Alt + T, then P, then B | Blue Pen |
| Alt + T, then P, then L | Black pen |
| Alt + T, then P, then P | Custom Pen |
| Alt + T then P then C | Customize Pen |
| Alt + T then H | Select Highlighter Tool |
| Alt + T then E | Select Eraser Tool |
| Alt + T then O | Set Snipping Tool Options |
| F1 | Snipping Tool Help |
| Esc | When a screenshot is taken, Esc cancels it by escaping. |
| Keyboard shortcut | What is this |
| Shift + Windows Key + S | Opens the Snip and Sketch screen capture panel. It only allows you to take a screenshot. This does not open the full Snip and Sketch app for editing. |
| Ctrl + N or Alt + N | New screenshot |
| Ctrl + O or Alt + O | Open file for editing |
| Ctrl + P | Print screenshot |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo Editing |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo Editing |
| Ctrl + T or Alt + T | Turn touch input on and off. For use with touch screens. |
| Ctrl + B or Alt + B | Ballpoint Pen Tool |
| Ctrl + C or Alt + I | Pencil Tool |
| Ctrl + H or Alt + H | Selection Tool < / tr> |
| Ctrl + E or Alt + E | Eraser Tool |
| Ctrl + R or Alt + R | Crop Tool |
| Ctrl + Z or Alt + Z | Zoom Tool |
| Ctrl + S or Alt + S | Save Capture |
| Ctrl + C or Alt + C | Copy Capture |
| Ctrl + A or Alt + A | Share Capture |
| Ctrl + M or Alt + M | Opens the Show More menu |
| Esc | In the middle of capturing the screenshot, Esc cancels it by escaping. |
Put it all together
Screenshots are a great way to tell a story. Whether it’s helping someone, asking for help, or just sharing interesting or funny screenshots.
Take the time to try all the keyboard shortcuts and you will find that you can do almost anything with these tools without touching your mouse. It’s faster and easier this way.
Any helpful tips for taking screenshots or other favorite tools? We’d love to hear about this in the comments below. Do you know someone who doesn’t know how to explain what’s on their screen? Send them a link to this article. Help them.
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Windows 10