Built-in Snipping Tool: Take Screenshots in Windows 10

Whenever we talk about Screenshot, the name “Print Screen” comes first in our mind. But prtscn is the very basic tool to take screenshots. You can only capture the entire screen. You cannot select a specific part of the screen and you cannot edit the captured image as well. And apart from that, you have to save it manually in JPEG or PNG file format on any image editing tool. It does not save itself, it just copied the image to the Clipboard.

So here Snipping Tool is a good replacement to Prtscn, it fulfills most of the basic requirements of a user which I have mentioned above. Let’s learn more about Windows Built-in Snipping Tool.

Built-in Snipping Tool is a Great Option to take Screenshots in Windows 10, 8 and 7

Snipping Tool is a built-in screenshot capturing tool present in Microsoft Window 10, 8 and 7. This is the most advanced screen capturing tool ever comes with Windows.

In Windows Snipping Tool, you will get a few more options and some useful features too (in comparison to prtscn). With the help of this tool, you can take various types of screenshots. Such as Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip and Full-screen Snip. In short, you can capture a selected portion, window or any specific part of your screen. You can also use the pen and Highlight tool to decorate your screenshot. You can draw or highlight anything in it. And when you are done, you can copy, save or email it to someone.

Recommended:- 6 More Methods to Take Screenshot on Windows 10, 8, 7

How to Take Screenshots Using Snipping Tool in Windows 10, 8 and 7

Step 1:

How to Open Snipping tool:

Windows 10 Users: Type Snipping Tool in the search box on the taskbar, and then select and open it from the search results.

For Windows 8 Users: Move the cursor to the left bottom corner of the screen, then right click. Now Alternate (Secondary) menu will open, click on search. Then type snipping tool in the search box. Now open it from the search results.

For Windows 7 Users: Click on start and type ‘snipping tool’ in the search box. Then click and open it from the search results.

Step 2:

How to Use Snipping tool:

Now a small size snipping tool window will be opened. Click on the drop down arrow just next to the “New” button. It gives you 4 options to take the screenshot. And they are,

1. Free-form Snip: By selecting this option, you can capture any part of the screen. Using the mouse draw a free-form shape around any object you want to capture.


2. Rectangular Snip: Drag the mouse cursor around any object and make a rectangular shape. This will capture the selected object.


3. Window Snip: By using this option you can take a screenshot of a particular window such as text document, web-browser, dialog box etc. Just click on “Window Snip” and then click on the window you want to capture. You can also capture the entire screen by clicking on the desktop.


4. Full-screen Snip: This option will take the screenshot of the entire screen. Just click on “Full-screen Snip” and the entire screen will be captured.

Step 3:

Setting Option for Snipping Tool:

The Snipping tool ‘setting’ can be configured under the ‘Options’, the last item. Or you can also access them after taking the screenshot, go to the menu items, open ‘Tools’, then ‘Options.’

In the (Options) settings, you can configure the following:

• Hide instruction text
• Always copy snips to the Clipboard
• Include URL below snips (HTML only)
• Prompt to save snips before exiting
• Show selection overlay when snipping tool is active

For Selection:

• Show selection link after snips are captured (This option draw a border around the captured screenshot, you can select the border color as per your choice).

Step 3.1 (Only for Windows 10 Users):

Delay: New Option in Snipping Tool for Windows 10 Users

In Windows 10, you have an extra option named “Delay”. See the "check box items”, the option no 2. Using this option, you can delay the screenshot capturing time from 0 to 5 seconds. Means, when you selected 5 sec delay, and then click on any type of snip under “new”, this will delay the screenshot capturing by 5 seconds after the click.



Step 4:

Decorate or Highlight your Screenshots Captured by Snipping Tool:

You've taken the screenshot, now it's time to edit or decorate it. You can see the "check box items” just below the “menu items”. And they are New, Save, Copy, Send Snip, Pen, Highlighter, and Eraser. For editing, you can use the Pen, Highlight and the Eraser options. Select whatever you need, write text or draw anything to your captured screenshot.



Step 5:

Copy, Save or Email Screenshots Using Snipping Tool:

Now your screenshot is fully ready, and it’s time to complete the task. You can copy or save the captured image with the help of Copy and Save options in the "check box items”. Or you can also email it directly to someone using the option ‘Send Snip’. In this option you have two choices, ‘E-mail Recipient’ and ‘As attachment’.


If this built-in tool is very basic to you, and you need an advanced tool which is available for free. Then this is only for you. Must read and find your perfect tool here…

Recommended:- 3 Best Screenshot Apps That Are Available For Free

Please let me know, how was this guide. Post a comment if you got helped or learned something new. See you again on our next Step by Step Help Guide, with a complete solution to a different tech issue. Please subscribe our email newsletter and stay tuned with us.