UPDATE 8/1/2023: On Windows 10, Snip & Sketch is the default app for taking screenshots of the entire screen, active window, or region of the screen. Usually, you can open the screen snipping tool from the Start menu or with the “Windows key + Shift + S” keyboard shortcut, but if you want more direct access, it’s also possible to map the app to the “Print Screen” (PrtScrn) key on the keyboard.
This guide will teach you the steps to set the Print Screen key on your keyboard to open the screen snipping tool on Windows 10.
Take screenshots using the ‘Print Screen’ key on Windows 10
To open the Snip & Sketch app to take screenshots with the “PrtScrn” key on Windows 10, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 10.
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Click on Ease of Access.
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Click on Keyboard.
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Under the “Print Screen shortcut” section, turn on the “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” toggle switch.
Once you complete the steps, if you have another application currently mapped to use the Print Screen button, you may need to restart the computer to apply the settings.
After applying the changes, you can press the “PrtScrn” key on the keyboard to bring up the tool to take a snip or full-screen capture of anything that you’re running on the desktop.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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