How to set Print Screen key to screenshot with Snip & Sketch on Windows 10

You can use the Print Screen key to open Snip & Sketch to take screenshots on Windows 10, and here's how to configure the option.

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@Pureinfotech
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Snip & Sketch PrtScn button mapping
Snip & Sketch PrtScn button mapping

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:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

  2. Click on Ease of Access.

  3. Click on Keyboard.

  4. Under the “Print Screen shortcut” section, turn on the “Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping” toggle switch.

    Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping

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.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].