This captures your entire screen (including all monitors if you have multiple) and saves it to your clipboard . It does not create a file automatically. To see the image, you must "Paste" ( Ctrl + V ) it into an app like Microsoft Paint , Word, or Slack.
Modern Windows versions include a more flexible tool for capturing specific areas of the screen. Screen Snips with 1 Key: My New Favorite Shortcut
This captures the entire screen and automatically saves it as a file . Your screen will briefly dim to confirm the capture.
By following these steps, you can easily use the Print Screen button to capture screenshots on your computer.
Open File Explorer and navigate to Pictures > Screenshots .
You have the cut-out paper in your hand (the photo is on the clipboard). Now, you open your scrapbook (a Word document, an email, or Paint) and use a glue stick to stick it down.
For years, people hated the "Print Screen" button because it captured everything —including your messy desktop icons and open tabs. It was like taking a photo of a messy room when you only wanted a picture of the cat.
If you press Windows Key + Shift + S (all at once), your screen will go slightly dim, and a tiny toolbar will appear at the top.
On Windows 11, Win + Shift + S is your go-to. It’s instant, flexible, and you can annotate before sharing.
If you press , your screen will briefly flash dark. The computer has automatically taken that full-screen photo and saved it as a file in your Pictures > Screenshots folder. You don't have to open Paint or Word; it’s already done!
If you want to skip the copy-paste step and just want a file saved instantly, look for a folder on your computer called
The "Print Screen" button (often labeled , PrntScrn , or something similar) is a holdover from the old days of computing. Ironically, it doesn't actually send anything to your printer anymore. Instead, it takes a digital "photograph" of whatever is on your monitor.