Prt Sc Key [updated] Jun 2026

The (and Snip & Sketch on older Windows 10) is a built-in app that gives you more control. You can:

On a full-size keyboard:

Press the PrtSc key by itself.

| To do this... | Press this... | |---------------|----------------| | Copy whole screen to clipboard | Prt Sc | | Copy active window to clipboard | Alt + Prt Sc | | Save whole screen as file | Win + Prt Sc | | Open snipping tool overlay | Win + Shift + S | | Open clipboard history | Win + V | prt sc key

The key's name is literal. In early command-line operating systems like , pressing the Print Screen key (often with Shift ) would instantly send the current text buffer to the computer's printer port (LPT1). It was a tool for physically printing out data as it appeared on the screen. The (and Snip & Sketch on older Windows