Windows Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcuts
Tags: shortcuts, keyboardshortcuts, webdev
Published: 2023-05-09 12:41:10


![Windows Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcuts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mjxjzgdv4cros7f1gz31.jpg)

Are you tired of manually capturing screenshots on your Windows PC? The Snipping Tool is a best default tool that allows you to capture specific areas of your screen. But did you know that you can enhance your productivity even further by using [keyboard shortcut keys](https://blog.stackfindover.com/shortcut-keys-of-computer-a-to-z/) of this tool? In this post, we’ll guide you through the essential keyboard shortcuts for the Windows Snipping Tool.

## What is the Snipping Tool?
The Snipping Tool is a default application/ tool on Windows PCs that allows you to capture screenshots and save them in various formats, like PNG, JPEG, and GIF. It also allows you to highlight specific areas of your captured screenshot using a pen or highlighter tool.

## How to Open the Snipping Tool in Windows?
You can open the Snipping Tool by following these simple steps:

Press the Windows key on your keyboard
Type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar
Click on the Snipping Tool application
Now that we know what the Snipping Tool is and how to open it, let’s dive into the keyboard shortcuts.

## How to Open the Snipping Tool in Windows
List of Most Useful Keyboard shortcuts for the Windows Snipping Tool
###01: Shortcut for Launch the Snipping Tool
To launch the Snipping Tool quickly, press the Windows key + Shift + S. This will open the Snipping Tool in rectangular snip mode, allowing you to select a specific area of your screen to capture.

###02: Shortcut key for Capture an Entire Screen
To capture an entire screen, press the Windows key + Print Screen. The screenshot will be saved automatically to your default Pictures folder.

###03: Capture a Specific Window with Kwyboard Shortcut
To capture a specific window, press Alt + Print Screen. This will capture the active window and save it to your clipboard. You can then paste it into another program, such as Microsoft Word or Paint.

###04: Shortcut key for Capture a Rectangular Area
To capture a rectangular area, press Ctrl + Shift + S. This will open the Snipping Tool in rectangular snip mode, allowing you to select the area you want to capture.

###05: Shortcut key for Capture a Free-Form Area
To capture a free-form area, press Ctrl + Print Screen. This will open the Snipping Tool in free-form snip mode, allowing you to draw the area you want to capture.

###06: Copy a Snip to the Clipboard
To copy a snip to the clipboard, press Ctrl + C after you have captured it.

###07: Shortcut to Save a Snip
To save a snip, press Ctrl + S after you have captured it. You can then choose where you want to save it on your computer.

###08: Keyboard Shortcut for Cancel a Snip in Snipping Tool
To cancel a snip, press Esc. This will cancel the snip and return you to the Snipping Tool interface.

## Conclusion
Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to save time and enhance your productivity when using the Snipping Tool on your Windows PC. By using these essential keyboard shortcuts, you can capture screenshots quickly and efficiently. We hope this guide has been helpful, and happy snipping!