Snipping Tool
Microsoft — The built-in Windows screenshot tool
Microsoft's built-in Windows screenshot tool for rectangular, window, free-form and full-screen snips, opened with Windows + Shift + S.
Last verified: 2026-08-01
Overview
Snipping Tool ships with Windows 10 and Windows 11 and is the default answer for most people who need a screenshot on a Windows PC or laptop. Pressing Windows + Shift + S dims the screen and opens the capture bar with rectangular, free-form, window and full-screen modes.
On Windows 11 the app also records the screen, adds shapes and text, and can extract text from an image. Captures land on the clipboard and, when the notification is clicked, open in the editor where they can be saved as PNG, JPG or GIF into the Pictures\Screenshots folder.
It is the right starting point before installing anything else: no cost, no account, no install, and it covers rectangular snips, single-window capture and quick markup. It does not do scrolling capture of long web pages, which is where third-party Windows screenshot software takes over.
Capabilities on Windows
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Annotation
- Screen recording
- OCR text capture
- Delayed capture
- Built-in editor
Pros
- + Already installed on every Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC
- + Windows + Shift + S works from any application
- + Screen recording and text extraction on Windows 11
- + No account, no install, no cost
Cons
- − No scrolling or full-page web capture
- − Limited annotation compared with dedicated software
- − No built-in cloud links or team sharing
Pricing and trial
- Pricing model
- free
- Pricing notes
- Included with Windows 10 and Windows 11 at no additional cost.
- Free trial
- Not applicable
- Trial notes
- No trial needed — the app is part of Windows.
- Best for
- Everyday screenshots on any Windows PC or laptop without installing software.
- System requirements
- Windows 10 or Windows 11.
- Last verified
- 2026-08-01
We do not republish exact prices — see how we verify pricing.
Alternatives and competitors
ShareX
ShareX Team
Free, open-source Windows screenshot and screen capture software with scrolling capture, OCR, screen recording and scriptable after-capture workflows.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Scrolling capture
Greenshot
Greenshot
A small, fast open-source screenshot tool for Windows with region and window capture, a simple annotation editor and direct export to file, printer or Office.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Annotation
Snagit
TechSmith
Commercial Windows screenshot and screen capture software with scrolling capture, a polished annotation editor, templates, OCR and screen recording.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Scrolling capture
PicPick
NGWIN
Windows screenshot software combining region, window and scrolling capture with an image editor, colour picker, ruler, protractor and whiteboard.
- Screenshot
- Region capture
- Window capture
- Full screen capture
- Scrolling capture
FAQ
- What is the Snipping Tool shortcut?
- Windows + Shift + S opens the capture bar from anywhere in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Where does Snipping Tool save screenshots?
- Saved captures default to Pictures\Screenshots; every capture is also placed on the clipboard.
Get Snipping Tool for Windows 10 and Windows 11
Download Snipping Tool