How to Use the Snipping Tool

Using the Snipping Tool in Windows is straightforward. Follow these steps to capture, annotate, and save your screenshots:

1. Open the Snipping Tool

• Windows 10: Click the Start button. Type “Snipping Tool” in the search box. Could you select it from the results?
• Windows 11: The Snipping Tool is merged with Snip & Sketch. Click the Start button, type “Snipping Tool” or “Snip & Sketch,” and select it from the results.

2. Choose a Capture Mode

• New Snip: Click “New” to start a new snip. The screen will fade, and your cursor will change to a crosshair.
• Mode: Click the “Mode” button to select one of the four capture modes:
• Free-form Snip: Draw a free-form shape around the area you want to capture.
• Rectangular Snip: Drag the cursor to create a rectangular selection.
• Window Snip: Click on the window you want to capture.
• Full-screen Snip: Capture the entire screen.

3. Capture a Snip

• Click and drag the cursor to select the area for Free-form and Rectangular Snip.
• For Window Snip, click the window you want to capture.
• For a Full-screen Snip, the screen will be captured immediately.

4. Annotate the Snip

• After capturing the snip, it opens in the Snipping Tool editor.
• Use the Pen tool to draw or write on the snip.
• Use the Highlighter to highlight important parts of the snip.
• Use the Eraser to remove annotations.

5. Save or Share the Snip

• Click the Save Snip button (floppy disk icon) to save the snip to your computer. Choose the location and file format (PNG, JPEG, GIF, or HTML).
• Click the Copy button to copy the snip to the clipboard. You can then paste it into documents, emails, or other applications.
• Click the Email button to open your email client and attach the snip to a new email.

6. Using the Delay Feature

• Click the Delay button (clock icon) to set a delay of 1 to 5 seconds before the snip is captured. This is useful for capturing context menus or tooltips that appear on hover.

Tips for Using the Snipping Tool

• Keyboard Shortcuts: Use keyboard shortcuts to make capturing snips quicker: Press Ctrl + PrtScn to initiate the Snipping Tool in Windows 10. Press Win + Shift + S in Windows 10/11 to directly open the Snip & Sketch tool.
• Editing Snips: For more advanced editing, you can open snips in external programs like Microsoft Paint, Paint 3D, or third-party image editors.
• Snipping Tool Alternatives: For more features, consider using third-party screenshot tools like Greenshot, Snagit, or Lightshot.

The Snipping Tool is a versatile and easy-to-use utility that enhances productivity by making capturing and sharing screenshots simple. Whether creating tutorials, saving important information, or troubleshooting issues, the Snipping Tool is essential for any Windows user.

Conclusion

The Snipping Tool is a versatile and user-friendly utility included in Windows that simplifies the process of capturing, annotating, and sharing screenshots. Its various capture modes, annotation tools, and sharing options make it an indispensable tool for both personal and professional use. Whether you need to capture a specific part of your screen, highlight important information, or quickly share visual content, the Snipping Tool provides all the necessary features to accomplish these tasks efficiently.