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How to use the snipping tool windows 11

Published: December 1, 2025 (Updated: Dec 1, 2025)

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Master the Windows 11 Snipping Tool: The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Screenshots

Hey guys, this is Darren from Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

If you work with documentation, send quick instructions to colleagues, or just need to grab a piece of information off your screen, the screenshot is your best friend. And in Windows 11, the built-in utility—the Snipping Tool—is faster and handier than ever before!

We’re diving deep into this essential tool. Whether you need a full-screen capture or a precise snip of just one small area, we’ll show you exactly how to capture, edit, and save your perfect screenshot.

Opening the Windows 11 Snipping Tool (The Two Best Ways)

There are two primary ways to launch the Snipping Tool, but trust me, you’ll want to memorize the second one!

This is the reliable way to launch the app if you forget the keyboard shortcut.

  1. Click the Search icon (the magnifying glass) on your taskbar, or press the Windows Key.
  2. Start typing “Snipping Tool.”
  3. Click the Snipping Tool application when it appears in the results.

Method 2: The Must-Know Keyboard Shortcut (Windows Key + Shift + S)

This is one of my favorite shortcuts in all of Windows 11 because it instantly launches the capture overlay, saving you precious seconds.

Simply press the Windows Key + Shift + S simultaneously.

Your screen will dim, and a small toolbar will appear at the top, allowing you to instantly select your desired snip mode (we cover these modes next!).

Taking Different Kinds of Screenshots with the Snipping Tool

Once the Snipping Tool is active (either via the app or the keyboard shortcut), you have four powerful modes to choose from, visible in the top toolbar.

1. Rectangular Mode (The Standard Snip)

Rectangular mode is the most common way to grab a specific, defined area of your screen.

  1. Activate the Snipping Tool (or press Win + Shift + S).
  2. Ensure Rectangular Mode (usually the first icon) is selected.
  3. Click and drag your mouse to draw a box around the exact content you want to capture.
  4. Release the mouse button. The selected area is immediately copied to your clipboard and opens in the Snipping Tool editing window.

2. Window Mode (Capturing Specific Apps)

Window mode is perfect for capturing a specific application or browser window without grabbing your taskbar, desktop background, or other windows floating around.

  1. Activate the Snipping Tool.
  2. Select Window Mode (the icon resembling an open window).
  3. Hover your mouse over the window you wish to capture (it will be highlighted).
  4. Click once on the highlighted window. The tool immediately captures that entire window.

3. Free-Form Mode (Creative and Irregular Shapes)

If your desired capture area isn’t a neat square or rectangle, Free-Form mode gives you maximum flexibility.

  1. Activate the Snipping Tool.
  2. Select Free-Form Mode (the icon resembling an irregular shape).
  3. Click and hold your mouse button, then draw a customized outline around the area you want to snip (like using a lasso).
  4. Release the mouse button to complete the snip.

4. Full-Screen Mode (Everything at Once)

If you need a snapshot of every single item visible on all your monitors, this is the one!

  1. Activate the Snipping Tool.
  2. Select Full-Screen Mode (the last icon).
  3. The tool instantly captures your entire desktop setup.

Editing and Saving Your Captured Snip

Once you take a snip, the image automatically pops up in the Snipping Tool editing window (or if you used the shortcut, a notification will appear—click it to open the editor).

This editor provides crucial tools for annotating your screenshots before you share them:

  • Highlighting: Use the highlighter tool to emphasize important text or data points. Select your color and simply click and drag over the area you wish to draw attention to.
  • Drawing/Pen: Use the Pen tool (which offers various colors and thicknesses) to draw arrows, circle key areas, or underline critical information.
  • Cropping: If you captured a little too much, you can crop the final image within this window.

How to Save Your Final Screenshot

Once you’re happy with your edits, saving is easy:

  1. Click the Save icon (the floppy disk) in the top right corner of the Snipping Tool window.
  2. Choose your desired file format (PNG is standard for screenshots, but JPG is also available).
  3. Give your file a name (e.g., “Darren’s file underline”).
  4. Choose your save location (the ‘Pictures’ folder is usually the default).
  5. Click Save.

And that’s it! Your perfectly captured and edited screenshot is ready to be shared.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is an incredibly powerful and simple utility that will instantly improve the clarity of your digital communications. Once you start using that Windows Key + Shift + S shortcut, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!

Give these steps a try, especially the different snip modes, and let us know your favorite way to capture screenshots.

If this tutorial was helpful, please do like and subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials for more clear, accessible technology guides. If you have any questions, drop a comment below, and I’ll certainly help if I can.

Thanks for watching!