Screenshot - Capture Screenshots Directly in Windows 8

How to Capture a Screenshot Directly in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to capture a screenshot of everything on your display(s) and have it instantly saved as a PNG file directly into your C:\Users\(user-name)\Pictures\Screenshots folder without having to do anything else in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You could also view the saved screenshot in your Pictures library.

   Tip

If you like, you are still also able to use the Ctrl+PrtScn, Alt+PrtScn, Fn+PrtScn (laptops/notebooks), or PrtScn keys to capture a screeshot into the clipboard, but you would need to use a image editor like Paint to copy the screenshot from the clipboard to edit and save the screenshot.

Here's How:


1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 for how you would like to capture a screenshot depending on what type of PC you have.

2. On all PCs, press the Windows + Print Screen (PrtScn) keys and release, then go to step 5 below.
NOTE: For laptops and notebooks, you may need to press either the Windows+Ctrl+PrtScn or Windows+Fn+PrtScn keys instead.

3. On a Surface tablet, press the Fn + Windows + Space Bar keys on the Type Cover and release, and go to step 5 below.

4. On tablets (ex: Surface), press and hold the capacitive Windows button on the front of the tablet, and press the volume down button on the volume rocker once, release both, then go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)



5. You will now notice the screen quickly dim and return back to normal as a snapshot of your display(s) is captured as a screenshot. In Windows Phone 8, you will also hear a snapshot click sound.

   Note

You will only see the screen dim if you have the Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing turned on (checked) in your visual effects settings.

6. The screenshot is now saved in your C:\Users\(user-name)\Pictures\Screenshots folder named as Screenshot (#).png with # indicating the screenshot index counter. Each screenshot you take increases the counter # by one. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Take a Screenshot in Windows Phone 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Screenshot" Capture Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Default "Screenshots" Folder Location in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Reset the Screenshot Counter in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Take and Create a Screenshot with Paint in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Eight Forums

 

[qwetymikey]

wow really useful!!! thanks

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Mikey.

 

[pcRat]

Great Shawn. How do you find all this stuff. I was still storing the prt scrn in Paint. I guess that is still OK if you want to make annotations.

You can make the annotations easily by right clicking on the screen shot then click edit. Which will open your screen shot in MS Paint or whatever program you use as the default graphics editor.

 

[Clint]

Another good one Brink!!!

 

[namsilat]

Can this method be used to capture entire page within a scrolling window?

 

[vrosa]

Can this method be used to capture entire page within a scrolling window?

No, only the visible part.

++++++++++++++++++

Nice one Brink !

 

[zerowalker]

Is it possible to make it happen with only printscreen?
And is it possible to prevent the dimming?

Cause currently i use an application to save to png when i press printscreen, but it´s not perfect, as there is some latency and can cause a bit of an hickup.

Also it is easy to change the save location, just change the location of the Screenshots folder (look at properties).

 

[David Bailey]

Also it is easy to change the save location, just change the location of the Screenshots folder (look at properties).

A picture to help:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...ange-default-folder-location-windows-8-a.html




Thanks for the Tutorial (Shawn) & the location in Properties.
I learned some new things.

 

[seattlerust]

I have dual monitors and when using this feature, it captures both monitors in the single screenshot which now requires some editing to make use of the information on just one screen. Is there any way of selecting one or the other monitor and then taking the screenshot? This is important for me because I often use the screenshots in presentations.

Thanks for all of your great ideas, Brink.

SR

 

[Brink]

Hello SR,

Not with this feature, but you could pick and choose screenshots using the old method and Paint like in the tutorial below if you like.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2596-screenshot-create-paint-windows-8-a.html

...or with Snipping Tool.

How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[daotee]

Brink thanks a lot for sharing this. I ran across it by accident a couple weeks ago just by playin with the keys and then I forgot the next time I went to use it! So thanks...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Daotee, and welcome to Eight Forums.

 

[Keithuk]

I've used the PrtScn button for many years but my new Samsung NP350E7C-A04UK laptop doesn't have a PrtScn button even though its a full 102 key keyboard. I have run the On Screen Keyboard (OSK) which has a PrtScn key but it prints the keyboard as well. Pressing Alt+PrtScn won't take a snapshot of the window on top.

 

[Brink]

Hello Keith, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Alt+PrtScn is the shortcut for taking a screenshot of the active window instead of for the new screen shot feature that this tutorial is for.

For laptops and notebooks, you may need to press either the Windows+Ctrl+PrtScn or Windows+Fn+PrtScn keys instead of just the Windows+PrtScn keys for the new screenshot feature in the tutorial.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Keithuk]

Thanks Brink.

I've actually found it now. On this Samsung laptop you press Fn+Alt+Insert keys to get a screendump but that only take a screendump of the active window like Alt+PrtScn on any other computer not the full screen.

 

[Brink]

That's an odd set of keys to press for a screenshot.

Usually it's the Alt key being included is what makes the screen shot only for the active window. Does pressing the Fn+Insert keys give you a full screen shot?

You might also try these keyboard shortcuts below to see if one may work for the new capture screen shot feature from the tutorial. I'm guessing the one in red may be the correct one for you.

Windows+Ctrl+Insert

Windows+Fn+Insert

Windows+Insert

 

[Brink]

Tutorial updated with more options.

 

[whs]

Shawn, you are always on top of things. Thank you.

 

[Brink]

Always a pleasure.

 

[WolfGrid]

Thanks for this. I usually use gadwin