Copy the window or screen contents

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When you're using a Microsoft 365 program with Windows, there are two ways to copy the contents of what you see on your screen (commonly referred to as a "screenshot" or "screen capture"). You can use the Snipping Tool or the PRINT SCREEN key.

Use the Snipping Tool

The Windows Snipping Tool captures all or part of your PC screen. After you capture a snip, it's automatically copied to the Snipping Tool window. From there you can edit, save, or share the snip.

Snipping tool screen-capture options: rectangular mode, free-form mode, window mode, and full-screen mode.

  1. Set up your screen so you can clearly see what you want to capture.
  2. Press Windows logo key+Shift+S. The desktop darkens so you can select an area for your screenshot.
  3. On the mini toolbar that appears, select the snipping mode you want: rectangular mode , free-form mode , window mode , or full-screen mode :

Use the PRINT SCREEN key

Pressing PRINT SCREEN captures an image of your entire screen and copies it to the Clipboard in your computer's memory. You can then paste (CTRL+V) the image into a document, email message, or other file.

Where is the PRINT SCREEN button?

The PRINT SCREEN key is usually located in the upper right corner of your keyboard. The key looks similar to the following:

The text you see on your keyboard might be PrtSc, PrtScn, or PrntScrn. The other text on the Print Screen key is usually SysRq.

Copy only the image of the active window

The active window is the window that you are currently working in. Only one window can be active at a time.

  1. Click the window that you want to copy.
  2. Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN.
  3. Paste (CTRL+V) the image into an Office program or other application.

Copy the entire image on the screen

  1. Open everything you want to copy and position it the way you want.
  2. Press PRINT SCREEN.
  3. Paste (CTRL+V) the image into an Office program or other application.

Modify the image