Hey, welcome back to another Windows 10 Shots blog post. I hope you read my last post, Windows 10 Shots – Microsoft Edge Keyboard Shortcuts.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, with most shots, after about a handful, things will start to get a little hazy. But, with Windows 10 Shots (this new series of posts), the hope would be that the opposite would happen. That clarity and insight into the highly anticipated release would free your mind to great new features and power of Windows 10.
I have worked with a lot of Windows users over the years, and one thing I have noticed is that there are users who love to use the mouse and there are users who love to use the keyboard. Sure there are those in the middle, and I actually prefer to use the mouse most of the time, but you have to admit, when you watch someone who has the keyboard down to a science, windows, screens, emails, etc. are flashing all of the screen like a firework show. It can be confusing to those watching, but for the person who has become proficient with the keyboard, productivity is the name of the game.
Use the keyboard shortcut: Windows + PrtScn. If you want to take a screenshot of the whole screen and save it as a file on the hard drive, without using any other tools, then press Windows + PrtScn on your keyboard. So without further delay, let's begin with the simplest way to take a screenshot on Windows 10. Take a Screenshot with a Keyboard Shortcut. The most effortless way to take a screenshot on Windows 10 is through a keyboard shortcut. Just press Windows and 'print screen' keys at once and a screenshot will be taken instantly. Windows key + Print Screen To capture your entire screen and automatically save the screenshot, tap the Windows key + Print Screen key. Your screen will briefly go dim to indicate that you've just.
This is the final post in a series dedicated to those who love to wield the keyboard like a sword and chop up all work or play tasks that dare to stand in their way.
This post will focus on a new feature in Windows 10, Game Bar. While current and future posts will include the following:
- Microsoft Edge (The Windows 10 magical internet surfing application)
- Game Bar
I will attempt to keep this short by explaining as quickly has I can the shortcut we are going to use, what it does and a quick description with an occasional screen shot to drive it home. That being said, the General Window 10 and Microsoft Edge posts will have more content. So, let's get typing …
Game Bar Keyboard Shortcuts
With Windows 10, you can now record games you play and share them with your friends online. Using the Xbox app, you can go back and review recordings, edit them and share them on the Xbox Live network.
Guess what? You can also use the Game bar to record the usage of other applications as well. Pretty slick. Check out the shortcuts to start recording and sharing.
NOTE: In the future, I will do a post on the Windows 10 Xbox app and the Game Bar, but for now, let's just keep to the basics.
Action – Open Game Bar
Shortcut Key – Windows Key + G
Description: If you would like to open the Game Bar for a game, this combination will do it for you. For example, if you were playing the Windows 10 game, Jetpack Joyride, you would see something like this:
From the Game Bar, you can open the Xbox application, record the last 30 seconds, take a screenshot, start recording your game and adjust your settings.
If you start recording from the Game Bar, you will see the following:
The bar will shortly hide itself and you can bring it up again by hitting the shortcut again, Windows Key + G. If you want to stop it, you can hit the stop button on the Game Bar.
If you were to attempt to open the Game Bar on an application that it doesn't recognize as a game, you will get prompted with the following.
If you select yes, it will register it as a game and you will be able to use the game DVR functionality with that application as well.
Action – Record Last 30 Seconds
Shortcut Key – Windows Key + Alt + G
Description: While playing a game, hitting this keyboard sequence, Windows Key + Alt + G, the last 30 seconds of game play will be recorded. You will see a popup on your screen when it has been captured.
NOTE: If there isn't at least 30 seconds to capture, it will only capture the amount available. Notice in the screenshot above, there was only 22 seconds in the game at that point.
Action – Start/Stop Recording
Shortcut Key – Windows Key + Alt + R
Description: If you would like to start recording your game, you can simply press Windows Key + Alt + R. Once you hit this combination, you will see a counter on the top of the screen that looks like this:
This will show you how much you have currently recorded. If you would like to stop recording, just hit the keyboard shortcut again and the counter will go away.
Action – Take a Screenshot
Shortcut Key – Windows Key + Alt + Print Screen
Description: This probably doesn't need much explanation. Hit Windows Key + Alt + Print Screen, and it will take a screenshot of the current games, save it to your Videos/Captures folder and then show you a little notification saying that the screenshot was saved.
Action – Show/Hide Recording Timer
Shortcut Key – Windows Key + Alt + T
Description: If you want to show or hide the recording time to see how much you have recorded up to this point, simply enter the combination Windows Key + Alt + T and you will see the current time recorded in the upper left part of your game.
Xbox Application
So, you might be asking, those who are new to Windows 10, 'Where are my recorded snippets?' Well, that is a great question. By default, your video captures and screenshots will be saved to the following directory:
C:Users[username]VideosCaptures
You can also view your captured videos in your Xbox Application in your Game DVR section.
Summary
So, all you keyboard crazies out there, I hope this post helps you by identifying the some of the keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 that will help you navigate your desktops. This way, you can blaze a path of productivity using the most productive operating system in the world, Windows 10.
Well, that is the end of our Windows 10 Shots Keyboard Shortcuts series. I hope that you enjoyed it and found value in all the quick ways to be productive in Windows 10.
If you liked this post, please share it with others and don't forget to come back for a new feature focused Windows 10 Shot. Because remember, just like drinking, '1 shot', probably won't affect someone, but multiple shots, well that changes everything.
BONUS: If you are a software developer, be on the lookout for a blog post coming soon that will show you how to integrate Cortana into your application.
Some users need to capture software screenshots in Windows 10 to include on websites or in documents. Those users can capture full-screen snapshots by pressing the PrtSc keyboard key. Users can also press the Windows key + PrtSc hotkey to capture and save a full-screen screenshot at the same time.
However, most users probably prefer capturing screenshots with the Snipping Tool. Windows 10's Snipping Tool is a utility that includes four alternative screen capture modes. Open Snipping Tool on Windows 10, it will enable you to capture smaller screenshots with its 'Rectangular Snip' and 'Free-form Snip' options. So, the Snipping Tool is more flexible than the PrtSc key.
Microsoft has added an alternative Snip and Sketch utility to Windows 10. Thus, the big M is seemingly phasing the Snipping Tool out in favor of Snip and Sketch. However, you can still utilize the Snipping Tool Windows 10 if preferred. These are the various ways you can open the Snipping Tool and set up hotkeys and shortcuts for it in Windows 10.
Part 1. How to Open Snipping Tool in Windows 10
1. Open Snipping Tool from Start Menu
Step 1: To open the Snipping Tool in Windows 10 from the Start menu, click the 'Start' button on the far left of the taskbar.
Step 2: Scroll down the Start menu to Windows Accessories.
Step 3: Click Windows Accessories to expand that folder on the Start menu.
Step 4: Then click Snipping Tool to open it.
2. Open Snipping Tool by Searching
Step 1: Press the 'Type here to search' button that's adjacent to the Start menu.
Step 2: Enter 'Snipping Tool'as the search keyword in the text box.
Step 3: Click the Snipping Tool to open that utility.
3. Open Snipping Tool via Run
Step 1: Right-click the 'Start' button, which will open a menu with various shortcuts on it.
Step 2: Select 'Run' to open the window in the shot directly below.
Step 3: Type 'snippingtool' within the Open box.
Step 4: Select the 'OK' option to open the Snipping Tool.
4. Open Snipping Tool via CMD (Command Prompt)
Step 1: Open Windows 10's search box by clicking the 'Type here to search' taskbar button for it.
Step 2: Type'cmd' in the search box.
Step 3: Click Command Prompt to open that command-line utility.
Step 4: Type 'snippingtool.exe'in the Command Prompt.
Step 5: Press the Enter key to open the Snipping Tool.
5. Open Snipping Tool via PowerShell
Step 1: Or you can open the Snipping Tool with PowerShell instead. First, press the Windows key + R hotkey to launch Run.
Step 2: Type 'PowerShell' in Run's text box.
Step 3: Click 'OK' to open PowerShell.
Step 4: Then input 'snippingtool.exe' in PowerShell and press Enter to open the Snipping Tool Windows 10.
Part 2. How to Create Snipping Tool Shortcut on Windows 10
You can also set up a Snipping Tool shortcut Windows 10, which will provide a more direct way to open it. Then you can open that screenshot utility a bit more quickly with its shortcut. This is how you can open Snipping Tool shortcut Windows 10.
Step 1: Right-click the Windows 10 desktop to open its context menu.
Step 2: Select 'New' > 'Shortcut' to open the Create Shortcut window.
Step 3: Next, input'snippingtool.exe'in the text box.
Step 4: Click the 'Next' button.
Step 5: TypeSnipping Tool in the shortcut name text box.
Step 6: Click 'Finish' to add the shortcut.
Step 7: To open Snipping Tool's shortcut in Windows 10, click the Snipping Tool icon on the desktop.
Alternatively, you can pin the Snipping Tool. Pinning the Snipping Tool will add a shortcut for it to the Windows 10 taskbar. Follow the steps below to pin Windows 10's screenshot utility to the taskbar.
Step 1: Press the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Click Windows Accessories on the Start menu.
Step 3: Right-click the Snipping Tool to open its context menu.
Step 4: Select the 'More' option.
Step 5: Click the 'Pin to taskbar' option.
Step 6: Then click the taskbar new Snipping Tool shortcut in Windows 10.
Part 3. How to Create Hotkey for Snipping Tool on Windows 10
A hotkey (keyboard shortcut) for the Snipping Tool would be an even more convenient shortcut. With a Snipping Tool hotkey Windows 10 established, you can press a key combination to open the screen capture utility. This is how you can set up a hotkey to open the snip utility with.
Step 1: Open the Windows 10 Start menu.
Step 2: Click Windows Accessories to expand that folder's apps and accessories.
Step 3: Right-click Snipping Tool to select 'More' on its context menu.
Step 4: Select 'Open file location' to open the Snipping Tool's folder in File Explorer.
Step 5: Right-click Snipping Tools within File Explorer and select 'Properties' to open the window in the shot directly below.
Step 6: Click in the Shortcut key box.
Step 7: Press the S key to give the Snipping Tool a Ctrl + Alt + S hotkey.
Step 8: Press the 'Apply' button.
Step 9: If an Access Denied dialog box window pops up, press the 'Continue' button on it.
Step 10: Select the 'OK' option to exit the window.
Step 11: Then press the Ctrl + Alt + S hotkey to open the Snipping Tool.
Part 4. How to Snip on Windows 10
Step 1: Taking screenshots with the Snipping Tool on Windows 10 is straightforward. First, open the Snipping Tool with any one of the methods above.
Step 2: Click the 'Mode' button to open the drop-down menu in the shot directly below.
Step 3: Select 'Rectangular' or 'Free-form Snip' to capture a smaller screenshot.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Step 4: Click and hold the left mouse button to drag the rectangle across an area you wish to capture with the screenshot. If you selected 'Free-form Snip,' you'll need to hold the left mouse button and move the cursor around an area to include within your snapshot.
Step 5:'Window Snip' is an alternative capture option. Users who select that option will need to left-click a window to include within the screenshot.
Step 6: Let go of the left mouse button to capture the shot. Thereafter, an editing window will display a preview of your screenshot.
Step 7: You can click the 'Pen' button to draw on the shot. Click the small down arrow on the 'Pen' button to choose an alternative type of pen.
Step 8: To add highlights to the shot, select the 'Highlighter' option. Then press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor over a part of the image to highlight.
Step 9: If you need to delete editing, click the 'Eraser' button. Then move cursor over pen or highlight marks to delete and left-click the mouse.
Step 10: To save a snapshot, press the 'Save Snip' button, which has a disk icon.
Screen Capture Keyboard Shortcut Windows 10 Windows 7
Step 11: Select a folder to save your screenshot in.
Step 12: Enter a title for the file in the text box.
Step 13: Choose a file format on the Save as type drop-down menu.
Screen Capture Keyboard Shortcut Windows 10 Shortcut
Step 14: Press the 'Save' button.
Conclusion
That's how you can open, set up shortcuts for, and capture screenshots with Snipping Tool on Windows 10. Although you can now utilize Snip and Sketch for screenshots, that utility isn't much different from the original Snipping Tool. Snip and Sketch has a different UI design, but it doesn't include much in the way of new options. So, you might as well continue utilizing Windows 10's original snip utility, which remains a perfectly sufficient screen capture tool for most users.
