Why the Print Screen key stops taking screenshots in Windows 11, and the quick fixes that bring it back.
Quick answer: If Print Screen is not working in Windows 11, check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. When this is on, the key opens the Snipping Tool instead of copying the whole screen. On laptops, try Fn + PrtSc. Also close apps that take over the key, such as OneDrive or other screenshot tools, and use Windows + Shift + S as a backup.
Print Screen often looks broken when it is actually working in a different way. Windows 11 can send the key to the Snipping Tool, copy the image silently to the clipboard, or save it as a file, depending on your settings and apps.
This guide shows you where your screenshots go, how to make the key behave the way you want, and how to fix it when nothing happens at all.
In this article
- Where do Print Screen screenshots go?
- How do you fix Print Screen not working?
- What are the other ways to take a screenshot?
- What are the limits of these fixes?
- Frequently asked questions
- Final thoughts
Where do Print Screen screenshots go?
| Shortcut | What happens | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| PrtSc (setting on) | Opens the Snipping Tool capture bar | Saved in Pictures > Screenshots after you capture, if auto-save is on |
| PrtSc (setting off) | Copies the whole screen | Clipboard only. Paste it with Ctrl + V |
| Windows + PrtSc | Captures the screen and saves a file | Pictures > Screenshots |
| Alt + PrtSc | Copies the active window | Clipboard only |
| Windows + Shift + S | Opens the capture bar to select an area | Clipboard, and Snipping Tool notification |
If you pressed the key and “nothing happened”, open Paint or Word and press Ctrl + V. Your screenshot may be sitting in the clipboard.
How do you fix Print Screen not working?
1. Check the Print Screen setting
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and find Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. Turn it on if you want the Snipping Tool to open. Turn it off if you want the old behaviour, where the key copies the full screen to the clipboard. Restart your PC after changing it if the key does not respond straight away.
Hassan pressed PrtSc and expected to paste the whole screen into an email, but a dimmed capture bar kept appearing. The Snipping Tool setting was on. He turned it off, and the key went back to copying the full screen.
2. Try the Fn key
On many laptops, PrtSc shares a key with another function. Press Fn + PrtSc. Some keyboards also have an F Lock or Fn Lock key that changes how the top row works, so toggle it and try again.
3. Close apps that take over the key
OneDrive, Dropbox, game overlays and other screenshot tools can capture the Print Screen key for themselves. Close them one at a time and test the key. In OneDrive, check its settings for an option to save screenshots to OneDrive and turn it off if you do not want it.
4. Check the Snipping Tool
If the key relies on the Snipping Tool, the app must be working. Open it from Start. If it fails, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Snipping Tool, open Advanced options, and choose Repair or Reset. Also make sure its notifications are allowed, since the capture preview appears as a notification.
5. Turn on Snipping Tool auto-save
Open the Snipping Tool, go to its settings, and check that automatic saving of screenshots is on. Without it, captures may only reach the clipboard, and you might think they disappeared.
6. Update the keyboard driver
Open Device Manager, expand Keyboards, right-click your keyboard and choose Update driver. If other keys also misbehave, see our guide to a laptop keyboard not working.
7. Test another keyboard
Plug in a USB keyboard and press its Print Screen key. If that works, the problem is your laptop keyboard or its driver, not Windows.
8. Install Windows updates
Go to Settings > Windows Update and install pending updates. Screenshot features are updated along with Windows and the Snipping Tool app.
Learn Windows + Shift + S as your backup. It works even when the PrtSc key is broken or missing, and it lets you capture just the part of the screen you need, which makes images smaller and easier to share.
What are the other ways to take a screenshot?
- Windows + Shift + S: Select a rectangle, a window, a free-form area or the full screen.
- Windows + PrtSc: Saves the full screen as a file without any extra steps.
- Snipping Tool app: Open it from Start, and use the delay timer for menus that close when you press a key.
- Xbox Game Bar: Press Windows + G in apps and games, and use the capture button.
Maria’s laptop has no PrtSc key at all. She uses Windows + Shift + S for quick screenshots, and the Snipping Tool with a three-second delay when she needs to capture a dropdown menu.
What are the limits of these fixes?
Some apps block screenshots on purpose, such as streaming services and some banking or work apps, so you may see a black image. That is not a fault. Work computers can also have screenshot tools turned off by an administrator. If only one app gives you a blank capture, this is the likely reason.
Press Windows + PrtSc once and open your Pictures > Screenshots folder. If the file is there, your screenshot system works, and you only need to adjust the Print Screen setting to make the single key do what you expect.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Print Screen button not working?
The key may be set to open the Snipping Tool, it may need the Fn key, or another app may be taking it over. Check the setting in Accessibility, then Keyboard.
Where do Print Screen screenshots go in Windows 11?
A single PrtSc press copies to the clipboard unless the Snipping Tool setting is on. Windows + PrtSc saves a file to Pictures, then Screenshots.
How do I make Print Screen open the Snipping Tool?
Turn on “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture” in Settings, then Accessibility, then Keyboard.
How do I take a screenshot without the Print Screen key?
Use Windows + Shift + S, open the Snipping Tool from Start, or use Windows + G for the Game Bar.
Why are my screenshots black?
Some apps and video services block screen capture. Screenshots of those windows can come out black even when everything else works.
Do I need to press Fn with Print Screen?
On many laptops, yes. Try Fn + PrtSc, or toggle the Fn Lock key.
Final Thoughts
- Check the Print Screen setting first. It changes what the key does.
- Paste with Ctrl + V before assuming the screenshot failed.
- Try Fn + PrtSc on laptops, and close apps that take over the key.
- Use Windows + Shift + S as a reliable backup.
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