Snipping Tool
How Windows Snipping Tool works, snip types explained, and how it compares to third-party screenshot tools.
Snipping Tool is the screenshot app built into Microsoft Windows. It captures all or part of the screen, copies the result to the clipboard, and opens it in a small editor for markup, cropping and saving. The keyboard shortcut Windows logo key+Shift+S opens its capture bar from anywhere.
Snipping Tool has shipped with Windows since Windows Vista. Windows 10 introduced a separate app called Snip & Sketch, and Windows 11 merged the two into a redesigned Snipping Tool. Features differ between Windows versions and app updates, so the options on a given PC may vary. Snipping Tool is not available on macOS; Macs use the Shift+Command+5 toolbar instead.
What Snipping Tool offers
- Capture modes for areas, windows and full screens.
- A delay before capture.
- Automatic copy to the clipboard.
- Basic markup with pens and a highlighter, plus cropping.
- Save as PNG, JPG or GIF.
- In recent Windows 11 versions, screen recording and text actions.
Snip types
| Type | Captures |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | An area you drag |
| Freeform | Any shape you draw |
| Window | One app window |
| Full screen | The whole screen |
Snipping Tool vs Snip & Sketch vs third-party tools
Snip & Sketch was the Windows 10 replacement with a newer editor; on Windows 11 its features are part of Snipping Tool. Both cover single captures well. Third-party tools add scrolling capture, automated or interval capture, richer annotation, templates and export to PDF or video.
Common mistakes
- Capturing and closing the notification without saving, so the image exists only on the clipboard.
- Using freeform snips for documentation, which produces uneven edges.
- Expecting a scrolling or multi-page capture.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
On a Mac, Temposhot Auto Capture takes a screenshot at each interval, sends an optional key and stops after a set count, duration or end time. See screenshot automation on Mac.
Common questions
What is the Mac version of Snipping Tool?
The built-in screenshot toolbar opened with Shift+Command+5. It captures the screen, a window or an area, and records video.
Where does Snipping Tool save screenshots?
It copies them to the clipboard. Depending on the version and settings, it can also save them automatically to the Screenshots folder.
Sources
Related resources
- Navigation and shortcuts: Temposhot shortcuts on Mac.
- Screenshot annotation tool: mark up an image in the browser.
- Capture sources: screens, windows and custom areas.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- Print ScreenHow the Print Screen key works on Windows, its variations, and when to use dedicated screenshot tools instead.
- Screenshot ShortcutCommon screenshot keyboard shortcuts across platforms and how to customize them.
- Screenshot AnnotationAn annotated screenshot uses arrows, labels, boxes, highlights, or blur to show what matters. Compare common markup types and the mistakes to avoid.
- Area ScreenshotWhat an area screenshot is, how to select a custom region, and when to use one instead of full-screen capture.
- Screen CaptureWhat screen capture means, the different capture methods, and how to choose the right one.