The keyboard shortcut for PrintScreen without using the Printscreen button can be a lifesaver if you don’t have or can’t use that button for some reason.
You surely know what is the printscreen key, and the days when you had to necessarily use it along with the Paint application to take a screenshot and save it are gone.
If you are willing to learn some new alternatives, you will never get back to the slow old approach again.
Throughout this article, we’ll show you some ways you can screenshot without the Print Screen (PrtSrc) button.
Table of Contents
- The keyboard shortcut for PrintScreen without using the Printscreen button
- Taking screenshots with devices without the Print Screen key
- Wrap Up
Indeed, apart from the slow speed of saving your print screen, there are several other reasons for taking a screenshot without using the keyboard button.
And some computer keyboards don’t even come with a Print Screen button anymore.
Furthermore, many devices without the traditional QWERTY keys have been churned out of the technology conveyor belt. Devices such as Pro Tab, from Microsoft, may not give you the traditional shortcut approaches.
So here are some options for your cards.
The keyboard shortcut for PrintScreen without using the Printscreen button
Make use of the Snipping Tool
If you are using earlier versions of Windows such as Windows 7, the Snipping Tool is handy. It is an app you can use to take a screenshot of the whole screen or just to capture a portion of it and save it as an image file. It is faster and offers the user more flexibility regarding the sections you want to capture.
You can size and resize as your needs demand. The Snipping Tool on Windows 7 and 8 can be accessed by going to the Start Menu and searching for it inside Windows Accessories. The tool allows you to take screenshots of fixed shapes and also in free form: something that the Print Screen option does not offer.
Using the Snipping Tool is much faster than pasting images into the Paint program or another image editing software. You can pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar for easy access whenever you need it. In newer versions of Windows 10, you will also find Snip and Sketch.
It is an advanced version of the Snipping Tool and allows you a few more functions, including marking points on your image. You can also press the combination of Win+Shift+S to access the tool from any working window.
WINDOWS+SHIFT+S
This hotkey combination is available for Windows 10 users. When you press the mentioned keys, the screen will usually dim first, and a cursor is displayed. The cursor allows you to mark the boundaries of your intended screenshot. At the top of the screen, you get a bunch of different available options.
Right-clicking the mouse, you can draw the boundaries of the image you want to capture. Release it when you are done. If you are on a touch screen device, you can do the same drawing using the tip of your finger. Open any app that can process images and paste the caption there. Windows 10 comes with this robust tool built-in.
Use a third-party screenshot app
Although Windows comes with several screenshot options by default, you could find third-party screenshot apps more versatile and useful to your work. Most third-party tools provide users with a lot of flexibility and adaptability.
You will enjoy greater control with an abundant bunch of functions. Those tools allow you to take images of a wide range of sizes and shapes. The most impressive aspect of third-party screenshot tools is that they allow you to expand your editing capabilities.
You can play around with your image as much as you wish and even change its basic form. Some third-party apps also allow you to modify and set your shortcut keys to access a variety of features. In addition, many third-party tools allow you to edit, add arrows, color or erase parts of the captured image.
Remapping the PrtScr key
This approach does not practically change much in terms of the convenience of using the Print Screen and Paint to capture and save a screenshot. It is more of a preference matter than functionality.
Windows allows you to remap the key you would like to use instead of the default one, for instance, if the Print Screen button not working or not present.
Taking screenshots with devices without the Print Screen key
In a Microsoft Pro Tab with Windows 10
For devices such as the Pro Tab from Microsoft, with Windows 10, the manufacturer has provided the following shortcuts for taking screenshots in an easier way:
- Spacebar+fn: This combination takes a screenshot of the screen you are on and saves it on the clipboard. With the Pro Tab device, you are allowed to paste your image on a wide range of applications capable of processing images and text. The key combination is equivalent to the traditional Print Screen button.
- Fn+Alt+Spacebar: This keyboard shortcut takes a screenshot of the active window. It is then saved on the clipboard and ready for pasting on any relevant application.
With other Windows tablets
On devices such as HP ENVY, Microsoft Surface, Windows Tablet, and Lenovo, press the Windows sign and the volume-down button to capture the screen.
Wrap Up
If you have been wondering how to take a screenshot without the PrintScreen button, from the reading of this article, you found some answers already.
With the options provided, you could save yourself a few more minutes in taking screenshots and accomplishing your tasks.
While using the Print Screen button and Paint remains the default way to take and save screenshots, you have now better and more time-efficient alternatives.
It is also evident that third-party screenshot apps provide more flexibility in editing and managing your screenshot, giving you more control to tell your story in a focused way.
The method you use to capture screenshots should be compatible with what you intend to do with those captures.
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