How to use the Snipping Tool
Instructions for using the free Snipping Tool included in Windows.
HOW TO USE THE SNIPPING TOOL TO CAPTURE PART OF YOUR SCREEN.
One of the features introduced starting with Windows Vista is the Snipping Tool. This free tool allows you to capture all or part of a screen or window on your machine. This tool is very useful for reporting issues to the helpdesk, particularly if the error you're having is difficult to describe or is a lengthy error message.
While you can just use the Print Screen button (usually called PrtScn on your keyboard), this will capture your entire desktop, and in most cases means we won't be able to read anything on the screen. For example, if I use Print Screen on a machine with two monitors and paste the result into a Word document (which is a common way users have sent screenshots), this is what it looks like:
Pretty hard to read that error message in the middle of the right screen. However, using the Snipping Tool, I can capture just that error box:
Using the Snipping Tool is very simple:
- Click on the start button/Windows logo on your task bar (or the copper square icon in Virtual Desktop).
- Type the word snip in the search box and you'll see the Snipping Tool show up.
- Click the tool to start it.
- Once the Snipping Tool launches, click New to start a new snip.
- You'll see all your screens wash out in white. Just click and drag over the portion of your screen you want to snip.
- When you release the mouse button you'll see the screen portion you highlighted show up in the Snipping Tool window. The snip is also automatically copied to your clipboard.
You can now compose an email and paste the snip into the body of the email. You can also go to File (or click on the purple floppy disk icon in the toolbar) and save the snip as a file somewhere and attach it to an email at a later time.
As with other programs, you can pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar or your start menu for quick access in the future.