Screen capturing has transformed from a simple screenshot functionality to an interactive experience over the years. Introduced in Windows 10, the Screen Snip feature revolutionized the way users capture and share their screens. Whether it’s a rectangular section, a freeform snippet, or the entire screen, this tool allows quick snipping and directly sends the screenshot to your clipboard. But the features don’t end there. After snipping, a notification guides users to the Screen Sketch app, where the snip can be annotated and shared with ease.
Fast forward to Windows 11, the screenshot saga continues with a reimagined and more integrated experience. The operating system introduces the built-in app “Snip & Sketch,” allowing users to effortlessly capture and annotate their screens using touch, pen, or a simple mouse click. Aptly termed “Screen snipping,” this feature can be swiftly accessed using the “Print Screen” key. However, it’s essential to note that by default, the “Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping” option remains disabled in Windows 11. Thus, whenever the “Prt Scrn” key is pressed, the screenshot is directed to the clipboard. From there, it can be seamlessly pasted into numerous compatible applications, be it Microsoft Word, Paint, or any other platform. For those who wish to streamline their screen capturing process on Windows 11, this risewindows guide will walk you through the steps to enable or disable the print screen key for accessing the Screen Snipping feature. Dive in and master the art of efficient screen capturing on Windows 11.
How to Enable or Disable Print Screen Key to Open Screen Snipping in Windows 11 Settings?
To turn on or off the use of the Print Screen key to launch screen snipping in Windows 11 Settings, follow these steps:-
Step 1. First, open the Settings app.
For that, you can use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
Step 2. Now, select Accessibility on the left sidebar.
Step 3. Then, click on the Keyboard option on the right sidebar.
Step 4. On the following page, turn On or Off the “Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping” under the “On-screen keyboard, access keys, and Print screen” section to enable or disble this feature.
Step 5. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.
How to Turn On or Off Print Screen Key to Launch Screen Snipping in Windows 11 Registry Editor?
To enable or disable the use of the Print Screen key to launch screen snipping in Windows 11 Settings, do these steps:-
Step 1. First, open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Now, in the left sidebar, select the following key:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard
Step 3. Then, double-click PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled REG_DWORD on the right sidebar to edit its value data.
Step 4. After that, in the “Value data” field, enter the following:-
- 0 = To disable the Use Print screen key to open screen snipping.
- 1 = To enable the Use Print screen key to open screen snipping.
Step 5. Finally, click the OK button.
Step 6. Reboot your computer to apply the changes.
Conclusion
Screen capturing tools have evolved significantly with the progression of Windows versions. Windows 11 introduces enhanced capabilities with its “Snip & Sketch” app, which streamlines the screenshot process. By default, the print screen button doesn’t launch the screen snipping tool, but with the steps provided above, users can easily enable or disable this feature through both Windows Settings and the Registry Editor. With these functionalities at hand, users can capture, annotate, and share their screens more efficiently than ever before on Windows 11.
