How to Customize Screenshot Behavior in Windows 11

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Remap the Print Screen key to open Snipping Tool

   Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I. Navigate to Accessibility and select Keyboard. Locate the toggle labeled Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping and set it to On.

   Note: This overrides the default behavior of capturing the entire screen to the clipboard.
2. 1 min

   Change the default save location

   Open the Snipping Tool app from the Start menu. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner and select Settings. Ensure Automatically save screenshots is toggled On to store files in the Pictures/Screenshots folder by default.

   Note: Disable this if you prefer to manually save each screenshot to a custom location.
3. 1 min

   Enable or disable screenshot outlines

   Within the Snipping Tool settings menu, look for the Add a border to each screenshot section. Toggle the switch to On to apply a colored border, or Off for a clean, edge-to-edge image.

   Note: You can customize the border color and thickness if the feature is active.
4. 1 min

   Manage notification settings

   Navigate to Settings > System > Notifications. Locate Snipping Tool in the list of applications. Toggle the switch to Off if you prefer to capture screenshots silently without a persistent banner notification.

   Note: Leaving this on allows quick access to the image editor immediately after capture.
5. 30 sec

   Test your new configuration

   Press the PrtSc key to trigger the Snipping Tool overlay. Select a capture mode—Rectangle, Window, Fullscreen, or Freeform—to verify the tool responds to your new settings.

   Note: PrtSc