Windows' screenshot tool starts from one famous chord — Win + Shift + S — and the Snipping Tool app adds its own keys for new snips, saving, markup and delayed captures. This list of Snipping Tool keyboard shortcut keys (Windows 11, including the classic Snip & Sketch heritage) explains capture and editing shortcuts in plain words.
Capture Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Win + Shift + S | Open the snipping overlay (choose rectangle, window, full-screen or freeform) |
| Win + Shift + R | Open the screen recording overlay (Windows 11 Snipping Tool recorder) |
| Print Screen (PrtSc) | Copy the whole screen (or open Snipping Tool if you set it in Accessibility settings) |
| Shift + Arrow keys (while selecting) | Move the selection cursor precisely to draw the snip area |
| Alt + M (in the app) | Choose a snipping mode |
| Alt + N (in the app) | Create a new snip in the same mode as the last one |
| Ctrl + N (in the app) | Start a new snip |
| Alt + D (in the app) | Delay the snip (choose 3, 5 or 10 seconds in the new app) |
| Esc | Cancel the current snip selection |
Editing and Saving Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + S | Save the snip |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the snip to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + P | Print the snip |
| Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y | Undo / redo your pen and highlighter markup |
| Ctrl + mouse wheel (in the app) | Zoom in/out of the snip while editing |
| Ctrl + A (in the text-actions view) | Select all recognized text (Windows 11 text actions) |
| Alt (in the app window) | Show the ribbon keytips for every tool and button |
| Tab / Shift + Tab | Move between the toolbar tools (pen, highlighter, ruler, crop…) |
| Alt + F4 | Close the Snipping Tool window |
Tips for Snipping Tool Users
Win + Shift + S puts the screenshot on your clipboard immediately — paste it anywhere with Ctrl + V, or click the notification to open the editor for markup and saving. Use the delay (Alt + D) when you need to capture a menu or hover state that disappears. In Windows 11, the same tool records video: Win + Shift + R starts a screen recording instead of a still snip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to open the Snipping Tool?
Press Win + Shift + S — the capture overlay opens on any screen, in any app.
How do I save a snip with the keyboard?
After editing, press Ctrl + S. Ctrl + C copies the snip to the clipboard without saving a file.
How do I record the screen with Snipping Tool?
Press Win + Shift + R (Windows 11), drag the area, and click Start — the recording saves as an MP4.
How do I capture a menu that disappears when I click?
Open Snipping Tool, set a delay with Alt + D (3–10 seconds), start the snip, then open your menu before the timer fires.
By Umar Farooq, Tech Know.
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