For anyone having image (quality) issues, note the Snipping Tool file formats available shown in the “Save your screenshots” image: PNG, GIF and JPG.
PNG is a lossless, uncompressed format and will yield the best quality (and largest file size), GIF format saves a (file-local) color index table for reduced size and even though it’s also “lossless” that makes it suitable for only simple images (and therefore can appear “grainy” when printing photos for example, images with color gradients) and JPG (or JPEG) is a compressed (“lossy”) format, which usually defaults to 90% and depending on the program can be changed (when saving), allowing a selectable trade-off between storage size and image quality.
THANK YOU! for the first intelligible and effective advice I’ve found on the net for W10 issues. You guys really are amazing, as others have said.
Since typing this I lost the text twice now and it hurts like H to type, so please forgive the obvious irritability. Plus, what text does get entered inserts itself wherever it thinks it can cause the most aggravation to extricate and correct–that happens every other sentence, and I hope I can find some help on your site. If anyone knows why this might happen, I’d be very grateful. I can’t complete a single, even short, sentence without looking for where the missing text went.
Previoulys: I had just lost my rather lengthy comments, completely typical of this piece of junk HP Sceptre 360x with Windows 10 .(I purchased it due to its light weight and supposedly competent keyboard due to severely painful shoulder injuries–and, okay, it is beautiful So much for that.) It is virtually unusable as is MS’s site. I don’t know what problems are due to W10 v. the HP v. trying to use Chrome rather than MS’s own inadequate apps. (Like, how did speech-to-text deteriorate into gibberish from its former usable–while no competition to Google’s–self?)
I’m only functional myself for several hours a day now (the damage is described as ‘devastating’ and once orthopedists learned it resulted from their practices they shut down research and discussion, with a few ethical and competent MDs resisting the peer pressure. This is off topic, and I apologize, but it speaks to my level of gratitude for the help that is offered here. For some of us, these problems are not merely inconvenient or time-consuming, as they would have been for me in the past. (Anyway, if anyone wants to know what caused this, I will respond. To everyone else, I do apologize.)
I know this is old’er’ but I am so glad that I found a site that explains how to use the ‘snippy’ tool for a layman to understand. Simply explained and simply understood. Surprisingly, I was able to read only once and understand opposed to having to read instruction over and over and one more time over before finally half understanding. So, THANK YOU. (they say Windows 10 is more user friendly etc etc. Not true. Something easy for one may not be so easy for the next)
Thanks again. I think I’ll ‘snip’ this site when I have more time to explore topics!!
(Jen was on point) Only difference, I never knew about Snip until buying this PC last year and prior to that I NEVER knew how to take a screenshot..I can’t imagine this being much different than the old, but I can’t say for certain. It is difficult no more though. Now I need to figure out what this Edge thing is all about. Seems I’m being forced to create an Outlook acct. My husband bought this thing and left for Singapore a week later. I’ve had to kind of ‘wing it’ for the last 8 months, but by the time he returns I’ll be showing him, the ET (electronic technician) how to navigate.
Great article Ciprian, question, my job has security issues with the snipping tool because it includes the first and last name in the screen shot captured, is there a way to remove this and just show the screen shot? Thanks!
Amazing. Thank you! For some reason the typical way for capturing a screenshot, ALT+PRTSCREEN was NOT working. Very frustrating. I thought I had disabled, well my cats or kids disabled, my keys. Did a search, bammmm…you helped me a tun. I am on Windows 10, everything is different. I love this snipping tool, never knew about it, but I think it is better than the “old way”. I am so happy, I had to send a screenshot for some important business and was getting oh so frustrated.
Snippet is awful. I need to snag drop downs from a menu but when you select the snippet tool the drop downs retract and all you can get is the inactive screen. I can’t belive they put this old technology in there. Snag it would let me capture what I needed. Now I’m stuck with this p.o.s. I can’t do my job now because of the limits of snippet. Just like autodesk. Microsoft is not in touch with the real users.
If you want to capture the menus, start the snipping tool, when the window pops up, press the NEW button, it should now be UNSELECTED. Go to the window you want to capture, display the menu, and then press CTRL+PRINTSCREEN, you will get the crosshair cursor and the menu will remain visible, and you can capture what you want.
How can I discontinue highlighting a snip once I’m done editing. I can’t “put the highlighter away” by clicking back on the icon once I’m done. Or the pen or the eraser.
hi sir really very nice tutorial. the only difficult part was the (include URL below snips (HTML only)) in Options .
I very tried and capture a lot of html webpages ,but unfortunately didn’t understand the concept of it and how it works. thanks in advance.
Now that I have a new printer…HP Officejet Pro 8630, my snips do not print in their entirety. I will take a snip and paste to my Word document as I always did and now only part of the image prints. Is there something I can do in the snip it area or is this a printer setting problem?
How can I use this to snip something on an online site? I have been searching newspapers and my friend can snip out the articles she wants but I can’t get Snip Tool to even appear on the online page. Help
Fairly new to this myself, but can you get the Snip tool to work on this tutorial? I managed to do it just using the instructions above as the tool just copies whatever is behind it. If it works here it should work on any website, though I am happy to be corrected.
The free form snipping tool maintains the square box. So when I insert the snip into Word the text flows around the square. 2 possible solutions…..
1. How do I get snip to save the image with free form border, not the square. Or
2. How do I get Word to flow around the free form snip, not the square
The snipped image looks fine in the Word document I copied it to, but when I print the document the right side of the snip image is cut off. Any thoughts?
C: It’s amazing that Snipping Tool can capture screen in irregular mode. But I have to say its editing options are too limited. I’m using Free Screenshot Capture which allows me to capture screen in rectangular mode but provides more annotating options like texts and blur.
i have seen screen shots on advice sites were the poster has fuzzed out/obliterated something personal eg username /password before posting .how do you do that ?
You need a blur tool for that. Blur is not included in the Snipping Tool. We recommend other tools for more advanced screenshot taking. SnagIt is our favorite and most of our team members use it regularly.
Regardless of file extension used to save “snip” (or Word doct created) when it is printed on inkjet printer the output looks like dot matrix instead of high quality doct. What am i doing wrong ?
My Snipping Tool has become corrupted. I checked the Microsoft website to download a new copy but could not find the tool. Do you have any idea where I can get a replacement ? Free or Paid.
Thanks ,Jeff
39 Responses to “How to use the Snipping Tool for Windows 10 and Windows 7”
For anyone having image (quality) issues, note the Snipping Tool file formats available shown in the “Save your screenshots” image: PNG, GIF and JPG.
PNG is a lossless, uncompressed format and will yield the best quality (and largest file size), GIF format saves a (file-local) color index table for reduced size and even though it’s also “lossless” that makes it suitable for only simple images (and therefore can appear “grainy” when printing photos for example, images with color gradients) and JPG (or JPEG) is a compressed (“lossy”) format, which usually defaults to 90% and depending on the program can be changed (when saving), allowing a selectable trade-off between storage size and image quality.
Hope it helps!..:)
How do you Print what you snipped as in old ‘Snipping Tool’ File>Print?
After you snip an image, in the Snipping Tool editor, go to File -> Print. Also, read this guide for general printing tips on Windows: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/ways-print-any-windows-app-or-program/
Great tutorial, thanks… I am amazed I never knew such a tool existed since windows 7.
THANK YOU! for the first intelligible and effective advice I’ve found on the net for W10 issues. You guys really are amazing, as others have said.
Since typing this I lost the text twice now and it hurts like H to type, so please forgive the obvious irritability. Plus, what text does get entered inserts itself wherever it thinks it can cause the most aggravation to extricate and correct–that happens every other sentence, and I hope I can find some help on your site. If anyone knows why this might happen, I’d be very grateful. I can’t complete a single, even short, sentence without looking for where the missing text went.
Previoulys: I had just lost my rather lengthy comments, completely typical of this piece of junk HP Sceptre 360x with Windows 10 .(I purchased it due to its light weight and supposedly competent keyboard due to severely painful shoulder injuries–and, okay, it is beautiful So much for that.) It is virtually unusable as is MS’s site. I don’t know what problems are due to W10 v. the HP v. trying to use Chrome rather than MS’s own inadequate apps. (Like, how did speech-to-text deteriorate into gibberish from its former usable–while no competition to Google’s–self?)
I’m only functional myself for several hours a day now (the damage is described as ‘devastating’ and once orthopedists learned it resulted from their practices they shut down research and discussion, with a few ethical and competent MDs resisting the peer pressure. This is off topic, and I apologize, but it speaks to my level of gratitude for the help that is offered here. For some of us, these problems are not merely inconvenient or time-consuming, as they would have been for me in the past. (Anyway, if anyone wants to know what caused this, I will respond. To everyone else, I do apologize.)
I know this is old’er’ but I am so glad that I found a site that explains how to use the ‘snippy’ tool for a layman to understand. Simply explained and simply understood. Surprisingly, I was able to read only once and understand opposed to having to read instruction over and over and one more time over before finally half understanding. So, THANK YOU. (they say Windows 10 is more user friendly etc etc. Not true. Something easy for one may not be so easy for the next)
Thanks again. I think I’ll ‘snip’ this site when I have more time to explore topics!!
(Jen was on point) Only difference, I never knew about Snip until buying this PC last year and prior to that I NEVER knew how to take a screenshot..I can’t imagine this being much different than the old, but I can’t say for certain. It is difficult no more though. Now I need to figure out what this Edge thing is all about. Seems I’m being forced to create an Outlook acct. My husband bought this thing and left for Singapore a week later. I’ve had to kind of ‘wing it’ for the last 8 months, but by the time he returns I’ll be showing him, the ET (electronic technician) how to navigate.
Great article Ciprian, question, my job has security issues with the snipping tool because it includes the first and last name in the screen shot captured, is there a way to remove this and just show the screen shot? Thanks!
I have windows 7, but installed Windows 10. Can print using snipping tool, but need a way to control print size or fit to an 8 1/2 x 11 page
Amazing. Thank you! For some reason the typical way for capturing a screenshot, ALT+PRTSCREEN was NOT working. Very frustrating. I thought I had disabled, well my cats or kids disabled, my keys. Did a search, bammmm…you helped me a tun. I am on Windows 10, everything is different. I love this snipping tool, never knew about it, but I think it is better than the “old way”. I am so happy, I had to send a screenshot for some important business and was getting oh so frustrated.
Simple and easy!
Thanks!!!
I wish to use snipping tool for Windows 10.Is possible?
Yes it is. Search for it in the search box and you will find it.
How do I take a snip of the screen in full screen mode
Snippet is awful. I need to snag drop downs from a menu but when you select the snippet tool the drop downs retract and all you can get is the inactive screen. I can’t belive they put this old technology in there. Snag it would let me capture what I needed. Now I’m stuck with this p.o.s. I can’t do my job now because of the limits of snippet. Just like autodesk. Microsoft is not in touch with the real users.
If you want to capture the menus, start the snipping tool, when the window pops up, press the NEW button, it should now be UNSELECTED. Go to the window you want to capture, display the menu, and then press CTRL+PRINTSCREEN, you will get the crosshair cursor and the menu will remain visible, and you can capture what you want.
Thanks. This is a huge help.
How can I discontinue highlighting a snip once I’m done editing. I can’t “put the highlighter away” by clicking back on the icon once I’m done. Or the pen or the eraser.
hi sir really very nice tutorial. the only difficult part was the (include URL below snips (HTML only)) in Options .
I very tried and capture a lot of html webpages ,but unfortunately didn’t understand the concept of it and how it works. thanks in advance.
I want to snip an image on website and enlarge it. How can I do that?
Now that I have a new printer…HP Officejet Pro 8630, my snips do not print in their entirety. I will take a snip and paste to my Word document as I always did and now only part of the image prints. Is there something I can do in the snip it area or is this a printer setting problem?
I use snipping tool at work all the time–win 8
At home, it is there under accessories, but does not open or work–win 7 at home.
What can I do to get it to work at home?
In my keyboard print screen do not work. i was looking for an alternative option and found it here. really helpful… i didn’t know about this
Thank you so much! I have been so used to PrtScn & used it a lot, & it has become very difficult. This is a life-saver!
(From a Senior not up to date) Slick way of including your adds. I appreciate it)
How can I use this to snip something on an online site? I have been searching newspapers and my friend can snip out the articles she wants but I can’t get Snip Tool to even appear on the online page. Help
Fairly new to this myself, but can you get the Snip tool to work on this tutorial? I managed to do it just using the instructions above as the tool just copies whatever is behind it. If it works here it should work on any website, though I am happy to be corrected.
The free form snipping tool maintains the square box. So when I insert the snip into Word the text flows around the square. 2 possible solutions…..
1. How do I get snip to save the image with free form border, not the square. Or
2. How do I get Word to flow around the free form snip, not the square
The snipped image looks fine in the Word document I copied it to, but when I print the document the right side of the snip image is cut off. Any thoughts?
I have similar problem in that right side and bottom are cut off. what corrects this problem?
Is there a program to allow me to type over a screen snip?
C: It’s amazing that Snipping Tool can capture screen in irregular mode. But I have to say its editing options are too limited. I’m using Free Screenshot Capture which allows me to capture screen in rectangular mode but provides more annotating options like texts and blur.
i have seen screen shots on advice sites were the poster has fuzzed out/obliterated something personal eg username /password before posting .how do you do that ?
You need a blur tool for that. Blur is not included in the Snipping Tool. We recommend other tools for more advanced screenshot taking. SnagIt is our favorite and most of our team members use it regularly.
wow , that was quick , many thanks and will try it
Regardless of file extension used to save “snip” (or Word doct created) when it is printed on inkjet printer the output looks like dot matrix instead of high quality doct. What am i doing wrong ?
When I use the snipping tool with Win 8 or 8.1 it takes me to my desktop. So how do I take a snip od my start screen????
That is an unfortunate bug in the Snipping Tool. Try these other methods:
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/screenshot-windows/
My Snipping Tool has become corrupted. I checked the Microsoft website to download a new copy but could not find the tool. Do you have any idea where I can get a replacement ? Free or Paid.
Thanks ,Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Try looking at this video to see if it helps you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM2Fm0vSDhU
When I use the snipping tool in Win.7 the print quality is faint. Printer checks out OK. Any suggestions? Thank you, Larry
Excellent share!!!