2 Ways to Take a Screenshot on a Dell

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Capture the screen on any Dell desktop or laptop computer
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Most Dell computers have a Print Screen key on the keyboard that allows you to capture whatever is on your screen and save it to your clipboard. However, capturing a screenshot varies a lot from one model of Dell to another. The Windows operating system you’re using can also make a difference in how you make a screen capture. In this article, we’ll talk you through the keyboard shortcuts that work on most Dell desktop and laptop computers, as well as how to use the Windows Snipping Tool to take a screenshot.

Things You Should Know

  • On most Dells, the Print Screen key is located at the top of the keyboard on the right side. Sometimes it’s one of the Function keys.
  • The keyboard shortcut to take a screenshot varies depending on your model, Windows version, and type of screenshot.
  • You can also take screen captures using the built-in Windows Snipping Tool on any Dell.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Print Screen Key

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  1. The Print Screen key allows you to take a screenshot quickly and easily on a Dell. On most Dell keyboards, this key is located in the top row of keys at the right, close to the Del key. [1]
    • On some Dell keyboards, the Print Screen key may also be one of the Function keys (e.g., F10 ).
    • The Print Screen key may be labeled with a variety of different abbreviations, such as PrtScn , PrntScrn , or PrtSc .
    • If Print Screen shares the same key as F10, you'll usually have to hold down the Fn key any time you use the Print Screen key.
  2. Different keyboard shortcuts take different types of screenshots on a Dell, and the combination you need to use may vary from one model of Dell to another. To capture everything that’s on your screen in one shot, use the combination ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr . [2]
    • If you’re using a Dell tablet, press the Windows logo button and the volume down button at the same time to capture your whole screen.
    • The shortcut ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr may capture just a single window instead of the whole screen on some Dells. [3]
    • If Print Screen shares the same key as F10, the keyboard shortcut will be Fn + ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr
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  3. On some Dells, you can use the ⎙ PrtScr button by itself to capture just the windows that are currently open, without capturing the background, taskbar, or other extraneous elements. [4]
    • On other models, doing this may take a picture of the entire screen.
    • If Print Screen shares the same key as F10, the keyboard shortcut will be Fn + ⎙ PrtScr
  4. If you just want to capture one window, click or tap on the window and then hold down Alt + ⎙ PrtScr . This will capture the active window without including anything else that is on the screen.
    • Some Dells use the combination ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr or Fn + ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr to capture a single window. [5]
    • If Print Screen shares the same key as F10, the keyboard shortcut will be Fn + Alt + ⎙ PrtScr
  5. Typically, when you take a screenshot on a Dell, the image will be stored in your clipboard instead of directly saved as an image file. To access the screenshot, open an image editing app, such as Microsoft Paint , and paste the screenshot into a new image window using Ctrl + V . [6]
    • When you take a screenshot on a Dell tablet, it is automatically saved to your Pictures folder.
    • In some versions of Windows, the ⊞ Win + ⎙ PrtScr combination saves screenshots as image files instead of saving them to the clipboard. To find them, open File Explorer , navigate to Pictures , and open Screenshots . [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Snipping Tool

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  1. The Snipping Tool allows you to select just a portion of your screen to capture. To open it, click on
    Windows Start
    Start and type snipping tool into the search box, then click on Snipping Tool in the search results. [8]
    • In Windows 10 and 11, you can launch the snipping tool by holding down ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + s .
    • In Windows 8, swipe in from the right side of the screen and select Search from the menu, then type snipping tool into the search box to find the tool.
  2. The Snipping Tool allows you to take a variety of types of screenshots. To choose which kind you want, click or tap the Mode menu on the Snipping Tool toolbar. You can also choose a mode by pressing Alt + m . Select one of the following modes: [9]
    • Free-form Snip lets create a selection in any shape using a drawing tool, and will create a screenshot from your selection.
    • Rectangular Snip lets you take a screenshot from a rectangular selection.
    • Window Snip captures a selected window.
    • Full-screen Snip captures the entire screen.
  3. Once you’ve taken your screenshot, click the Save Snip button. Use the Save As box to name your snip, select your preferred file type, and choose a location for the saved screenshot. [10]
    • You can also share a snip by clicking the arrow next to the Send Snip button, then selecting a sharing option.
    • If you save a capture of a browser window as an HTML file, the URL will be displayed at the bottom of the screenshot. To prevent this from happening, click the Options button and uncheck Include URL below snips (HTML only) , then click OK .
  4. In addition to taking basic screenshots, you can also use the Pen and Highlighter buttons to draw on your snip or highlight parts of it. To do other types of edits (such as cropping, rotating, or resizing your screenshot), click Edit with your screenshot open and then select Edit with Paint 3D . [11]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I take a screenshot on a Dell tablet?
    Community Answer
    You press the Windows button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
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  • Question
    How do I use the blue signs on my Dell laptop keypad?
    Community Answer
    Hold FN and then use them. This should activate the "function" keys. The FN button should be blue for this to work.
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      • The correct keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot varies a lot from one Dell to another. If you’re not sure which method to use, check the user manual that came with your computer.
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      • As of August 2022, the Snipping Tool is only available in Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000147539/how-to-use-the-print-screen-key-in-microsoft-windows-operating-systems
      2. ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000147539/how-to-use-the-print-screen-key-in-microsoft-windows-operating-systems
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/xzH1JCY-ISk?t=40
      4. ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000147539/how-to-use-the-print-screen-key-in-microsoft-windows-operating-systems
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/xzH1JCY-ISk?t=40
      6. ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000147539/how-to-use-the-print-screen-key-in-microsoft-windows-operating-systems
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcut-for-print-screen-601210c0-b3a9-7b58-bc40-bae4dcf5f108
      8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-snipping-tool-and-take-a-screenshot-a35ac9ff-4a58-24c9-3253-f12bac9f9d44
      9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-snipping-tool-and-take-a-screenshot-a35ac9ff-4a58-24c9-3253-f12bac9f9d44
      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots-00246869-1843-655f-f220-97299b865f6b
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots-00246869-1843-655f-f220-97299b865f6b

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