I cannot screenshot using Windows 10

Question

When I was using Windows 8, I used Win + PrtSc to quickly screenshot and save in my screenshot folder, but now in Windows 10 when I press the combination the screenshot doesn't save.

I have checked my clipboard and nothing. I have also tried just PrtSc and it didn't or copy to my clipboard. I can use Snipping Tool, but that is difficult because some of the things I try to screenshot disappear when you click off of it (like context menus and stuff). I have also gone through multiple tutorials on how to fix it through the Registry Editor, but they never work since my registry seems fine. Is there any reason Windows 10 won't let me screenshot?

Answer 1

Check in sub-folders of "Pictures".

I found my "Screenshots" folder inside a sub-folder.

Another idea: right click in the screenshots folder you said you have (From Windows 8) and click properties. If you see a tab called "Location" - that means that that is your screenshots folder now as well. You can change it or "restore default". Maybe that will fix it.

And yet another possible problem: Some computers have two modes for their function keys - one when the fn key is pressed, and one for when it's not pressed. You can try pressing Win + fn + PrtSc and see if that works. (And of course rebooting solves some problem too.)

For anybody looking for a solution for this - Changing the Location of the folder was the solution as the OP mentioned in the comments.

Answer 2

Is there any reason Windows 10 won't let me screenshot?

It depends on the version of Windows 10 you are running. After the Creators Update, Windows allows us to use Windows + Shift + S keystroke to take a screenshot of a selected part of the screen.

This is my favorite method as I can select the portion I want. It does not require any image editing tool to crop/resize the screenshot after capture.

If you are on a laptop or your keyboard has different layout, with the Fn key, then you should press Fn + Windows + Shift + S.

Where are all the screenshot stored?

By default, all captured screenshot are stored in the Pictures → Screenshots folder.

Is there any reason Windows 10 won't let me screenshot?

If you have installed a third-party software to help you take screenshots, this software may take over the Print Screen key that makes the default screen capture function of Windows doesn't work as expected.

Windows has redesigned the Snip & Sketch tool and make it more effective to capture screenshot. In fact, it gradually replaced Snipping Tool and the default screenshot function of Windows.

How to restore the default location of the Screenshots folder?

Access the Properties of the current screenshot folder, navigate to the the Location tab and click on the the Restore Default button. By doing this, the location of where your screenshots store will be restored to the default, which is Pictures → Screenshots. I have got a few issues when capturing screenshots on Windows and use this to get rid of it.

If the issue persists, I would recommend upgrading your Windows 10 to the latest version and try out the Windows + Shift + S keystroke.

Source: How To Take A Screenshot On Windows 10 Computer

Answer 3

I also lost the screenshots folder under the 'Pictures' folder in Windows 10 Home. This issue is found when I check the registry settings.

During when I lost the folder, I opened the registry by typing "regedt32.exe" and search for:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Now after clicking on user shell folders, see the right side panel, where it shows under the name {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} under data %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Screenshots

Note: if the data value is this then it means you have a screenshots folder, but when the screenshots folder is missing, the reason may be sometimes when we save over screenshots to an external hard drive then we cut the original screenshots folder under the 'Pictures' folder.

Note: when you do this mistake, after that, if checking your registry, check it under the name {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} under data.

Note: this time under data: {here the path will show where you save the 'Screenshots' folder}.

Note: if you want everything back to normal then you just have to find you folder where you have saved then cut and past it to its actual location under the 'Pictures' folder.

Then everything gets back to normal and your data: here is the actual path that will be shown of your screenshots, like this: "%USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Screenshots"

Answer 4

I had this same issue on my Surface Pro 2, and brought it to a Microsoft Store to have them look at. I'm not sure what they did (and they didn't seem to, either), but while they were poking around it, the screenshots started saving in the Pictures\Screenshots folder again.

My guess is that the process of installing Windows 10 had reset the index of which screenshot it was on, and since there was already one (or many) with the same name ("Screenshot #.png") in the folder, it opted to not save rather than overwrite or increment its index. Unfortunately, I can't validate this guess since the problem doesn't occur on my machine, anymore. Perhaps you could look into changing the registry value for ScreenshotIndex in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Try setting it higher than the highest numbered screenshot in your Pictures\Screenshots folder.

Answer 5

I use a free third-party called GreenShot that will offer several options when it comes to taking screenshots via the PrintScreen key (customizable).

Free, as in free beer. And very convenient.