How to capture screenshot on a Dell laptop
In order to capture a full-screen screenshot on a Dell laptop you simply need to press the Windows key and Print Screen key (PrtSc written on the key) at the same time. When both the keys are pressed together the screen will blink and you will know for sure that the screenshot is captured. The screenshot captured is saved already as an image in This PC → Picture → Screenshot. This technique is recommended for Windows version 8, 8.1 and 10
It is the easiest way of capturing a screenshot, but depending on your needs, this way might not be the simplest and quickest way for you to take a screenshot on a Dell laptop. So, in order to know what is the best way for you to capture a screenshot. There are 3 ways for you mentioned below to choose the best screenshot techniques according to your needs:
1. Using Print Screen key:
In case if you want to edit the screenshot then this method is right for you. All you really need to do is press the print screen key and the screenshot of the whole screen is captured. This screenshot is saved in the clipboard and can be edited according to your needs.
2. Using Alt and Print Screen key:
If you need to capture only a certain window then this is the method you are should go for. In this method, you simply need to press the Alt key and the Print Screen key at the same time. This method will allow you to capture the active window only by leaving the background and taskbar too. In this way, you don’t need to spend extra time and effort editing the screenshot. This method is commonly used for step-by-step tutorials. In this method, the screenshot is also saved in the clipboard.
3. Using Snipping Tool or Snip and Sketch:
For this method you need to press Windows + Shift + S keys together at the same time a small menu will appear where you can select the mode and then select the area and capture the screenshot. This screenshot is saved in the clipboard and can be edited according to your needs. After a successful screenshot, a preview will appear on the right lower corner of your screen. There are four modes of the snipping tool to choose from:
| Modes | Working |
|---|---|
| Rectangular | In this mode, you can select a rectangular area on your screen to capture. |
| Free-Form | This mode allows you to select an area of any random shape for a screenshot. |
| Window | Using this mode, you will be able to capture only the active window. |
| Full-screen | By selecting this mode full screen will be captured including the taskbar and background. |
How to edit a screenshot:
- The above-mentioned methods save the screenshot captured in the clipboard.
- Once the screenshot is captured you need to open a photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Paint and paste it using either pressing right click and then paste or simply by pressing Ctrl and V key together at the same time.
- Edit the image according to your need. You may put arrows, annotations, crop the image, etc. Then select the file type and save it to the desired folder.
Some other apps to capture screenshots on Dell Laptop
There are some apps that can be used to capture screenshots on Dell laptops. These apps have a variety of features to work with. Some of the most used apps are mentioned below.
1. Screenshot Captor
• It is one of the most innovative apps to capture a screenshot.
• Using this app, you can choose the zone of the image to be captured, change color, rotate it, or adjust it.
• You can also decide if you want to capture, the active window, full screen, or the rectangular area.
2. Screen Rec
• Screen Rec is a software specially designed to take screenshots.
• It allows you to edit your screenshot.
3. Markup Hero
• Markup Hero is a software tool.
• It is one of the simple applications that assist you to capture screenshots on your dell laptop.
• It also allows you to edit your captured screenshots.
4. ShareX
• It is one of the most used tools.
• It has plenty of editing options available for the captured screenshots.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Where to find a Print Screen key on the keyboard?
You can find the Print Screen key (PrtSc written on the key) on the upper right side of the keyboard.
2. What will be the reason if the Print Screen key is not working?
There are many different causes if your Print Screen key is not working. But it is mostly due to the function key connected to the Print Screen key. If that is the case, you just have to press the function key and the Print Screen key together at the same time.
3. How to capture a screenshot if you don’t have a Print Screen key on your keyboard?
If your keyboard does not have the Print Screen key, you can capture a screenshot simply by pressing the Function key, Windows, and Space bar together at the same time. The screenshot captured will be saved in the clipboard.
4. How to capture a full-screen screenshot on my laptop?
In order to capture a full-screen screenshot, you need to press the Windows key and the Print Screen key at the same time.
5. How to capture an active window screenshot on my laptop?
To capture an active window only you need to press the Alt key and the Print Screen key at the same time.
6. How to use the snipping tool?
You can use the snipping tool by simply pressing Windows + Shift + S keys together at the same time a small menu will appear where you can select the mode and then select the area and capture the screenshot.
7. What are the modes in the snipping tool?
There are four modes in the snipping tool.
- Rectangular: It allows to capture of screenshots of only a certain rectangular area.
- Free-Form: It allows you to capture screenshots of a certain area of any shape.
- Windows: It allows you to capture screenshots of the active window only.
- Full-screen: It allows you to capture screenshots of the whole screen.
8. Where are the images saved that are captured using the snipping tool?
The image captured using the snipping tools is saved in the clipboard.
Conclusion:
- In order to capture a full-screen screenshot, you need to press the Windows key and the Print Screen key at the same time.
- If you want to capture a full-screen screenshot and then edit the screenshot you need to press the Print Screen key and the screenshot of the whole screen is captured.
- If you are required to capture an active window only you need to press the Alt key and the Print Screen key at the same time.
- You can also use the snipping tool to capture screenshots as it allows 4 different modes namely rectangular, free-form, window, and full-screen.
- There are various apps available that are used to capture screenshots. Some of them are Screen Captor, Screen Rec, Markup Hero, ShareX.