How to Enable Print Screen for Snipping Tool in Windows 11

Written byRichardTech Writer, IT Professional

Nov 11, 2022 Updated Apr 16, 2026 3 min read Reviewed Mar 19, 2026

Windows 11 includes a modern Snipping Tool that replaces the older Snip & Sketch app. While you can normally take a screenshot by pressing the Windows key + Shift + S, this requires three fingers. You can set up your keyboard’s Print Screen (PrtScr) key to open the tool with a single press instead.

Why use the Print Screen key?

Using one key is much faster than remembering a complex shortcut. It makes capturing images of your screen easier and more efficient.

What happens when done?

Once you enable this setting, your computer will launch the screen snipping tool the moment you tap the Print Screen button on your keyboard.

Follow these steps to change your settings:

1. Open the Settings app. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard, or by clicking Start and selecting the Settings icon.

2. Once the Settings window opens, click on Accessibility in the menu on the left side of the screen.

3. On the right side, click the Keyboard tile to see more options.

4. Look for the option labeled “Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.”
5. Click the toggle switch to set it to On. If you ever want to turn this feature off, simply toggle the switch back to Off.

Summary

By changing this setting, you turn your Print Screen key into a dedicated shortcut for the Snipping Tool. This removes the need to press multiple keys at once, helping you capture screenshots quickly. This change is local to your user profile and does not require administrative privileges to modify.

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