In this guide, we explain what the Snipping tool is. We show you where you can find it and provide instructions on how to use the snipping tool. Including its history, functions and provide some possible replacements you may consider.
What is the Snipping tool?
Microsoft’s Snipping tool is a utility which can be used to capture images from the screen and save them to your computer. We refer to the images as ‘snips’. The tool has a number of capturing or copying options which make it a good alternative to the old fashion Print Screen button on the keyboard.
How to use the Snipping Tool
- Press the Windows key to activate the text box on the taskbar.
- Type Snipping tool into the text box on the taskbar
- Press Enter or select the Snipping tool from the list as shown below.
- The tool will open as shown below.
Functions
- The free-form snip – Enables you to custom draw around the object you require.
- The rectangle snip – Enables you to neatly drag a rectangle or square shape around the object.
- The window snip – This enables you to take a perfect copy of an open window ( for example the taskbar, an alert box, system properties, etc.)
- The full-screen snip – This will take a full copy of everything on the screen(s). Screenshot.
How to take a free-form snip
- Press the Windows key to activate the text box on the taskbar.
- Type Snipping tool into the text box on the taskbar
- Press Enter or select the Snipping tool from the list as shown below.
- The tool will open as shown below.
- Click Mode and then from the drop-down menu select Free-form Snip as shown below.
- If it is the first snip the screen will mist over, if not you will need to click New.
- Click and hold the left mouse button, without releasing draw around the object.
- Release button when done.
How to take a rectangle snip
- Press the Windows key to activate the text box on the taskbar.
- Type Snipping tool into the text box on the taskbar
- Press Enter or select the Snipping tool from the list as shown below.
- The tool will open as shown below.
- Click Mode and then from the drop-down menu select rectangle snip as shown below.
- If it is the first snip the screen will mist over, if not you will need to click New.
- Click and hold the left mouse button, without releasing drag a rectangle around the object.
- Release button when done.
How to take a window snip
- Press the Windows key to activate the text box on the taskbar.
- Type Snipping tool into the text box on the taskbar
- Press Enter or select the Snipping tool from the list as shown below.
- The tool will open as shown below.
- Click Mode and then from the drop-down menu select Window snip as shown below.
- If it is the first snip the screen will mist over, if not you will need to click New.
- Move the mouse and a red border will highlight the selected window.
- Left-click mouse to confirm
How to take a full-screen snip
- Press the Windows key to activate the text box on the taskbar.
- Type Snipping tool into the text box on the taskbar
- Press Enter or select the Snipping tool from the list as shown below.
- The tool will open as shown below.
- Click Mode and then from the drop-down menu select full-screens as shown below.
- A copy of the full screen will be taken.
Note: If you can not see the option for full-screen, you may need to close the tool and re-open.
Saving and sending images/snips from the tool
Once you have selected and captured the image you have three options, you can print, send directly to an email recipient or save the image to a folder on your computer.
Saving a snip
- Click File
- Click Save As
- A window will open, choose a location to save to. (Default is Pictures Folder)
- Type the name you would like to call the Snip in the File name box
- Click Save
There are different available file formats which you can save as JPEG, GIFF, and HTML. We recommend using the JPEG format.
Printing a snip
- Click File
- Click Print
- A window will open, select your printer.
- Click Print
Sending a snip
- Click File
- Click Send To
- A new menu will open, select Email Recipient (as attachment)
- Your email software will then open with the email and Snip as an attachment.
What is the delay option for?
The Delay feature is useful if you are trying to take a copy of something that requires you to perform an action first. For example, you want to take a copy of a menu structure. You can set the delay to three seconds and then open the menus.
You can use any of the Snipping tool modes in combination with the delay feature.
To choose the delay time, click the Delay button and then select the time from the drop-down list. The time starts from when you click the New button.
Other accessories within the Snipping tool
Once the snip has been taken a new window will open with an image of the snip. You will notice that this new window has some additional menu items. There are short cuts to saving, copying, and emailing but there are also pens, highlighters, and an eraser which you can edit the snip with.
If you would like to edit the snip further then you can select Edit > Edit with Paint 3D which which will enable you to change the size, add text, color, etc. An alternative option is to paste the selected snip into Microsoft Paint.
Is there a shortcut to open the Snipping tool?
Yes, there is a shortcut to open the snipping tool.
- Press and hold the Windows key
- Whilst holding the Windows key press and hold the Shift key
- Whilst holding both the Windows key and the Shift key, press the S key
- The tool will open
Keyboard shortcuts for the Snipping Tool
- Alt + M = Select the snipping mode from the list.
- Alt + N = Starts a new snip.
- Arrow keys = When the menu is activated allows you to move up and down through options.
- Ctrl + C = Copy the selected snip to the clipboard.
How to customize the Snipping Tool
There are number of customization settings which can be applied to the snipping tool which save your preferences for future snips. To access these settings click the Options section (as shown below).
This will open the Sniping Tool options as shown below:
- Hide Instruction Text: This hides the instructional information shown in the Snipping Tool window.
- Always copy snips to the clipboard: When ticked it enables you to copy and paste the snipped item without having to select copy from the drop down menu.
- Include URL below snips (HTML only): This option will enable you to save your snipped item as a either a HTML or MHT file with a URL link. This means that your file can be opened in an internet browser.
- Prompt to save snips before exiting: Provides a warning to save your snip before closing the program.
- Show screen overlay when Snipping tool is active: If ticked whilst using the Window Snip option it will blur everything except the Windows you are copying.
- Ink color: This lets you pick the default ink color to write or draw over the snip.
History
The Snipping tool was originally made as an add-on product for Microsoft Tablet PC in 2002. It has remained in Windows versions, XP, Vista, Windows 7 and now finally in Windows 10.
Is the Snipping tool going or being replaced
There was speculation that the Snipping tool would be removed with Windows latest upgrade and it was even covered in The Guardian.
However, despite the speculation, the snipping tool currently remains and is available alongside Microsoft Windows new Snip and Sketch Utility. However, if you have had the latest Windows Update then you will notice there is a message advising the Snipping tool is moving as shown below.
We will have to wait and see if this tool is removed in the future or not. If you would like to know more about the Snip and Sketch tool then please click here.
My Snipping tool looks different?
Please note if your snipping tool looks like the one above, it is because your version of Microsoft Windows is not up to date. All of the walk-throws above will work, instead of clicking the Mode button, you will need to click the arrow next to New.
To check press the Windows Key and type Check for updates or check out our guides to windows updates here
Additional information
Microsoft also has information on the snipping tool which you can access by clicking here
Wait.. before you go, please leave us a comment.
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Is there a way to rotate an image? Often what I’m snipping is a document uploaded “sideways” – I’m standing on my head to read it. Can a snipped image be rotated?
EXCELLENT step-by-step overview regarding the use/options of the new tool!
Is there any way to make text larger in a snippet? I took a snippet of a web page but only needed a portion of the page. when printing it’s only a small corner
Is there any way to make text larger in a snippet? I took a snippet of a web page but only needed a portion of the page. when printing its a small corner
I wish to say thank you for the information on the snipping tool. Thank you for taking the time to draw up these instructions. Very useful.
When I copy the snip into a word document the size of the snip does not match the current formatting. How do I change the snip so it can be resized without distortion?
This is a little tricky. Once the snip is taken it will be a copy of the quality of the image at the time. So you could try increasing the size of the image before taking the snip. Assuming it is on a web page you could use the ctrl and + keys to make it bigger before taking the snip or look for a higher resolution image and then right click and save as.
can i put text on my snips?
Yes, once the snip is taken, you can save it and then open in paint and add text, arrows, etc.
My Win10 Snipping Tool saves rectangular snips to the following folder :
C:\Users\MyUserNameExampleBobWilson\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState\ScreenClip
However, every snip creates two files, one hi res and one lo-res. How can I get it to save only the hi-res? How about only the lo-res?
Hi , on the old snip tool I could just snip , copy and past to a document I wanted the snip in. I cant do that now , or if you can do that how do you do it. The old tool was very easy. I find this frustrating and too complicated. Thanks . Diane
Hi Diane, I am still using the old tool, to my knowledge it is still available? Type ‘snipping tool’ in the windows search box.
Why is it that sometimes my snips that I have copied to a Word document – disappears. This is the second time this has happened making me leery about using snips in my docs from now on. Any idea what may be happening?
Hi Sandy, sorry this is hard for me to answer without seeing your issue. I am happy to try and help with a bit more information but also thought I would share a link to an article I found that might be of help. http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/InvisibleGraphics.htm
Thanks for the information sir. I will try it and get back to you.
Shalom and God bless you.
Would let me do anything but read it
Is there any way to change the shape of the free form snipping tool? I find the image of the scissors covers areas that I’m wanting to snip around and I’m unable to make as clean a snip as I would like. It would be better (more exact) if all you had to move was a small dot around whatever you’re snipping instead of a pair of scissors.
Hi Janine, thank you for your comment. I agree the scissors is not the easiest tool to gauge where the line is. A workaround that might help you is to use Paint in combination.
1) Use the Snipping Tool to make a rectangle snip of object.
2) From the menu select Edit and choose Copy.
3) Open Paint (Press Windows key, type Paint, press Enter).
4) Press Ctrl + V to paste your snip into Paint (or use the paste button).
5) Press the drop-down button under the Select button and choose Free-Form Selection.
You will now be able to select a better edge for your object. Once complete select Crop or Cut. If you select cut you can paste the snip into either a new paint document or anywhere you like with the new edge, by pressing Ctrl + V. Hope this helps
Sometimes when I paste a snip it isn’t placed exactly where I want it. How do I drag and drop a snip so that I can place it exactly where I want it on a page?
HI,
this tool is limited for the drawings on the clipped screen shot. The only hand drawing available by mouse and there is no any rectangular tool for selections of needed area on the clipped screen shot
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for your comment. If I am understanding correctly you are asking how you might edit the snip once you have taken it?
A free way to edit the clipped screenshot is to save the clipped image by clicking FILE and then Save As on the Snipping tool.
Then re-open the saved image file in PAINT and use the Select Tool to crop the image further or edit the image in anyway you like. Hope this helps?
(To open with PAINT- Right-click the saved file and select OPEN WITH, choose Paint)
Great Job. Thanks
Nice clear instructions 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Dawn – Your kind comment means a lot to me.
When snips are saved to the computer, the snipping tool remembers the list of snips made. How can I clear this list?
Hi Ian,
In Windows 10 the default location for saved snips is (C:\Users\username\Pictures\Screenshots). You will have to change the ‘username’ to your own username or alternatively navigate through the folders manually.
You can erase any snips you want by right-clicking and selecting delete. You can delete all snips or clear the list by clicking on an empty or white part of the folder and then pressing CRTL + A to highlight all and then press the Delete key on the keyboard.
Also, please note that if you have selected ‘Save As’ from the drop-down menu within the Snipping Tool you can manually choose a location to save your snips.
If you are unsure where you have been saving to then open the tool and create a new snip, click save as and note the location of the folder the snipping tool opens. Then open Explorer and copy-paste the location.
I hope this helps Ian, but be sure to come back to me if it does not.
all the best
Chris
Very Helpful. Instructions easy to follow
Thank you Lisa!
how to download this snipping tool
There is no need to download the tool, it is installed as part of windows. Follow the instructions above to use. Please come back if you have any problems and we will look to help you further.
how do I use the Title funtion
Please advise further?