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How to Take a Screenshot in Windows Without Using Microsoft Paint

If you're looking for an alternative way to capture a screenshot on your Windows PC without using Microsoft Paint, there are several built-in methods you can try. In this post, we will discuss three different ways to take a screenshot in Windows: using the PrtScn key, using the Snipping Tool, and using the Game Bar (for gaming applications).

Method 1: Using the PrtScn Key

  1. Open the window or application that you want to capture.
  2. Press the PrtScn key located usually in the top row of your keyboard, next to the Insert, Home, Page Up, etc. keys. This will take a screenshot of the entire screen. If you only want to capture a specific window, press Alt + PrtScn.
  3. Open an image editing software like Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop, or Google Picasa to edit and save your screenshot. To do this in Microsoft Paint:
    • Go to Start > All Apps > Windows Accessories > Paint (or use the shortcut key Win + R > mspaint).
    • Click on the File tab, then click on Open, and navigate to the location of your saved screenshot.
    • Press Ctrl + V to paste the captured image into Microsoft Paint. Make any necessary edits and save the file.

Method 2: Using the Snipping Tool

  1. Press the Windows key + Shift + S. The Snipping Tool will open, allowing you to select a rectangular area of your screen to capture.
  2. Drag the cursor over the desired area to create a selection rectangle. Once the entire portion is highlighted, release the mouse button.
  3. Your screenshot will automatically be copied to your clipboard, ready for pasting into an image editing software or saving as a file (Ctrl + S in Microsoft Paint).

Method 3: Using the Game Bar (for gaming applications)

  1. Press Windows key + G while using a gaming application. The Game Bar will open with an option to capture a screenshot or record a video.
  2. To take a screenshot, simply click on the "Camera icon" located in the Game Bar interface at the bottom right of your screen. Your screenshot will automatically be saved to the C:\Users\%USERNAME\%Videos\Captures folder.

There you have it! Three different methods to capture a screenshot on your Windows PC without having to use Microsoft Paint. Give these techniques a try and find which one works best for you.

Published August, 2017