The fastest way: Windows key + Print Screen

Press the Windows key and Print Screen at the same time. Your screen will dim for a moment — that's the screenshot being taken. The image saves automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots.

This method works on every Dell laptop running Windows 10 or Windows 11. You don't need to open any program first, and you don't need to paste the image anywhere. The file appears as a PNG with a timestamp in the filename, like "Screenshot (1).png".

If your Dell has a compact keyboard without a dedicated Print Screen key, hold Windows + Shift + S instead. This opens the Snip tool, which lets you select just the part of the screen you want to capture.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows key + Print Screen captures your entire screen and saves it automatically to your Pictures/Screenshots folder.
  • Windows key + Shift + S lets you draw a box around just the part of the screen you want, then saves or copies it.
  • Print Screen alone copies the image to your clipboard, so you can paste it into Word, email, or any other program.
  • The Snip & Sketch app (built into Windows) opens when you use the Shift + S method and lets you annotate before saving.

Capturing just part of your screen with Snip & Sketch

Press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will turn slightly gray and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the part of the screen you want to capture.

When you release the mouse, the Snip & Sketch window opens with your screenshot. From here you can draw on it with a pen or highlighter, crop it smaller, or erase parts. Click the save icon (the floppy disk) in the top right to save it to your computer, or click the copy icon to paste it directly into an email or document.

If you want to capture a full window instead of drawing a box, press Windows + Shift + S, then press W. Your cursor will change again, and clicking any open window will capture just that window.

Using Print Screen to copy and paste

Press Print Screen alone (without the Windows key). Nothing visible happens — the screenshot is copied to your clipboard instead of saved as a file. Open the program where you want to use it: Word, Gmail, Slack, a text editor, or anywhere else.

Click where you want the image to go and press Ctrl + V to paste. The screenshot appears in your document. This method is fastest when you're already working in a program and need to add a screenshot without leaving to find a saved file.

If your Dell keyboard has Fn keys, you may need to hold Fn + Print Screen instead. Check whether Print Screen shares a key with another function — if it does, try Fn + that key.

Finding your saved screenshots

Open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar). Click Pictures in the left sidebar. You should see a folder called Screenshots — double-click it to open it. All screenshots taken with Windows key + Print Screen appear here, sorted by date.

If you don't see a Screenshots folder, your screenshots may have saved to the main Pictures folder instead. Scroll down in Pictures and look for files named "Screenshot" with a date. You can move these into a new folder if you want to organize them.

Right-click any screenshot to rename it, delete it, or open it with a different program. You can also drag screenshots from this folder into email, documents, or cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive.

Taking a screenshot of your entire screen with the Snipping Tool

If you want more control than Windows key + Print Screen gives you, open the Snipping Tool by typing its name into the Windows search box (click the magnifying glass on your taskbar). The app opens immediately.

Click the New button. Your screen turns gray and you can draw a rectangle around what you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the image opens in the Snipping Tool window. From here you can annotate it, crop it, or save it to a specific folder with a name you choose.

The Snipping Tool also has a delay feature — click the arrow next to New, then select "Delayed snip" if you need time to open a menu or hover over something before capturing. You can set a delay of 1 to 5 seconds.

Capturing video instead of a still image

If you need to record what's happening on your screen rather than take a single screenshot, press Windows key + G. The Xbox Game Bar opens with a recording toolbar. Click the red record button (or press Windows + Alt + R) to start recording.

Everything you do on your screen is now being recorded — your mouse movements, clicks, and any sound from your speakers or microphone. Press Windows + Alt + R again to stop. The video saves to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures.

This method works for recording tutorials, showing someone else a problem you're having, or capturing something that moves or changes. The video file is large, so only use this when you actually need video rather than a still image.

Troubleshooting when screenshots don't work

If Windows key + Print Screen doesn't work, check whether your Dell has a special Fn key. Some compact keyboards require you to hold Fn while pressing Print Screen. Look at your keyboard — if Print Screen shares a key with another function (like a speaker or brightness icon), try Fn + Print Screen.

If the screenshot appears to work but you can't find the file, check your Downloads folder or Desktop. Some Dell models are set to save screenshots there instead of Pictures. You can also search for "Screenshot" in the Windows search box to find all screenshot files on your computer.

If none of the keyboard shortcuts work, your keyboard may have a hardware issue. Open the Snipping Tool instead by searching for it in the Windows search box — this method doesn't rely on keyboard shortcuts and works on any Dell laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go when I press Windows + Print Screen?

They save automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. You can find them by opening File Explorer, clicking Pictures, and double-clicking the Screenshots folder. Each file is named with a timestamp so you can tell them apart.

Can I take a screenshot of just one window?

Yes. Press Windows + Shift + S, then press W. Your cursor changes to a crosshair, and clicking any open window captures just that window. You can also use Alt + Print Screen to copy just the active window to your clipboard, then paste it with Ctrl + V.

How do I edit a screenshot after I take it?

If you used Windows + Shift + S, the Snip & Sketch window opens automatically with drawing and highlighting tools. If you used Windows + Print Screen, open the screenshot file from your Pictures/Screenshots folder, right-click it, and choose "Open with" — select Paint or Photos to edit it.

What's the difference between Print Screen and Windows + Print Screen?

Print Screen alone copies the image to your clipboard so you can paste it into a program. Windows + Print Screen saves it as a file to your Pictures/Screenshots folder. Use Print Screen if you're already in a document and want to paste immediately; use Windows + Print Screen if you want to save it for later.

Can I record my screen on a Dell laptop?

Yes. Press Windows + G to open the Xbox Game Bar, then click the red record button (or press Windows + Alt + R). Your screen records until you press Windows + Alt + R again. The video saves to your Videos/Captures folder. This creates a large file, so only use it when you need video rather than a still image.