The fastest way: Windows key + Print Screen

On any Dell running Windows, press Windows key + Print Screen at the same time. Your screen will dim briefly, and the screenshot saves automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshots. You do not need to open any program or adjust settings first.

This method captures your entire screen. If you want to screenshot only part of your screen, use the Snipping Tool instead — it gives you more control over what gets captured.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows key + Print Screen captures your full screen and saves it automatically to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
  • The Snipping Tool lets you draw a rectangle around just the part of the screen you want to capture.
  • Print Screen alone copies to your clipboard, so you can paste into an email or document without saving a file first.
  • On Dell laptops without a dedicated Print Screen key, hold Fn + Windows key + spacebar to take a screenshot.
  • Screenshots save as PNG files by default, which work with any image viewer or document.

Using the Snipping Tool for partial screenshots

The Snipping Tool comes built into Windows and lets you capture just a portion of your screen. Open it by typing "Snipping Tool" into the Windows search box (the magnifying glass icon in your taskbar), then click the result.

Click the Mode button and choose Rectangle Snip. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you want to capture. When you release the mouse, the screenshot opens in the Snipping Tool window. From there, you can save it, copy it, or annotate it with a pen or highlighter before saving.

If you need to capture a menu that disappears when you click away, use the Delay option in Snipping Tool. Set it to 3 or 5 seconds, click New, and you will have time to open the menu before the capture begins.

Print Screen alone: copying instead of saving

If you press Print Screen by itself (without the Windows key), the screenshot copies to your clipboard instead of saving as a file. This is useful when you want to paste directly into an email, Word document, or messaging app without creating a separate image file.

After pressing Print Screen, open the program where you want the image (Gmail, Outlook, Word, etc.) and press Ctrl + V to paste. The screenshot appears instantly. This method works the same way on all Dell computers running Windows.

On Dell laptops: using Fn + Windows key + spacebar

Some Dell laptops do not have a dedicated Print Screen key. Instead, hold Fn + Windows key + spacebar to take a screenshot. The Fn key is usually in the bottom left corner of your keyboard, next to Ctrl.

If that combination does not work, check your keyboard for a key labeled PrtScn, PrntScr, or similar — it might be combined with another key. Look for a small icon that looks like overlapping rectangles. If you find it, hold Fn and press that key to take a screenshot.

Finding and managing your screenshots

When you use Windows key + Print Screen, your screenshots go to Pictures > Screenshots. To find them, open File Explorer (the folder icon in your taskbar), click Pictures on the left side, then double-click the Screenshots folder. Your images appear with names like "Screenshot (1).png", "Screenshot (2).png", and so on.

You can rename, delete, or move these files like any other image. Right-click a screenshot to open it with a different program, print it, or send it by email. If you want screenshots to save somewhere else, you can move the Screenshots folder or change where Snipping Tool saves by default.

Using Windows 11's built-in screenshot tool

If your Dell runs Windows 11, you can also press Windows key + Shift + S to open the screenshot menu. A toolbar appears at the top of your screen with four options: rectangular snip, freeform snip, window snip, and full-screen snip. Click the shape you want, then draw or click to capture. The screenshot copies to your clipboard automatically, and a notification appears in the bottom right corner.

Click the notification to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool, where you can edit, annotate, or save it. This method is faster than opening Snipping Tool separately if you need to capture and edit in one step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my screenshots go if I use Print Screen alone?

Print Screen copies to your clipboard only — it does not save a file. You must paste it into a program (Word, email, etc.) or it will disappear when you copy something else. If you want a saved file, use Windows key + Print Screen instead.

Can I screenshot just one window instead of the whole screen?

Yes. In Windows 11, use Windows key + Shift + S and choose Window Snip, then click the window you want. In earlier Windows versions, use Snipping Tool and choose Window Snip from the Mode menu. This captures only that single window, not the background.

My Print Screen key is combined with another key on my Dell laptop. How do I use it?

Hold the Fn key (usually bottom left) and press the Print Screen key at the same time. If you want to use Windows key + Print Screen, hold Fn + Windows key + Print Screen together. Check your keyboard manual or Dell support page for your specific model if you are unsure which key to press.

Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?

Yes. If you use Snipping Tool or Windows key + Shift + S, the screenshot opens in an editor where you can draw, highlight, or crop before saving. If you use Windows key + Print Screen, the file saves first — you can then open it in Paint, Photoshop, or any image editor to make changes.