2 Ways to Take a Screenshot on a Dell

Written by Ken Colburn | Edited by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: December 28, 2022 References Tested

Most Dell computers have a Print Screen button on the keyboard that allows you to capture whatever is on your screen and save it to your clipboard. However, the method for capturing a screenshot varies a lot from one model of Dell to another. The Windows operating system you’re using can also make a difference in how you make a screen capture. In this article, we’ll talk you through the keyboard shortcuts that work on most Dell desktop and laptop computers, as well as how to use the Windows Snipping Tool to take a screenshot.

Things You Should Know

On most Dells, the Print Screen key is located at the top of the keyboard on the right side. Sometimes it’s one of the Function keys.
The keyboard shortcut to take a screenshot varies depending on your model, Windows version, and type of screenshot.
You can also take screen captures using the built-in Windows Snipping Tool on any Dell.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Print Screen Key

1
Find the ⎙ PrtScr key at the top of your keyboard. The Print Screen key allows you to quickly and easily take a screenshot on a Dell. On most Dell keyboards, this key is located in the top row of keys at the right, close to the Del key.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- On some Dell keyboards, the Print Screen key may also be one of the Function keys (e.g., F10).
- The Print Screen key may be labeled with a variety of different abbreviations, such as PrtScn, PrntScrn, or PrtSc.
- If your keyboard doesn’t have a Print Screen key, you can take a screen capture by pressing Fn and ⌤ Ins at the same time.
2
Capture your entire screen with ⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr. Different keyboard shortcuts take different types of screenshots on a Dell, and the combination you need to use may vary from one model of Dell to another. To capture everything that’s on your screen in one shot, use the combination ⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you’re using a Dell tablet, press the Windows logo button and the volume down button at the same time to capture your whole screen.
- On some Dell laptops, you’ll need to press Fn+⇲ End to take a screenshot instead.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- Keep in mind that the shortcut ⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr may capture just a single window instead of the whole screen on some Dells.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
Advertisement
3
Use ⎙ PrtScr alone to capture your active windows. On some Dells, you can use the ⎙ PrtScr button by itself to capture just the windows that are currently open, without capturing the background, taskbar, or other extraneous elements.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- On other models, doing this may take a picture of the entire screen.
4
Screenshot a single window with Alt+⎙ PrtScr. If you just want to capture one window, click or tap on the window and then hold down Alt+⎙ PrtScr. This will capture the active window without including anything else that is on the screen.
- Some Dells use the combination ⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr or Fn+⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr to capture a single window.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
5
Use Ctrl+V to paste your screenshots from the clipboard. Typically, when you take a screenshot on a Dell, the image will be stored in your clipboard instead of directly saved as an image file. To access the screenshot, open an image editing app, such as Microsoft Paint, and paste the screenshot into a new image window using Ctrl+V.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- When you take a screenshot on a Dell tablet, it is automatically saved to your Pictures folder.
- In some versions of Windows, the ⊞ Win+⎙ PrtScr combination saves screenshots as image files instead of saving them to the clipboard. To find them, open File Explorer, navigate to Pictures, and open Screenshots.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Snipping Tool

1
Launch the Snipping Tool from the Start menu. The Snipping Tool allows you to select just a portion of your screen to capture. To open it, click on
Start and type snipping tool into the search box, then click on Snipping Tool in the search results.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}
- In Windows 10 and later, you can launch the snipping tool by holding down ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+s.
- In Windows 8, swipe in from the right side of the screen and select Search from the menu, then type snipping tool into the search box to find the tool.
2
Select the type of snip you want from the Mode menu. The Snipping Tool allows you to take a variety of types of screenshots. To choose which kind you want, click or tap the Mode menu on the Snipping Tool toolbar. You can also choose a mode by pressing Alt+m. Select one of the following modes:^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}
- Free-form Snip lets create a selection in any shape using a drawing tool, and will create a screenshot from your selection.
- Rectangular Snip lets you take a screenshot from a rectangular selection.
- Window Snip captures a selected window.
- Full-screen Snip captures the entire screen.
3
Click Save Snip to save your screen capture. Once you’ve taken your screenshot, click the Save Snip button. Use the Save As box to name your snip, select your preferred file type, and choose a location for the saved screenshot.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}
- You can also share a snip by clicking the arrow next to the Send Snip button, then selecting a sharing option.
- If you save a capture of a browser window as an HTML file, the URL will be displayed at the bottom of the screenshot. To prevent this from happening, click the Options button and uncheck Include URL below snips (HTML only), then click OK.
4
Annotate or edit your snip if you like. In addition to taking basic screenshots, you can also use the Pen and Highlighter buttons to draw on your snip or highlight parts of it. To do other types of edits (such as cropping, rotating, or resizing your screenshot), click Edit with your screenshot open and then select Edit with Paint 3D.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}

Community Q&A

Question

How do I take a screenshot on a Dell tablet?

Community Answer

You press the Windows button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
Question

How do I use the blue signs on my Dell laptop keypad?

Community Answer

Hold FN and then use them. This should activate the "function" keys. The FN button should be blue for this to work.