Fix Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 10

If Snipping Tool won’t open, freezes, or captures a black screen on Windows 10, the fix usually involves repairing the app, checking keyboard shortcuts, or updating your display drivers. This guide walks through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions, from quick resets to more advanced registry tweaks.

Why Snipping Tool Stops Working

Snipping Tool is a built-in Windows utility that has been around since Windows 7. In Windows 10, it lives alongside the newer Snip & Sketch app, and both can conflict or become corrupted. Common triggers include:

• Windows updates that break the app’s dependencies
• Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers (especially for the delay feature)
• Third-party screen capture software interfering with hotkeys
• Corrupted user profile or app cache
• Group Policy or registry settings that disable the tool

Most issues are not caused by malware, so you can safely troubleshoot without running a full antivirus scan first.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into deeper repairs, try these simple steps—they resolve a surprising number of cases:

1. Restart your PC. This clears temporary glitches and frees memory that Snipping Tool may need.
2. Use the correct shortcut. On many keyboards, press Windows + Shift + S. If that doesn’t work, search for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu and click the app icon.
3. Run the app as administrator. Right-click Snipping Tool and choose “Run as administrator.” This often bypasses permission issues.
4. Check if the app is hidden. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features and confirm Snipping Tool is listed. If not, click “Add a feature” and install it.

If none of these work, move on to the more thorough fixes below.

Repair and Reset the App

Windows 10 includes a built-in repair tool for UWP apps (like Snipping Tool, which is a packaged app). Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Scroll to find “Snipping Tool” (or “Snip & Sketch” if you’re using that).
3. Click on it, then select Advanced options.
4. Click Repair first. If that doesn’t help, click Reset (this clears the app’s data and may reset your settings).

After resetting, try opening the tool again. If it still fails, you can also re-register the app using PowerShell:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.ScreenSketch | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Run this in an elevated PowerShell window (right-click Start and choose “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”). This reinstalls the app without losing your personal files.

Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers

Snipping Tool relies on your GPU to capture the screen. If you get a black screen or the capture area appears blank, your graphics driver is often the culprit. Here’s what to do:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and choose Update driver.
3. Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.” If Windows finds nothing, visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) for the latest driver.
4. If the problem started after a recent driver update, try rolling back: right-click the GPU, select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.

For laptops with dual GPUs, ensure the tool is using the correct one—sometimes the integrated graphics causes issues.

Fix Keyboard Shortcut Conflicts

If Windows + Shift + S does nothing, another program may be intercepting that combo. Common culprits include screen recorders, game overlays (like Xbox Game Bar), or clipboard managers. To test:

• Close all background apps that use global hotkeys, especially those that also capture screenshots.
• Open the app’s settings and disable its own screenshot shortcut.
• If you use PowerToys, check its Keyboard Manager—it can remap or block shortcuts.

You can also change the default shortcut in Snipping Tool itself: open the app, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, and assign a different key combination.

Check Group Policy and Registry Settings

In some enterprise or customized Windows installations, Snipping Tool is disabled via policy. To check:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc (Pro/Enterprise only) and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Tablet PC > Accessories.
3. Double-click “Do not allow Snipping Tool to run.” If it’s set to “Enabled,” change it to “Not Configured” or “Disabled.”

If you don’t have Group Policy (Home edition), you can edit the registry:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies.
2. Look for a key named Accessories. If it exists and contains a DWORD named DisableSnippingTool, set its value to 0.
3. If the key doesn’t exist, you can create it, but it’s usually safer to leave it alone unless you know it’s the cause.

After making changes, restart your PC.

When to Use Snip & Sketch Instead

Windows 10 includes a newer app called Snip & Sketch (also known as “Screen Snip”). It offers more features: delay timer, window snip, and annotation tools. If Snipping Tool remains broken, you can switch to this app without losing functionality. To access it, search for “Snip & Sketch” or press Windows + Shift + S (which now opens the snip bar by default).

If you prefer the classic Snipping Tool, you can still use it, but Microsoft has indicated that Snipping Tool will eventually be replaced by Snip & Sketch. Learning the new app now can save you hassle later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Snipping Tool open but the screen goes black?

This usually points to a graphics driver issue. Update your GPU driver, and if that fails, try disabling hardware acceleration in your browser (if you’re capturing a browser window). Some older GPUs also struggle with the “Delay” feature—try setting the delay to 0.

Can I reinstall Snipping Tool completely?

Yes. Open PowerShell as administrator and run the command provided in the Repair section above. This re-registers the app without removing it. If that doesn’t work, you can uninstall it via Settings > Apps > Optional features, then re-add it from the same screen.

My Snipping Tool shortcut doesn’t work, but the app opens manually—why?

This is almost always a conflict with another program that’s using the same hotkey. Check your background apps, especially those with screenshot or overlay features (like Discord, GeForce Experience, or OneDrive). You can also change the shortcut in Snipping Tool’s settings.

Is Snipping Tool safe to use after the recent security issues?

Yes. The vulnerability known as “Snipping Tool” (CVE-2023-28303) was patched in May 2023. As long as you keep Windows updated, the tool is safe. If you’re concerned, you can use Snip & Sketch instead, which receives the same security updates.

Why does Snipping Tool not save my captures automatically?

By default, Snipping Tool copies the snip to the clipboard and opens an annotation window. To auto-save, you need to manually save each snip (Ctrl+S). Snip & Sketch, on the other hand, can be set to auto-save to a folder. Check the app’s settings for that option.

Can I use Snipping Tool on Windows 11?

Yes, Snipping Tool is still available on Windows 11, but it’s been merged with Snip & Sketch into a single app called “Snipping Tool.” The troubleshooting steps are similar, but the app’s interface is slightly different.

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