Fix Windows 10 Not Taking Screenshots: 7 Ways

If pressing PrtScn or Win + PrtScn on Windows 10 does nothing, the screenshot isn’t saved or copied, the fix usually involves checking keyboard shortcuts, restarting the Snipping Tool service, or resetting the app. This guide covers the most common causes and step-by-step solutions, from simple key combos to deeper system settings.

Why Screenshots Stop Working

Windows 10 offers several built-in screenshot methods, and each can fail for a different reason:

• PrtScn copies the entire screen to the clipboard (no visible confirmation).
• Win + PrtScn saves a full-screen shot to Pictures > Screenshots.
• Alt + PrtScn copies only the active window.
• Win + Shift + S opens the Snipping Tool’s snip bar for a selectable area.

When none of these work, the issue is usually one of the following: a stuck or remapped key, a background app intercepting the shortcut, a corrupted system file, or a disabled Game Bar (which handles some shortcuts). The good news is most fixes are quick and don’t require advanced skills.

Quick Fixes to Try First

1. Press Win + PrtScn and check Pictures > Screenshots – if the screen dims briefly, it worked. If not, continue.
2. Use Win + Shift + S – this opens the snip bar. If it opens, you can still take screenshots; the problem is only with the PrtScn key itself.
3. Restart your PC – a temporary glitch in the graphics driver or a background process can block shortcuts. A reboot clears most of these.
4. Check if the PrtScn key is stuck – on some keyboards, the key can be physically stuck or the driver needs a refresh. Try an on-screen keyboard (type “osk” in Start) and click the PrtScn key there.

Re-enable the PrtScn Key (If It Was Remapped)

Some users remap the PrtScn key using tools like AutoHotkey or SharpKeys to perform other actions. If you’ve done this in the past, the key won’t take screenshots anymore. To check:

1. Open Registry Editor (type regedit in Start).
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
3. Look for a value named Scancode Map. If it exists, it’s remapping your keys. Delete it (after backing up the registry) and restart.

If you’re not comfortable editing the registry, use a key-remapping app to restore the default function.

Restart the Snipping Tool and Game Bar

The Snipping Tool (and its modern replacement, Snip & Sketch) can hang in the background. Restarting it often fixes the issue:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Under Processes, find Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch.
3. Right-click and choose End task.
4. Now try Win + Shift + S again.

For the Game Bar (which handles Win + Alt + PrtScn), go to Settings > Gaming > Game Bar and make sure the toggle is On. If it’s already on, turn it off and on again.

Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

A corrupt or outdated graphics driver can interfere with screen capture, especially if you get a black image or nothing at all. To update:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and choose Update driver.
3. Select Search automatically for drivers. If Windows finds none, visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) for the latest version.

If the problem started after a recent update, you can roll back the driver: in Device Manager, right-click the GPU > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available).

Run the System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted system files can break screenshot functionality. The built-in System File Checker scans and repairs them:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator (type “cmd” in Start, right-click, and choose Run as administrator).
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This may take 10–15 minutes.
3. If it finds issues, it will fix them automatically. Restart your PC afterward.

If SFC doesn’t help, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in the same admin Command Prompt to repair the Windows image itself.

Check Third-Party Overlay and Screen Capture Apps

Apps like Discord, GeForce Experience, Steam, or OBS can intercept the PrtScn key or the Game Bar shortcut. To test:

1. Close all such apps one by one and try the screenshot after each.
2. If closing an app fixes it, look in that app’s settings for a hotkey that uses PrtScn or Win + Shift + S, and disable or change it.

Also, check if Focus Assist (Windows’ do-not-disturb mode) is on. It can block notifications but not screenshots; however, some users report it interfering with the snip bar. Go to Settings > System > Focus assist and set it to Off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my screenshot save as a black image?

A black screenshot usually means the graphics driver or a hardware-accelerated app (like a video player or browser) is blocking capture. Update your GPU driver, disable hardware acceleration in the problematic app, or try a different screenshot tool like ShareX (free) that uses a different capture method.

Where do screenshots go on Windows 10?

Full-screen shots taken with Win + PrtScn are saved automatically to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots. If you use PrtScn alone, the image is only copied to the clipboard – you must paste it into Paint or another program to save it.

Can I change the screenshot folder location?

Yes. Right-click the Screenshots folder in File Explorer, select Properties, go to the Location tab, and enter a new path. Windows will move the folder there and future screenshots will be saved to that location.

Why does Win + Shift + S not work?

If the snip bar doesn’t appear, the Snipping Tool app may be disabled or the shortcut is being taken by another app. Try restarting the Snipping Tool process (as described above), ensure the app is installed (it’s built-in), and check for conflicting hotkeys in third-party software.

Is there a way to screenshot just one window without Alt+PrtScn?

Yes. Use Win + Shift + S and select the Window Snip option (the icon that looks like a window). This captures only the active window with a clean border, similar to Alt+PrtScn but with more control.

What if none of these fixes work?

If you’ve tried everything and screenshots still fail, consider using a third-party tool like ShareX or Greenshot. They are free, lightweight, and offer more features than the built-in tools. If the issue persists across all methods, it might be a deeper Windows corruption – a Reset this PC (keeping your files) is a last resort.

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