The Windows 11 Snipping Tool: An Easy Way to Take Screenshots and Record Your Screen (Free!)
- Mervin Rasiah
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Did you know that Windows 11 already comes with a free tool that lets you take screenshots, record your screen, highlight important parts, and even copy text from images?
It’s called Snipping Tool, and it’s much more powerful than many people realise — yet very easy to use, even if you’re not tech‑savvy.
This guide will show you what Snipping Tool can do and how to use it, step by step, in plain language.
What Is the Snipping Tool?
Snipping Tool is a built‑in app in Windows 11 that lets you:
Take pictures of your screen (screenshots)
Record a short video of what’s happening on your screen
Draw or highlight on your screenshots
Copy text from images or from your screen
Pick colours from your screen (useful for design or presentations)
The best part?✅ It’s already installed✅ It’s completely free✅ No downloads or subscriptions needed
How to Open Snipping Tool (The Easy Way)
You don’t need to hunt for it.
Option 1: Fastest way (recommended)
Press these keys together on your keyboard:
Windows key + Shift + S
Your screen will dim slightly, and a small menu will appear at the top.
Option 2: From the Start Menu
Click Start
Type Snipping Tool
Click the app when it appears
Taking a Screenshot (Picture of Your Screen)
Once the capture bar appears, you’ll see a few options. Don’t worry — they’re simple.
Screenshot Options Explained
Rectangle – drag a box around what you want to capture (most common)
Freeform – draw around something with your mouse
Window – capture just one app window
Fullscreen – capture everything on your screen
👉 After you take a screenshot:
It is automatically copied
It opens in Snipping Tool so you can edit or save it
Drawing and Highlighting (Very Useful!)
After taking a screenshot, Snipping Tool opens an editor.
You can:
Draw circles or arrows
Highlight text
Crop out unwanted parts
This is perfect for:
Explaining something to colleagues
Sending instructions over WhatsApp or email
Highlighting mistakes or steps
No design skills required!
Recording Your Screen (Yes, Windows Can Do This!)
You can also record a short video of your screen — great for:
Showing someone how to do something
Creating simple tutorials
Reporting a problem
How to Record Your Screen
Open Snipping Tool
Click Record at the top
Click New
Drag to select the area you want to record
Click Start
Click Stop when finished
Your video will open automatically, where you can:
Watch it
Trim the beginning or end
Save or share it
⚠️ Note: Screen recording is best for short videos and does not record sound yet.
Copying Text from Images or Your Screen (Very Helpful!)
This feature surprises many people.
Snipping Tool can read text from images, screenshots, or even text you normally can’t select (like in a video or image).
How to Copy Text
Take a screenshot with Snipping Tool
Open the screenshot
Click Text actions
Click Copy all text or select just what you need
Now you can paste that text into:
Word
Email
WhatsApp
Notes
No retyping needed!
Picking Colors from Your Screen
If you’ve ever wondered, “What color is that?”, Snipping Tool can help.
How to Use Color Picker
Open Snipping Tool
Click Color picker
Click anywhere on your screen
It copies the exact color code, useful for:
Slides
Documents
Designs
Branding work
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts (Optional)
You don’t need to memorize these, but they’re useful:
Windows + Shift + S → Take a screenshot
Windows + Shift + R → Start screen recording
Print Screen → Copy full screen
Why You Should Use Snipping Tool
If you use your computer for:
Work
Teaching
Learning
Communication
Documentation
…then Snipping Tool can save you time, effort, and frustration.
It replaces many paid or complicated apps — and it’s already there.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be an IT expert to use Snipping Tool.
If you can:
Click
Drag
Press a few keys
…you can use it effectively.
Next time you need to explain something, capture information, or share what’s on your screen, try Snipping Tool first — you might be surprised how useful it is.
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