Using keyboard shortcuts with either the Snipping Tool or Snip and Sketch just makes life easier. Both Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch, which can be used to take screenshots of the computer screen, are already part of your Windows 10. 

We can also take screenshots using OneNote, if we have it. Keep in mind that these two tools might not be ideal for every situation. Check out our ultimate guide to taking screenshots for more information.

Table of Contents
    How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 1
    Source: Microsoft

    What Is The Windows Snipping Tool?

    For a Windows utility that’s been around for 17 years, lots of people still don’t know it exists. It’s a simple, easy to use, screenshot utility. You can use it to capture an entire window, a rectangular part of your screen, or use the freeform tool to draw around things and capture just that uniquely shaped part of the screen. 

    The newest version even has a delay feature. This makes it easier to capture pop-out or right-click menus.

    How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 2

    You can take the capture and make notes or draw on it to really highlight what you want to show. From there, sharing it is easy too. You can copy and paste it into a document or email, or just email it to someone directly from the Snipping Tool. 

    What Is Windows Snip and Sketch?

    Since Windows Snipping Tool is 17 years old, Microsoft decided to put together a similar but updated screen capture tool. Snip and Sketch came out with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. If you don’t have it, you can also get Snip and Sketch from the Windows Store.

    How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 3

    Windows Snipping Tools Shortcuts

    For these shortcuts to work, Snipping Tools must be open and be the app that has the focus. It can’t be open and behind anything, or the shortcuts do not work. There is no keyboard shortcut to open Windows Snipping Tools. We could make a keyboard shortcut to open Snipping Tools, though.

    In the list of shortcuts below, Alt + N means to press the Alt key and the N key at the same time. If it says Alt + T then P that means press the Alt key and the T key at the same time and release, then press P.

    Keyboard ShortcutWhat it Does
    Alt + N or Ctrl + N How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 4 Starts a new screen capture
    Alt + MHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 5 Set the screen capture mode. Use and arrow keys to choose from: Free-form snip, Rectangular tool, Window snip, Full-screen snip. Then press Enter to commit the choice.
    Alt + DHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 6 Set the delay for starting the capture. Use and arrow keys to choose from: No delay, 1 Second, 2 Seconds, 3 Seconds, 4 Seconds, 5 Seconds. Then press Enter to commit the choice.
    Ctrl + SHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 7 Save the screen capture
    Ctrl + CHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 8 Copy the screen capture
    Ctrl + EHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 9 Edit in Paint 3D
    Ctrl + PPrint the screen capture 
    Alt + FAccess File menu
    Alt + F then T then EHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 10 Send as an e-mail. Requires Outlook installed.
    Alt + F then T then AHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 11 Send as an attachment in an e-mail. Requires Outlook installed.
    Alt + T then PHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 12 Select Pen tool
    Alt + T then P then RHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 13 Red Pen 
    Alt + T then P then BHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 14 Blue Pen
    Alt + T then P then LHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 15 Black Pen
    Alt + T then P then PHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 16 Custom Pen
    Alt + T then P then CHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 17 Customize Pen
    Alt + T then HHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 18 Select Highlighter tool
    Alt + T then EHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 19 Select Eraser tool
    Alt + T then OSet Snipping Tool Options
    F1Snipping Tool Help
    EscWhen in the middle of getting a screen capture, Esc cancels it out, by escaping.

    Snip and Sketch Keyboard Shortcuts

    Snip and Sketch can be opened using a keyboard shortcut, which makes it very handy to use. Make note of that. Unfortunately, there aren’t Windows snipping tool shortcuts to choose the delay time or type of snipping tool to use.

    How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 20

    Once we’re in a tool, like the Highlighter tool, use the keyboard shortcut combination again to access the tools options. We can navigate through options using the arrow and Tab keys, and use Enter to make selections.

    Keyboard ShortcutWhat it Does
    Shift + Windows Key + SHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 21 Opens Snip and Sketch screen capture bar. This only allows for taking the screen capture.It does not open the full Snip and Sketch app for editing.
    Ctrl + N or Alt + NHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 22 New screen capture
    Ctrl + O or Alt + OHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 23 Open a file for editing
    Ctrl + PHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 24 Print screen capture
    Ctrl + ZHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 25 Undo edit
    Ctrl + YHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 26 Redo edit
    Ctrl + T or Alt + THow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 27 Toggle Touch Writing on and off. For use with touch screens.
    Ctrl + B or Alt + BHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 28 Ballpoint pen tool
    Ctrl + C or Alt + IHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 29 Pencil tool
    Ctrl + H or Alt + HHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 30 Highlighter tool
    Ctrl + E or Alt + EHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 31 Eraser tool
    Ctrl + R or Alt + RHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 32 Crop tool
    Ctrl + Z or Alt + ZHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 33 Zoom tool
    Ctrl + S or Alt + S How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 34 Save capture
    Ctrl + C or Alt + CHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 35 Copy capture
    Ctrl + A or Alt + A How To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 36 Share capture
    Ctrl + M or Alt + MHow To Use Windows Snipping Tool Shortcuts In Windows 10 image 37 Opens See more menu
    EscWhen in the middle of getting a screen capture, Esc cancels it out, by escaping.

    Putting It All Together

    Screen captures are a great way to tell a story. Whether it’s for helping someone else out, asking for help, or just sharing something interesting or funny, screen captures are great.

    Take the time to try all of the key combinations and you’ll find that you can do almost anything you want with these tools without touching your mouse. That’s faster and easier on the hands.

    Got any good screen capture tips or other favorite tools? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Know someone who isn’t sure how to explain what’s on their screen? Send them a link to this article. Help them out.

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