How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop (Windows 10, 11, and More) – Complete Guide

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the ability to quickly capture what’s on your screen is more essential than ever. Whether you need to share an error message for technical support, save a memorable online conversation, or document important information, taking a screenshot on your Dell laptop is a fundamental skill.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to take screenshots on any Dell laptop, regardless of whether it’s running Windows 10, Windows 11, or an older operating system. We’ll cover easy keyboard shortcuts, built-in Windows tools, and even some helpful third-party applications. If you’re also interested in learning how to capture the screen on other laptop brands, check out our guide on how to screenshot on a laptop.

By the end of this article, you’ll be a screenshotting pro!

How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are often the quickest and most convenient way to take a screenshot on your Dell laptop. Here are the most common methods:

Print Screen (PrtSc) Button

The simplest way to capture your entire screen is by using the Print Screen (often abbreviated as PrtSc, PrntScrn, or similar) button.

• How it works: Pressing the PrtSc button copies an image of your entire screen to your computer’s clipboard.
• How to use it:
  1. Ensure the content you want to capture is visible on your screen.
  2. Locate the PrtSc button on your keyboard (it’s usually in the upper-right section).
  3. Press the PrtSc button once.
  4. Open an image editing program like Paint, Microsoft Word, or even a messaging app.
  5. Paste the image (usually by pressing Ctrl + V).
  6. You can then edit, save, and share your screenshot.

Alt + Print Screen

If you only want to capture the active window (the window you are currently working in), the Alt + Print Screen shortcut is your go-to.

• How it works: Pressing Alt + PrtSc copies an image of only the currently active window to the clipboard.
• How to use it:
  1. Make sure the window you want to capture is active and in the foreground.
  2. Press and hold the Alt key, then press the PrtSc button.
  3. Open an image editing program or application where you want to use the screenshot.
  4. Paste the image (Ctrl + V).
  5. Edit, save, and share as needed.

Windows Key + Print Screen

For a quick way to take a full-screen screenshot and automatically save it as a file, use the Windows Key + Print Screen shortcut.

• How it works: Pressing the Windows key and the PrtSc button simultaneously will capture your entire screen and save it as an image file in your Pictures > Screenshots folder. The screen will briefly dim to indicate that the screenshot has been taken.
• How to use it:
  1. Display the content you want to capture.
  2. Press and hold the Windows key (usually located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the left side of the keyboard), then press the PrtSc button.
  3. Navigate to your Pictures folder in File Explorer, and you’ll find a subfolder named “Screenshots” containing your captured image.

Read Also: Mastering How to Screenshot Laptop Windows 10 Easily

How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop with Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is a built-in Windows utility that offers more flexibility in how you capture your screen. You can select specific areas, freeform shapes, or entire windows.

• Step-by-step cara buka Snipping Tool:
  1. Click on the Start menu (the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner).
  2. Type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar.
  3. Click on the “Snipping Tool” app in the search results to open it.
• Pilih mode (rectangular, freeform, window, full-screen): Once the Snipping Tool is open, you’ll see a small window with options. Click on the “Mode” dropdown menu to choose your desired capture type:
  • Rectangular Snip: Drag a rectangle around the area you want to capture.
  • Free-form Snip: Draw a custom shape around the area you want to capture.
  • Window Snip: Click on a specific window to capture the entire window.
  • Full-screen Snip: Captures the entire screen (similar to the PrtSc button).
• How to use it:
  1. Open the Snipping Tool.
  2. Select your desired mode.
  3. Click the “New” button.
  4. Your screen will dim, and you can now select the area you want to capture based on the mode you chose.
  5. Once you release the mouse button, the screenshot will appear in the Snipping Tool window.
  6. From here, you can annotate (draw or highlight), save (as a PNG, JPG, or GIF), copy, or email the screenshot.

How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop with Snip & Sketch (Windows 10/11)

Snip & Sketch is a newer and more feature-rich screenshot tool that replaced the Snipping Tool in later versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

• Shortcut: Windows + Shift + S: The fastest way to open Snip & Sketch is using the keyboard shortcut: Press the Windows key + Shift + S simultaneously. Your screen will dim, and a small toolbar will appear at the top of the screen, allowing you to choose your snip type (Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip).
• How to save a screenshot on a Dell laptop:
  1. Use the Windows + Shift + S shortcut or search for “Snip & Sketch” in the Start menu.
  2. Select your desired snip type from the toolbar at the top of the screen.
  3. Drag your cursor to select the area you want to capture (for Rectangular and Freeform Snips) or click on the window (for Window Snip). For Full-screen Snip, the screenshot is taken immediately.
  4. A notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Click on this notification to open the captured screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app.
  5. In the Snip & Sketch app, you can annotate, crop, and then click the Save icon (floppy disk) to save your screenshot as a PNG, JPG, or GIF file. By default, screenshots taken with Windows + Shift + S are also copied to your clipboard.

Read Also:

• Tired of Windows Snipping Tool? The 10 Best Free Screenshot Tools
• How to Screenshot on Windows 11 Laptop: New Features & Shortcuts
• How to Screenshot on Laptop Without Windows Key

How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop Using The Xbox Game Bar

For gamers and users on a Dell laptop who need to capture specific applications, the Xbox Game Bar is a powerful, built-in tool on Windows 10 and 11. While its name suggests a gaming focus, it can be used to take screenshots and record video from most open applications, providing a more isolated and high-quality capture than general screen-wide methods.

How to Take a Screenshot with the Xbox Game Bar

• Step 1: Open the Game Bar. The fastest way to launch the Xbox Game Bar is by pressing the Windows Key + G shortcut. An overlay with several widgets for performance, audio, and capture will appear on your screen.Note: The Xbox Game Bar will only work with a focused application, not your desktop. If you try to open it from your desktop, it won’t appear.
• Step 2: Take the Screenshot. Once the Game Bar is open, you can take a screenshot in one of two ways:
  • Click the camera icon: In the “Capture” widget (usually located on the left side of the overlay), click the small camera icon. This will take a screenshot of the active application.
  • Use the shortcut: For an even faster capture without opening the full overlay, press Windows Key + Alt + PrtSc. This takes a screenshot of the active application and saves it automatically to your capture folder.
• Step 3: Access Your Screenshots. Screenshots taken with the Xbox Game Bar are automatically saved as PNG files. You can find them in your user profile’s Videos > Captures folder by default. You can also view them immediately by clicking the “See all my captures” button within the Capture widget.

Why use the Xbox Game Bar?

• Targeted Capture: It’s ideal for taking a screenshot of a single application or game without capturing other open windows or your taskbar.
• Automatic Saving: Unlike the standard PrtSc button, this method saves your screenshot as a file directly, eliminating the need to paste it into an image editor.
• Performance: Designed for gaming, it’s optimized to have minimal impact on your system’s performance, ensuring a smooth experience even during demanding tasks.

Using Third-Party Tools for Screenshot on Dell Laptop

While Windows offers excellent built-in screenshot tools, several third-party applications provide even more advanced features, such as scrolling screenshots, delayed captures, and extensive annotation options. Here are a few popular choices:

• Lightshot: A lightweight and user-friendly tool that allows you to select any area on your screen and offers quick editing options and the ability to upload screenshots online.
• Greenshot: A powerful open-source screenshot tool that supports various capture modes, annotations, and saving options, including saving directly to image hosts.
• ShareX: An advanced and free screenshot and screen recording tool with a wide array of features, including scrolling capture, automatic saving to various destinations, and post-capture tasks.

To use these tools, simply download and install them from their respective websites and follow their specific instructions for capturing screenshots.

How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop by Windows Version

While the core methods remain similar, here’s a quick rundown specific to the most common Windows versions on Dell laptops:

Dell Laptop Windows 10

• Keyboard Shortcuts: PrtSc (to clipboard), Alt + PrtSc (active window to clipboard), Windows Key + PrtSc (full screen to Pictures/Screenshots).
• Built-in Tools: Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch (via Windows + Shift + S).

Dell Laptop Windows 11

• Keyboard Shortcuts: PrtSc (opens Snipping Tool by default in many configurations, can be changed in settings), Alt + PrtSc (active window to clipboard), Windows Key + PrtSc (full screen to Pictures/Screenshots).
• Built-in Tools: Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch (primary tool accessed via Windows + Shift + S).

Troubleshooting Common Dell Laptop Screenshot Issues

Sometimes, things don’t work as expected. Here are a few common issues you might encounter when trying to screenshot on Dell laptop and how to fix them:

Print Screen key not responding

• Function Key (Fn) Lock: On some Dell  laptops, the F-keys (including PrtSc, which is often combined with another function on an F-key) require you to press the Fn key simultaneously. Try pressing Fn + PrtSc or Fn + Windows key + PrtSc. Look for an Fn Lock key on your keyboard (often on the Esc key or another F-key) and try toggling it.
• Driver Issues: Ensure your keyboard drivers are up to date. You can check this in Device Manager.
• Software Conflicts: Sometimes, third-party software that runs in the background can interfere with keyboard shortcuts. Try temporarily disabling any background apps that might be related to hotkeys or screen capturing.

Screenshots saved to the wrong place

• Check Default Folders: Always check the “Screenshots” folder inside “Pictures” for Windows key + PrtSc captures, and C:\Users\YourUsername\Videos\Captures for Game Bar captures.
• Change Default Save Location:
  1. Right-click on the “Screenshots” folder (within Pictures).
  2. Go to “Properties.”
  3. Click the “Location” tab.
  4. You can then “Move…” the folder to a new location if desired.

Blurry or low-quality screenshots

• Display Scaling: If your display scaling is set to a non-standard value (e.g., 125% or 150%), sometimes this can affect screenshot clarity. Try setting it to 100% temporarily to see if it makes a difference. (Go to Settings > System > Display > Scale and layout).
• Image Format: Ensure you’re saving your screenshots in a high-quality format like PNG, which is lossless. JPG can introduce compression artifacts, especially if the quality setting is low.

Read Also: How to Screenshot on Laptop in High Quality

FAQs – Dell Laptop Screenshot Problems

Here are answers to some common questions about taking screenshots on Dell laptops:

Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on your Dell laptop is a simple yet incredibly useful skill. Whether you prefer the speed of keyboard shortcuts like Windows Key + Print Screen for quick saves or the precision of the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch for capturing specific areas, Windows offers a variety of built-in options to suit your needs. For users looking for more advanced features, third-party tools like Lightshot and Greenshot provide enhanced functionality. The easiest and most versatile method for most users, especially on Windows 10 and 11, is often using the Windows Key + Shift + S shortcut to open Snip & Sketch.

Now that you’re equipped with this comprehensive guide, go ahead and capture those important moments on your screen! If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with other Dell laptop users or leave a comment below with your preferred screenshot method.

Table Comparison of Screenshot Methods: