Take a screen capture (print screen)

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

You can take a picture of what is on your screen by pressing PRINT SCREEN (PRTSC or PRTSCN on some keyboards). This is called a screen capture. You can then paste the screen capture into a document, e‑mail message, or other file. There are two types of screen captures you can take: the entire screen, or just the active window. For example, if you have three programs open at the same time, you might want a screen capture of only the active window.

NoteSome keyboards or mobile PCs that don't have the PRINT SCREEN button might use other keyboard combinations, such as FN+INSERT, to take a screen capture. Check the information that came with your computer or the manufacturer's website for more information.

To copy the entire screen

•	Press PRINT SCREEN.

To copy only an active window

•	Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN.

You can paste your screen capture into Paint, which is a drawing program you can use to crop, rotate, and resize pictures.

To paste a screen capture into a Paint file

1.	Open Paint by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Paint.
2.	Click Edit, and then click Paste.

Take a screen capture (print screen)

To copy the entire screen

To copy only an active window

To paste a screen capture into a Paint file

See also