How to Take a Screenshot on HP Laptop & Desktop PC

Taking screenshots is a valuable function that enables you to preserve and distribute images of the content displayed on your HP laptop or desktop PC screen. Whether you wish to capture a humorous meme, document an error message, or share critical information, understanding the process of capturing a screenshot can prove advantageous.

This introductory guide will offer a concise overview of the methods for taking screenshots on both HP laptops and desktop PCs.  Screenshots allow you to capture and preserve a visual representation of anything displayed on your HP device’s screen, be it a webpage, an error message, a funny meme, or important information.

These images can then be shared, saved for future reference, or used in various projects. In this article, we will explore the various ways to take screenshots on HP laptops and desktop PCs. We will cover the different methods available, including capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a selected area.

Additionally, we will discuss how to access and manage your screenshots, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of this valuable feature.

How to Take Screenshots with Keyboard Shortcuts

To quickly and conveniently take screenshots on an HP laptop or desktop PC, you can utilize keyboard shortcuts. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

Capturing the Entire Screen

1. Locate the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) key on your keyboard, typically found in the upper-right corner or along the top row of keys. It may be labeled as “PrtSc” or “PrtScn“.
2. Press the “Print Screen” key.
3. After taking a screenshot, the captured image will be saved to your clipboard for further use.

Capturing the Active Window

1. Ensure that the window you wish to capture is active and in focus.
2. Pressing the “Alt” key and the “Print Screen” (PrtScn) key simultaneously will allow you to capture a screenshot.
3. The screenshot of the currently active window will be copied to your clipboard.

Capturing a Selected Area

1. Press the “Windows” key + “Shift” + “S” together. This shortcut is available in Windows 10 and later versions.
2. The screen will dim, and your cursor will change to a crosshair.
3. Click and drag the crosshair to select the desired area for the screenshot.
4. To capture the specified region, let go of the mouse button.
5. The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard, and a notification will appear.

Accessing and Saving Screenshots

1. Open an image editing program such as Microsoft Paint, or Adobe Photoshop, or a word processor like Microsoft Word.
2. Paste the screenshot from the clipboard by pressing “Ctrl” + “V” or right-clicking and selecting “Paste“.
3. Edit or enhance the screenshot as desired.
4. Save the screenshot to your preferred location by clicking on “File” and then “Save” or use the “Ctrl” + “S” shortcut.
5. Choose a filename, select a format (such as JPEG or PNG), and click “Save“.

How to Screenshot on an HP Laptop with Built-in tools

To take screenshots on an HP laptop using the built-in tools, you can follow these steps:

• On your keyboard, look for the “PrtScn” (Print Screen) key. It is typically located in the top-right section of the keyboard or along the top row of keys.
• To capture the full screen, press the “PrtScn” key. Once you have taken a screenshot, it will be copied to the clipboard for you to use.

If you want to capture the active window instead of the entire screen, follow these steps:

• Check that the window you wish to capture is active and focused.
• Click the “Alt” and “PrtScn” keys at the same time.
• This captures only the active window and saves it to the clipboard.

Once you have taken a screenshot using either of the above methods, you can use the built-in Paint application to access and save the screenshot:

• To access the Start menu, simply press the “Windows” key on your keyboard.
• Type “Paint” and click on the “Paint” app from the search results to open it.
• In the Paint application, click on the “Paste” button in the top-left corner or press “Ctrl” + “V” to paste the screenshot from the clipboard.
• Edit or enhance the screenshot if desired using the available tools in Paint.
• To save the screenshot, click on the “File” menu and select “Save As” Choose a location, provide a filename, and select a format (such as JPEG or PNG). Click “Save” to save the screenshot to your preferred location on your HP laptop.

Take a Screenshot on HP with Snip & Sketch

If you’re using an HP laptop and want to take a screenshot using the Snip & Sketch tool, you can easily do so by following these steps:

1. Open the screen or window that you wish to capture.
2. By tapping the “Windows” key on your keyboard, you can get to the Start menu.
3. Type “Snip & Sketch” in the search bar and select the corresponding app with a scissors icon from the search results.
4. Once the Snip & Sketch app opens, you’ll see a small toolbar at the top of the screen.
5. Click on the “New” button in the toolbar to activate the screenshot capture mode.
6. The screen will dim, and your cursor will transform into a crosshair.
7. Click and drag the crosshair to choose the area you want to capture in the screenshot.
8. To capture the specified region, let go of the mouse button.
9. The captured screenshot will open in the Snip & Sketch editor, allowing you to make annotations, highlights, or crop the image if desired.
10. After making any necessary edits, click the “Save” button located in the top-right corner of the Snip & Sketch editor.
11. Choose a destination folder, provide a filename, and select a format (e.g., JPEG or PNG) for the screenshot.
12. Finally, click “Save” to store the screenshot in your preferred location on your HP laptop.