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Windows 11⏱ 1 min

How to Take a Partial Screenshot on Windows 11

Capture only the area you need instead of the full screen.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Partial screenshots on Windows are handled by the Snip & Sketch tool, accessible through Windows + Shift + S, which overlays a dim capture mode directly over your current screen without minimising anything. The tool offers four capture shapes — rectangular, freeform, window, and full-screen — and the selected region immediately copies to the clipboard and shows a notification you can click to annotate further. On Windows 11, Snipping Tool consolidates this workflow and adds a delay option so you can capture context menus and tooltips that would otherwise close the moment you press a shortcut.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Press Windows + Shift + S. A dim overlay appears with four capture modes. Select Rectangular snip and drag over the exact area.
  2. 2Release to capture. The image copies to clipboard and a preview appears for light editing.
  3. 3Click the notification to annotate or paste directly into email, docs, or messaging apps.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I screenshot only part of the screen on Windows 11?
Press Windows + Shift + S to open Snip & Sketch's region selector. Drag over the area you want to capture — it copies to clipboard instantly.
Can I capture a specific window on Windows 11?
Yes. Press Alt + Print Screen to capture only the active window to clipboard. In Snipping Tool, select Window Snip mode to click any window.
How do I screenshot a scrolling page on Windows 11?
Windows does not have native scrolling capture. Use the browser's built-in full-page screenshot (available in Edge and Firefox DevTools) or a browser extension.
Does Windows 11 automatically copy partial screenshots to clipboard?
Yes. Windows + Shift + S always copies the capture to clipboard immediately. A notification appears to optionally save it as a file.

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