Windows screen capture shortcuts
Short answer: Windows + Alt + R starts and stops screen recording through Xbox Game Bar. Windows + G opens the capture widget, and Windows + V opens clipboard history.
Last verified: 2026-08-01
Capture and recording shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Windows + G | Open Xbox Game Bar with the capture widget |
| Windows + Alt + R | Start or stop recording the active application |
| Windows + Alt + Print Screen | Save a still of the active window |
| Windows + Alt + G | Record the last moments of activity, if background recording is enabled |
| Windows + V | Open clipboard history, which stores captured images |
Still capture shortcuts
These shortcuts are part of Windows itself and work in File Explorer, Chrome and any desktop application.
| Shortcut | What it does | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Windows + Shift + S | Open the snipping overlay: rectangular, free-form, window or full-screen snip. Result goes to the clipboard. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Print Screen | Copy the whole screen to the clipboard. On Windows 11 this can be set to open the snipping overlay instead. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Alt + Print Screen | Copy only the active window to the clipboard. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + Print Screen | Save the whole screen straight to Pictures\Screenshots as a PNG file. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + Alt + Print Screen | Save the active window as a PNG through Xbox Game Bar, into Videos\Captures. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Windows + G | Open Xbox Game Bar, which includes a capture widget for stills and screen recording. | Windows 10 & 11 |
| Fn + Print Screen | On many Windows laptops the Print Screen key is shared with another function and needs the Fn key. | Windows laptops |