Microsoft Snipping Tool

Microsoft Snipping Tool (Snip & Sketch) is a lightweight and highly useful pre-installed application inside Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, enabling users of all ages to quickly and reliably capture regions of desktop space as static screenshots.

Also, you can use this great and useful application as a program on your computer and desktop/laptop!



Easily snap and edit images or videos with the latest Snipping Tool app on Windows 11.

Whether you prefer using a mouse, touch screen, or pen, you can seamlessly capture screenshots and customize them before sharing across various platforms.

Please note: The upgraded Snipping Tool is exclusive to Windows 11. If you're on Windows 10, Snip & Sketch will be the tool available for download on your PC instead.

With support for several capture styles, and the ability to automatically send captured regions of desktop or app surface into the clipboard memory, Microsoft Snip represents one of the most useful little apps that ship together with their popular operating system.



Quickly annotate screenshots, photos and other images with your pen, touch or mouse and save, paste or share them with other apps.

However, in the event of this built-in app refusing to work or showcasing unstable operation, developers from Microsoft have provided a standalone installation that enables all users to reinstall this app on their desktop or laptop PC.

By default, Microsoft Snip Tool (Snip & Sketch) can be used in two modes of operation.

Since it is deeply integrated into the Windows OS, any time user activates the “Windows logo key + Shift + S“ keyboard shortcut, the OS will automatically start this small app in its fast-to-use mode.

The screen will dim, the mouse cursor will change into a target, and users are then able to paint a rectangular surface they wish to capture and immediately send it into the Clipboard memory.

The second mode of operation is to actually start the app by clicking on the start menu and entering Snipping Tool in the search engine. This will activate a small dashboard where users can set the exact mode of image capture they wish to perform, and even a small image editor that will appear after each shot is taken.



What's new in latest version

• Record your screen with audio from your computer or record your own.
• Text actions now allows you to copy or redact text from a screen capture.

Microsoft Snipping Tool supports four capture modes – Free Form (where users can freely select a capture region with a mouse or finger on touch-sensitive displays), Rectangular Snip, Window Snip (that will capture the desktop surface of the entire active app), and Full-Screen Snip. In addition to manual snip, users can also set a delay (1-5 seconds) on capture action.

The Options button allows users to customize several aspects of the app behavior and look.

The post-capture editor allows users to annotate captured images with a pen or highlighter tool, save the image, send it via email, or automatically transfer the captured shot into the Paint 3D app.



Alternatives

ShareX - Open-source tool for screenshots and screen recording.

Free Snipping Tool - Take a snapshot to copy words or images.

Greenshot - Lightweight screenshot tool with annotation features.

Lightshot - Easy-to-use tool for quick screenshots and sharing.

PicPick - All-in-one screenshot and graphic design tool.

Snagit - Advanced screenshot and screen recording software.

Snipaste - Screenshot and image pasting tool for productivity.

TechSmith Capture (Jing) - Free way to capture basic screenshots

Nimbus Capture - Screenshots, annotations, and screen recording.

PROS

• Easy to use
• Built-in Windows app
• Multiple snipping options
• Simple annotation tools
• Saves to clipboard or file

CONS

• Limited editing capabilities
• No cloud or online storage options

Microsoft Snipping Tool (Snip & Sketch) is 100% Free and can be used on all modern versions of Windows OS (Windows 10 and Windows 11).