How to Screenshot on HP Without Print Screen Button?
You can easily screenshot on your HP computer without the Print Screen button by using the built-in Snip & Sketch tool, activated with a simple keyboard shortcut. This method allows for precise selection and immediate access to your captured images.
Capturing Screenshots Without Print Screen on HP
HP computers running Windows offer several robust built-in tools for capturing screenshots, making the absence of a dedicated Print Screen key a non-issue. The most efficient and versatile method is using the Snip & Sketch tool.
Using the Snip & Sketch Tool (Recommended)
This method provides flexibility to capture a portion of your screen, a specific window, or the entire display. It's the modern successor to the older Snipping Tool and is seamlessly integrated into Windows.
Here's how to use it, directly from HP's recommendations:
- Press
Windows key+Shift+Ssimultaneously. - Your screen will dim, and your cursor will change to a crosshair. A small toolbar will appear at the top of your screen, offering different snip modes:
- Rectangular Mode: Drag the crosshair to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture.
- Freeform Mode: Draw any shape around the area you wish to capture.
- Window Mode: Click on a specific open window to capture only that window.
- Fullscreen Mode: Captures your entire screen.
- Click and drag (or click, depending on the mode selected) to select the portion of the screen you want to capture.
- The snippet will be copied to your clipboard immediately, and a notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Clicking this notification will open the Snip & Sketch editor, where you can annotate, crop, or save your screenshot.
Alternative Built-in Methods
While Snip & Sketch is the primary method, other Windows features can also capture screenshots without relying on the Print Screen button.
The Older Snipping Tool
If you prefer the classic interface or are on an older Windows version, the Snipping Tool works similarly to Snip & Sketch.
- How to access: Search for "Snipping Tool" in the Windows search bar and open the application.
- Functionality: It offers similar modes (Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip, Full-screen Snip) and allows you to save the capture directly.
Windows Game Bar (for Gaming)
For gamers, the Xbox Game Bar provides a quick way to capture screenshots and record video clips during gameplay.
- How to access: Press
Windows key+Gto open the Game Bar. - Capturing: Within the Game Bar overlay, click the camera icon (or press
Windows key+Alt+PrtScn- though this uses the Print Screen key, the Game Bar interface offers a clickable option, bypassing the need for the physical key press). Screenshots taken this way are usually saved automatically to your "Videos/Captures" folder.
Third-Party Screenshot Applications
Numerous third-party applications offer advanced screenshot capabilities, including editing tools, cloud integration, and different capture modes. Popular choices include Lightshot, Greenshot, and ShareX. These tools often assign their own custom hotkeys, providing a robust alternative to native Windows options.
Understanding Your Captured Screenshots
Once you take a screenshot using Snip & Sketch or the Snipping Tool:
- Clipboard: The image is always copied to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it directly into documents, emails, or image editors (
Ctrl+V). - Notification/Editor: For Snip & Sketch, clicking the notification gives you immediate access to basic editing (pen, highlighter, cropping) and the option to save the image to your desired location (e.g., Pictures folder).
Quick Comparison of Screenshot Methods
Here's a brief overview of the main methods for taking screenshots without a Print Screen button:
| Method | Shortcut | Primary Use Case | Output Location/Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snip & Sketch | Windows key + Shift + S |
Flexible capture of specific areas or windows | Clipboard; Editor via notification |
| Snipping Tool | Search "Snipping Tool" | Older version, similar flexibility | Clipboard; Direct save after capture |
| Windows Game Bar | Windows key + G |
Capturing gameplay moments | Automatically saved to Captures folder |
By utilizing these built-in Windows features, you can efficiently capture screenshots on your HP computer, even without a dedicated Print Screen button.
