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How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 7?

Published in Windows 7 Screenshots 3 mins read

Taking a screenshot in Windows 7 is a straightforward process, allowing you to easily capture either your entire screen or just a specific window. These captured images can then be pasted into various applications for sharing or saving.

Methods for Taking Screenshots in Windows 7

Windows 7 offers built-in functionality to capture screen content directly using your keyboard. There are two primary methods depending on what you wish to capture: the whole screen or an individual active window.

Capturing the Entire Screen

To capture everything displayed on your monitors, follow these simple steps:

  1. Locate the PrtScrn button: Find the PrtScrn (often labeled as Print Screen or PrtSc) button on your keyboard. It's typically located in the upper-right section, near the F12 key.
  2. Press the button: Simply press the PrtScrn button once. This action copies an image of your entire screen to the clipboard.
  3. Paste the screenshot: Open an image editor (like Paint), a word processor (like Microsoft Word), or an email client, and press Ctrl + V to paste the captured image from your clipboard.

Capturing a Single Active Window

If you only need to capture a specific application window without including the rest of your desktop, use this method:

  1. Select the window: Click on the title bar of the window you wish to screenshot to make it the active window.
  2. Press the shortcut: While the window is active, press Alt + PrtScrn simultaneously. This will copy an image of only that active window to your clipboard.
  3. Paste the screenshot: Just like with the full screen capture, open an application where you want to use the image (e.g., Paint, Word, or an email), and press Ctrl + V to paste it.

Quick Reference Table

For a quick overview of the methods:

Screenshot Type Action Outcome
Whole Screen 1. Press PrtScrn.
2. Paste with Ctrl + V.		 Captures everything visible on all monitors.
Single Window 1. Click on the desired window.
2. Press Alt + PrtScrn.		 Captures only the currently active window.

Remember, after either method, the screenshot is stored temporarily in your computer's clipboard. You must paste it into an application to save, edit, or share it.

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