To quickly capture your entire screen and automatically save it as an image file in Windows 10, you can use a specific keyboard shortcut involving the Print Screen key.
Taking and Saving a Screenshot Using Keyboard Shortcuts
One primary way to control or use the Print Screen function to save a screenshot directly to a file in Windows 10 is by combining it with the Windows key. This method captures everything visible on your display.
Here’s the simple process based on standard Windows functionality:
- Press the Windows logo key + **PrntScrn key together.**
Upon pressing this key combination, your screen will briefly dim, indicating that the screenshot has been captured successfully. Unlike just pressing the Print Screen key alone (which copies the image to the clipboard), this combination automatically saves the image as a file.
Where the Screenshot is Saved
When you use the Windows key + PrntScrn method, the captured image is automatically stored in a specific location on your computer:
- The screenshot is saved in the Screenshots folder.
- This Screenshots folder is located inside your main Pictures folder.
For example, the typical path would be C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots. Each screenshot taken this way will be saved as a PNG file, sequentially named (e.g., Screenshot (1).png, Screenshot (2).png, and so on).
Using Print Screen on a Windows Tablet
If you are using a Windows 10 tablet device that may not have a physical PrntScrn key, you can achieve the same result of taking and saving a full-screen screenshot using device buttons:
- Press the Windows logo button + the volume down button together.
This action performs the same function as the keyboard shortcut, capturing the screen and saving the image file directly into the Screenshots folder within your Pictures folder.
Summary Table
| Method | Key Combination | Action | Save Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard Shortcut | Windows logo key + PrntScrn | Capture & Save Full Screen | Pictures -> Screenshots folder |
| Tablet Button Shortcut | Windows logo button + Volume Down button | Capture & Save Full Screen | Pictures -> Screenshots folder |
This method of pressing the Windows key + PrntScrn is a direct way to "control" the Print Screen function to ensure your captured image is immediately saved as a file in a designated location in Windows 10.
