How to Take Screenshots on Microsoft Surface Tablet
Have no idea to take screenshots on a Surface tablet? Actually, capturing screenshots on a Surface is easier than you think. This tutorial describes 3 ways to take screenshots on Window 10 Microsoft Tablet.
- Option 1: Use Windows logo/Power + Volume Down button
- Option 2: Use Print Screen key
- Option 3: Use Snipping tool
Option 1: Using Windows logo/Power + Volume Down button
This is the fastest way to take a screenshot on your Surface devices. Here is how:
On Surface 3 device
Hold down the Windows logo in the front of the device and then push the volume-down button. The screen will dim briefly as the screen is recorded and saved to the Screenshots folder of your Pictures library under This PC.
On Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book
Hold down power button and then press the volume-down button to take a screenshot. The screenshot will be saved in the Screenshots folder under This PC.
Option 2: Take Screenshots via Printscreen key
If your type cover has a PrtScn key, you can take a screenshot by holding down the Windows key on your keyboard and pressing PrtScn. The screen will be saved to the Screenshots folder of your Pictures library under This PC.
You can also just press the PrtScn by itself. But your screenshots will be saved in the Screenshots folder of your Pictures library on OneDrive.
Option 3: Capture Screenshots via Snipping Tool
There's a built-in screenshot program in Windows called Snipping Tool that offers more functionality than the above methods. With this tool, you can take screenshots of the full desktop, an active window, or just the part you select. You can save your screen to a place of your choosing as a PNG, GIF, JPEG, or HTML file. Here is how:
Step 1: Open Snipping tool.
On Windows 10 tablet, select the Start button, type snipping tool in the Search box on the taskbar, and then select Snipping Tool from the list of results.
Step 2: Capture a snip.
In the Snipping tool, click New to start.
Step 3: Click and drag the cursor when it turns into a crosshair, which allows you to draw a rectangle around the area of the screen you want to capture.
Step 4: After you capture a snip, select the Save Snip button.
In the Save As box, type a file name, location, and then select Save.
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You have options: Print Screen, Snip & Sketch, and more
What to Know
- Press the Print Screen key(abbreviated as PrtScn) to copy a screenshot to the Windows clipboard.
- You can then paste it to your favorite image editor or directly to social media sites.
- If enabled, Print Screen will also save a screenshot to OneDrive.
This article explains how to take a screenshot on any Surface laptop model and includes tips on pasting and editing the screenshot.
How to Screenshot on a Surface Laptop With the Print Screen Button
Here's the quickest way to take screenshots on a Surface Laptop, though not the most flexible.
Press the Print Screenkey, abbreviated as PrtScn, to take a screenshot on any Surface laptop immediately. The screenshot is copied to the Windows Clipboard.
The Print Screen key won't work if the Function key (abbreviated as Fn) is active. The Function key has a small indicator light to show it's active. It shouldn't be lit. If it is, press the Function key to toggle it off.
Once copied to the Clipboard, you can paste the screenshot to any image editing app, document, or social media site. Place the mouse cursor where you'd like to paste the screenshot and press Ctrl+V on the laptop's keyboard.
How to Screenshot on a Surface Laptop With OneDrive
Windows saves screenshots taken with Print Screen to the clipboard by default, but it can also save screenshots to OneDrive if you have a OneDrive account connected to the laptop. Here's how to enable it.
Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the Windows taskbar and then select Settings.
Click Backup tab.
Select the checkbox next to Automatically save screenshots as I capture to OneDrive. Tap Ok to save your settings and exit the window.
Tap Ok to save your settings and exit the window.
How to Screenshot on a Surface Laptop With Snip & Sketch
Snip & Sketch is an app bundled into Windows 10 used to take and edit screenshots quickly. It includes markup capabilities. You can use a Surface Pen to draw on and edit the screenshot immediately.
Press Windows+Shift+S to open Snip & Sketch.
The Surface Laptop's display will dim, and four buttons will appear at the top. These let you take different types of screenshots. Tap one of these options.
A notification will appear in the Notification Center once you take the screenshot. Click it to open the screenshot in Snip & Sketch.
Once open, you can edit the screenshot using the tools found in Snip & Skitch or, if no edits are required, tap the Save icon to save a copy of the screenshot.
How to Screenshot on a Surface Laptop With the Touchscreen
All the methods described so far rely on the keyboard. Unlike a Surface Book or Surface Pro, the Surface Laptop's keyboard is not detachable and should always be available. Still, you may not want to use the keyboard. Here's how to screenshot with the touchscreen instead.
Tap the Notification Center icon in the far right-hand corner of the Windows taskbar.
Select Expand, which is found just above the row of large, rectangular tile buttons in the lower right-hand corner.
Tap Screen Snip. This will launch Snip & Sketch.
The Surface Laptop's display will dim, and four buttons will appear at the top. These let you take different types of screenshots. Tap one of these options.
A notification will appear in the Notification Center once you take the screenshot. Click it to open the screenshot in Snip & Sketch.
The touchscreen method is a good workaround if your keyboard isn't working properly. It's also useful if you own the Surface Pen. You can take and then edit a screenshot without putting the Pen down.
FAQ
How do I take a screenshot on the Surface Pro?
You can use the Print Screen and Snip & Sketch steps outlined above to take a screenshot on a Surface Pro. Surface Pro models also come with a handy button shortcut. In newer models, it's a combination of the Volume and Power buttons.
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