How to Screenshot Only the Active Window on Windows
Taking a screenshot on your Windows PC is sometimes necessary, but snapping an image of just a window is more complicated than it seems. You want to capture what you’re working on but none of your important, confidential, or sensitive information, especially if you will be sharing it with the world. Luckily, there is a simple solution.
Here’s how to take a screenshot of just the open window you’re working on.
How the PrintScreen Function Works
When you press thePrtScrbutton on your computer, your entire screen as it appears to you, minus a few things (such as the mouse pointer), is copied to the clipboard. You then have to paste this clipboard data into an image processing program – Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop, and the like – before saving it as an image file.
You could shorten this process and have Windows create an image file for you. Do this by holding down the Windows button while pressing thePrtScrbutton on your keyboard. This image will be saved in PNG format, and by default will be located at the following address:
Here, [Current_User] is a placeholder for the name of your Windows User profile.
If you want a screenshot of just the active window, you’ll have to edit this image and crop out the parts you don’t want. However, you can simplify the process even further.
How to Take a Screenshot of Only the Active Window on Windows
Taking a screenshot of just the open window is actually quite easy: just hold down theAltkey on your keyboard when you pressPrtScr. This will add an active window screenshot to the clipboard, which you’re able to paste elsewhere.
Windows, by itself, doesn’t have a way to save active window screenshots when you take them. However, you can use the Xbox Game Bar to do this instead. It should be on your Windows PC by default, but if it’s not, you can download it from theMicrosoft Apps store.
Once it’s on your PC, pressWin + Alt + PrtScrto immediately save a screenshot of the active window to your computer. Because we’re using the Xbox Game Bar instead of Windows' default tools, your screenshot will appear in a different location than normal:
Don’t be fooled; despite the fact that we’re taking screenshots, the Xbox Game Bar puts the images in the Videos folder instead.
Alternatively, Use a Screenshotting Tool
If you don’t want to use hotkeys to take your screenshot, you canuse the Windows Snipping Toolinstead. You’ll have to manually select the window you want to capture, but it gives you a lot more control over the final result.
And if that’s not up to scratch, thebest screenshot apps for Windowsgive you even more power over your screenshots and how you take them. This includes taking active window screenshots quickly and easily.
A Simple Way to Improve Your Productivity
Windows 10 has many less well-known features that can make your life easier. Now you know how to take a screenshot of the active window without needing to crop it in an image editor.
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