9 Snipping Tool Keyboard Shortcuts In Windows 10/11

Snipping Tool is the default screenshot-capturing utility in Windows 10/11. Introduced first with Windows Vista, the Snipping Tool allows you to capture the entire screen, window, or a specific area on the screen.

In the latest Windows 10/11, the Snipping Tool has received some improvements. It now comes with a delay option using which you can capture the screen after a delay of up to 5 seconds. The feature comes in handy while capturing menus. Although the Snipping Tool does not support video capture in Windows 10, it offers a screen recording feature in the newest version of Windows 11.

Most PC users often use the Snipping Tool to capture screenshots. If you also often use the Snipping Tool, you might be interested in using keyboard shortcuts to capture the screen using Sniping Tool quickly.

While there is no dedicated keyboard shortcut out there to launch the Snipping Tool, you can create a keyboard shortcut to open the Snipping Tool either by creating a shortcut of Snipping Tool and then assigning a keyboard shortcut for it or by pining the Sniping Tool to the taskbar.

NOTE: We recommend you go through our Windows 10 Snipping Tool Tips and Tricks guide to learn more about the Snipping Tool.

Snipping Tool keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10

NOTE: Some of these keyboard shortcuts do not work in Windows 11. For Windows 11 shortcuts, please scroll down the page.

After launching the Snipping Tool, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts:

Windows logo + Shift + S – global hotkey to start a snip

Alt + M – Choose a snipping mode

Ctrl + S – Save the captured snip

Alt + N – Create a new snip using the last used mode

Ctrl + N – Create a new snip

Alt + D – Delay capture by 1-5 seconds

(After pressing Alt +D, you need to use the down arrow key to select the delay)

Shift + arrow keys – Move the cursor to select a rectangular snip area

Ctrl + C – Copy the captured snip to the clipboard

Esc – Cancel the snip selection

Ctrl + P – Print the snip

After capturing a screenshot, you can press the Alt key > press T > press P, H, or E to choose a pen, highlighter, or eraser, respectively.

Snipping Tool keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11

Windows logo + Shift + S – hotkey to start a snip from anywhere

Ctrl + N – Create a new snip

Alt + O – Select a snipping mode (after pressing Alt + O, use the up/down arrow keys to select a mode)

Alt + D – Delay capture by 1-10 seconds (after pressing Alt + D, use the up/down arrow keys to select a delay time)

Ctrl + O – Open a file

Ctrl + P – print a captured snip

Shift + arrow keys – Move the cursor to select a rectangular snip area (after starting a rectangular snip)

Esc – cancel a selected snip area

Alt + S – Save a captured snip

Alt + C – Copy a captured snip

Alt + H – Select highlighter

Alt + B – Select ballpoint pen

Alt + E – Select eraser

Alt + L – Select ruler

Alt + I – Select crop