Probably every Windows user is familiar with the Snipping Tool present in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. Although most users know how to take a snapshot using the Snipping tool, many of them don’t know how to take a snapshot of the Start menu or a context menu using the same tool.
Have you ever tried to take the snapshot of the desktop context menu (right-click menu)? Chances are that you were not successful in doing so. Because, by default, you can’t take the snapshot of a context menu or the Start menu using the Windows Snipping Tool.
But there is a hidden and easy way to take a snapshot of the context menu and other areas that you can’t usually take a snap of with the built-in Snipping Tool in Windows 10/8/7.
If you’re on Windows 10, use can use the new delay or timer feature in Snipping Tool to capture the context menu.
Take a snapshot of menus in Windows
Here is how to take a snapshot of a context menu or the Start menu in Windows 7:
1. Launch the Snipping Tool.
2. Press Esc button to minimize it.
3. Now, open Start menu or a context menu that you want to take the snapshot.
4. Press Ctrl + Print Screen keys to take the snapshot of the opened Start menu or context menu.
5. Save the snapshot and you are Done! As simple as that!
Thanks to our active reader “Rob” for this tip.
raju singh says
In Windows XP and previous versions of Windows, taking a snapshot of a window or screen was a farely easy step.One had to first press the Print Screen key on the keyboard, open Paint program and then press Ctrl + V hotkey to take the snapshot. i am the visually impaired student of software enginering, and as per our teacher recommendation, unwillingly we had to format our laptop with windows 7. really scare that in windows 7 one has to drag by using the mouse to any program which we want to take a snap to the snipping tools. and as i am only the keyboard/jaws user, i had to take the help of sighted person to do the job for me. now by reading this above article, i no longer need any sighted one to do, as we have to submit lots of assignment, lab practicals, etc in which we have to show the whole computer screen along with tutorial. thanks a tonne for such a valuable articles!
snowdognz says
yeah, i figured that out by accident a while back. quite handy for writing computer tutorials.
:D
Ryan Dozier says
That’s a really good article. i didn’t know you could take a screen shot with snipping tool by pressing crtl + print screen.