[techtalk] WINDOWS - There's More to the Print Screen (PrtSc) Button

Thu Sep 11 08:43:02 PDT 2025

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WINDOWS - There's More to the Print Screen (PrtSc) Button

Intermediate

[A keyboard with a red highlight around the PrtScn (Print Screen) key above the Backspace key.]

Have you ever struggled to describe a problem you were having with your computer? Sometimes explaining just won't do. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

On most computers, you can take a snapshot of your entire screen with the push of a button. The key is called PrtSc or Print Screen, and it's on the top right of your keyboard.

This feature allows you to share exactly what is on your screen with others. For instance, showing a problem, or error message, to your computer technician would help considerably, right? It would shorten the understanding time and make the situation easier to fix.

Here are some other times when the Print Screen function can be useful such as:
1.  Getting a proof of purchase online
2.  Capturing a webpage
3.  Showing steps in a tutorial
4.  Documenting a chat or social media post
5.  Saving a chart or image that you can't download

Of course, things can vary depending on your Windows settings. By default, the PrtScn (Print Screen) button takes a screenshot of your entire screen ... and puts the whole image on your clipboard.

But on newer versions of Windows you can reassign the button so that pressing it opens the Snipping Tool (Snip & Sketch) ... which means you can capture any portion of the screen you designate. We'll show you how down below.

How to Take a Screen Print ... of All That is Showing

It's easy to print your screen. When you have something on your computer that you want to capture:

1.  Find and press the PrtSc button.
2.  This puts the screen print (your whole screen) onto your clipboard.
3.  Insert the capture into where you'd like to share it ... such as an email, a Word doc or a PowerPoint slide.

Example: For the image below, you see the full screen ... in this case, three windows that are open on the computer. This is what you'll get when you print the screen.

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/6e2ff912-86bb-4f11-b5ec-365fd9ca5bc3.png?rdr=true]

What if you want Just ONE Window of Your Screen?

Sometimes, you might want to take a picture of just one open window ... instead of the whole screen. This is especially useful if you'd like to show a specific item.
1.  Make sure the window you want to capture is on top.
2.  Hold the ALT key + the PrtSc button.
3.  This puts the image (the top window) onto your clipboard.
4.  Then follow step #3 above to paste the image where you'd like.

In this example, you see the exact window you want to copy (the one on top in the image above).

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/a0a08869-da6c-4cac-8583-72f4ad10825a.png?rdr=true]

Switching the PrtSc Button to a Snipping Tool

You may find that instead of getting a screen print when you press the PrtSc button, you get a Snipping Tool ... which lets you select just the area you want to capture. You can change the default ... choosing which function you want the button to have.

If you want to change the settings so that you can use this key as a snipping tool (also referred to as a screen capture):
1.  Open your computer settings.
2.  From the list, select Accessibility (sometimes called Ease of Access in Windows 10).
3.  On the Accessibility page, scroll down and click on keyboard.
4.  Turn off (or on) the option that says "Use the print screen key to open up screen capture."

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Communications: Talking

Solve problems with "fair and reasonable"

I love using the words, "fair and reasonable"!

They go together so well. They pack a powerful punch for gaining agreement on something specific such as a project deadline, a budget amount or an approach.

·     "Is the end of next week a fair and reasonable deadline?"
·     "Does $1,500 sound like a fair and reasonable budget?"
·     "Would talking to students first be a fair and reasonable approach?"

A Great Twist

You can also gain insight to unspoken assumptions by asking this as an open-ended question of someone.

·     "What would be a fair and reasonable date to have this finished?"
·     "What would you consider as a fair and reasonable budget amount?"
·     "What do you think would be a fair and reasonable approach to this project?"

Handling Problems

What about resolving problems ... finding a solution that works for both parties? Ask the other individual, what they think the answer could be. And if you use this specific phrase, you're more likely to get an answer you can support.

·     "What do you think would be a fair and reasonable way to handle this?"
·     "This is a tricky situation. What would be a fair and reasonable solution?"
·     "What do you think is a fair and reasonable way to fix this problem?"

Typically, you'll find others tell you exactly what they are thinking when you use these two words so that you can come to an understanding quickly and agreeably.

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