Print screen not working is often a false alarm: the first surprise for many people is that the key may be doing its job. A plain PrtSc press copies the screen to the clipboard silently, with no sound and no file, so it looks as if nothing happened. You must paste it into a program to see it.
If pasting also shows nothing, the cause is a locked function row on a laptop, a shortcut that has been reassigned, a protected screen that cannot be captured, or a capture app that needs repair. The steps below start with the easy checks and end with repairs, and they cover both the Print Screen key and the newer Win + Shift + S capture shortcut.
Common causes
1The screenshot went to the clipboard only
How to tellNo file appears, but pasting shows the image
What fixes itPaste with Ctrl + V into Paint or a document, or use Win + PrtSc to save a file
2Fn key is needed on this laptop
How to tellPrtSc does nothing alone; the label is a second function
What fixes itPress Fn + PrtSc, or turn off the Fn lock
3Key is shared with another function on small keyboards
How to tellKey says PrtSc and Insert, or PrtSc and a symbol
What fixes itTry Fn with the key, or Alt with Fn
4Capture shortcut is turned off
How to tellWin + Shift + S does nothing
What fixes itCheck Accessibility keyboard settings for the Print screen option and restart the capture app
5Protected video or app blocks capture
How to tellScreenshot is black or blank
What fixes itUse the program's own screenshot option, or capture a window that is not protected
6Capture app is damaged or outdated
How to tellApp opens and closes at once, or the toolbar never shows
What fixes itRepair or reset it in Installed apps
7Full screen game or software uses the key
How to tellWorks on the desktop but not inside a game
What fixes itUse the game bar capture or the game's own setting
How to fix it, step by step
Press PrtSc and paste into Paint
Press PrtSc once. Open Paint from Start and press Ctrl + V. If the picture appears, the key is working and Windows just did not save a file. Use File then Save as to keep it.
Use Win + PrtSc to save a file straight away
Press Win + PrtSc. The screen dims for a moment, and the picture is saved in the Pictures folder inside a folder named Screenshots. This is the best choice when you need a file without pasting.
Try the Fn combination on laptops
On many laptops, you need Fn + PrtSc, or Fn + Windows key + PrtSc. Look for a PrtSc label printed in a different colour, which shows it needs Fn. If the key works with Fn only, you can change the Fn lock in the keyboard's settings or with Fn + Esc.
Use the capture shortcut instead
Press Win + Shift + S and drag a box over the part of the screen you want. The picture goes to the clipboard and a small pop up appears; click it to open and save. It is the recommended way on current Windows.
Check the Print screen setting
In Settings, open Accessibility, pick the keyboard page, and find the option that lets the Print screen button open screen capture. Turn it on or off to see which behaviour you prefer, and restart if it does not respond.
Close programs that grab the key
Cloud sync tools, screen recorders and keyboard utilities can claim the PrtSc key. Close them one at a time or check their settings for a shortcut to screenshots, then press the key again.
Repair or reset the capture app
Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps, find the screenshot tool, open Advanced options and choose Repair. If that fails, choose Reset. Update the app from the Store afterwards.
Restart Explorer and check updates
Restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager, then install pending Windows updates. A recent update often repairs a broken capture shortcut.
Print screen not working: where do my screenshots go
| Shortcut | Result |
|---|---|
| PrtSc | Whole screen to the clipboard only |
| Alt + PrtSc | Active window to the clipboard only |
| Win + PrtSc | Whole screen saved to Pictures, Screenshots |
| Win + Shift + S | Box capture to the clipboard, with a pop up to save |
If you cannot find a file, remember that clipboard-only shortcuts never create one. Press Win + V to see recent clipboard items if clipboard history is on.
Snipping tool not working in Windows 11
The built-in snipping app can fail to open after an update or when its data is damaged. Repair and reset in the Installed apps list solve most cases. If the Win + Shift + S shortcut flashes and nothing is captured, check that the pop up is not blocked by Focus mode, which hides notifications. Then paste straight away, because the image is already on the clipboard.
You press Win + Shift + S, drag a box, and no pop up appears. Try Ctrl + V in a chat window or document first. The image is often already there.
Black or blank screenshots
Banking apps, some video players and streaming services block capture on purpose to protect content. A black picture there is normal, not a fault. Try a screenshot of a different window to confirm the key works. If everything comes out black, get a newer display driver, either from Windows Update or from the laptop maker's support page. Also see laptop screen not working if the display itself flickers.
Screenshot not working on a phone
Many searches for this problem are about phones. On most Android phones you press the power and volume down buttons together; on an iPhone with Face ID you press the side button and volume up together. If a button is faulty, see phone power button not working and volume button not working. Some apps block screenshots on purpose.
When the key itself is the issue
When other shortcut keys fail too, the guides on Windows key not working and some keyboard keys not working may help. A single dead PrtSc key on a laptop is cheap to work around with the capture shortcut, so replacement is rarely worth the cost.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my print screen not working on Windows 11?
The key may be working and just copying to the clipboard. Paste into Paint to check, or press Win and PrtSc together to save a file. On laptops you may need to hold Fn as well.
Why is my print screen button not working on a laptop?
Plain PrtSc saves nothing as a file. It copies the image to the clipboard. Win and PrtSc together save to the Screenshots folder inside Pictures.
Why is my snipping tool not working?
It may be damaged or blocked by notifications being off. Repair or reset it in Installed apps, and try pasting after the capture because the image may already be on the clipboard.
Why does my screenshot come out black?
Protected video and some apps block capture on purpose. If all captures are black, update the graphics driver.
Is the Print Screen key different from a printer?
Yes. Print Screen has nothing to do with printing. If your printer fails, see the printer not working guide instead.