How to Take Screenshot on HP Laptop & Desktop 2024 – A Comprehensive Guide

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How to Take Screenshot on HP Laptop

Taking screenshots on HP laptops and desktops can be very useful for capturing images of your screen to save or share. With the right keys or applications, taking screenshots on an HP device is quick and easy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover multiple methods for taking screenshots on HP laptops and desktops running Windows 10 or 11.

Why Take Screenshots on an HP Laptop or Desktop?

Here are some common reasons you may want to take a screenshot on your HP device:

  • To save a copy of something displayed on your screen such as an error message, online receipt, webpage, etc.
  • To capture a picture of your computer screen to demonstrate a problem or issue you are having.
  • To share images online of your gameplay, program usage, designs, or other on-screen activities.
  • To create visual directions by taking screenshots of each step.
  • To have a visual record of chat conversations, deals, auction bids, etc.
  • To make tutorials, presentations, reviews, reports, or documents showing images from your HP screen.
  • To grab meme images, profile pictures, or other graphics you want to save from websites.
  • To capture and share funny things you find on your computer.

Whatever your reason for needing screenshots, your HP laptop or desktop provides easy methods to take them quickly.

Ways to Take Screenshots on an HP Computer

There are several built-in ways to take screenshots on HP devices running Windows. The options below work for any HP laptop or desktop model:

Using the Print Screen Button

The fastest and easiest way to take a basic screenshot is by pressing the Print Screen (PrtScn) button.

Here is how to use it:

  • Go to the screen you want to capture on your HP device.
  • Press the Print Screen button on your keyboard. It may be labeled as PrtScn or have an icon like a page with corners folded.
  • The screenshot will be taken but won’t be visible on your screen.
  • Open an image editing program like Paint and paste (Ctrl + V) to save the image.

This captures a screenshot of your entire display. To take a screenshot of just one window or area, try the Snipping Tool method next.

Using the Snipping Tool

All Windows HP computers come with a free built-in Snipping Tool app you can use to make customized screenshots. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the screen you want to capture. Make sure any windows you want to screenshot are open and active.
  2. Type “Snipping Tool” in the taskbar search box and select the Snipping Tool app.
  3. When the app opens, click the “Mode” drop-down menu and select the type of screenshot you want:
    • Free-form Snip – Manually draw around the area to screenshot
    • Rectangular Snip – Drag the cursor to select a rectangular area to screenshot
    • Window Snip – Choose an open window to screenshot
    • Full-screen Snip – Capture the entire display
  4. Click New to take the screenshot. It will be saved within the Snipping Tool app so you can annotate or save it.

The Snipping Tool gives you precise control to grab exactly the screenshot content you want.

With the Print Screen SysRq Button

On many HP keyboards, especially laptop keyboards, you’ll find a Print Screen button labeled SysRq abbreviated as SysRq. This works the same as the regular Print Screen button to take a full screenshot of your display.

Press and hold the SysRq button then tap the Print Screen button to take the screenshot.

This method can help avoid any confusion between the SysRq button and Print Screen buttons placed close together on some HP models.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also take screenshots on an HP computer by using 2-key and 3-key keyboard shortcuts:

  • Alt + Print Screen– Takes a screenshot of just the currently active window.
  • Windows + Print Screen– Takes a full screenshot and automatically saves it as a screenshot filename like Screenshot (1).png in your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
  • Ctrl + Print Screen– Takes a screenshot and copies it to your clipboard so you can quickly paste it into a document.
  • Shift + Windows + S– Opens the Snipping Tool for taking customized screenshots.

These easy keyboard shortcuts allow you to capture screenshots without even needing to open an application. Just memorize the few you use most for quick access.

Using Game Bar

Windows 10 introduced a built-in gaming overlay called Game Bar that allows taking screenshots while playing PC games. Activate it:

  1. Open the game you want to take a screenshot in.
  2. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay while playing your game.
  3. Click the camera icon to take a screenshot instantly saved to your Videos > Captures folder.

You can also start recording or streaming your gameplay using Game Bar. Just avoid accidentally clicking buttons to prevent disrupting your game.

Third-Party Screenshot Tools

If you want advanced screenshot features like annotations, editing, uploads, etc. consider using a third-party screenshot program. Popular options include:

  • Lightshot– Provides tools for capturing, editing, and sharing screenshots. Lets you take scrolling screenshots.
  • ShareX– Open source program with custom capture options, effects, and uploads to image-sharing sites.
  • Snagit– Allows stepped captures, panoramic screenshots, basic edits, and annotations.
  • Greenshot– Easy to use for basic image capture and edits.

Check out reviews to choose a third-party screenshot tool providing the options you need if the built-in methods are too limited.

Screenshot Tips for HP Computers

Use these tips to take better screenshots and manage them more easily:

  • Clean up your screen before taking screenshots to present a neater image. Close unused windows, delete clutter, arrange items neatly, etc.
  • Resize windows you want to screenshot to show their maximum content by clicking the Restore Down/Maximize button.
  • Check your screenshot after taking it to make sure you captured the correct area at the right size.
  • Use keyboard shortcuts to avoid accidentally moving windows while taking screenshots.
  • Open screenshots in an image editor like Paint to crop them or make quick edits right after capturing.
  • Create a dedicated Screenshots folder to organize important images and access them easily.
  • Enable OneDrive to automatically back up screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen in the cloud.
  • Turn on timestamping to label when screenshots were taken if needed for reports, records, etc.
  • Use third-party tools for advanced editing, annotations, uploads, and organizational features.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to swiftly take excellent screenshots on any HP laptop or desktop. Refer to this guide anytime you need a refresher on the various methods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Taking Screenshots on HP Devices

Here are answers to some common questions about taking screenshots on HP laptops and desktops:

How do I set the screenshot save folder location?

Screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen are automatically saved to Pictures > Screenshots. To change this location:

  1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
  2. Under More Storage Settings, click Change Save Locations.
  3. Click Screenshots and choose the location you want to use instead, like your Documents folder.
  4. Click Apply to confirm the new save location.

Why are my screenshots black when I use the Print Screen button?

A completely black screenshot usually means you haven’t pasted the image into an editing program after taking it. The screenshot is saved temporarily so you need to immediately paste it with Ctrl + V to view and save it.

Can I edit screenshots right after taking them?

Yes, you can open screenshots in the Photos app or an editor like Paint immediately after capturing them. You can crop, rotate, annotate, or make other basic edits before saving. Some third-party screenshot tools also allow instant editing.

Does Windows 11 change the screenshot methods on HP devices?

No, the same Print Screen button and keyboard shortcuts work to capture screenshots on HP laptops and desktops whether they run Windows 10 or 11. The Snipping Tool and Game Bar are also still available.

How can I screenshot a single browser tab?

The full webpage will be captured when taking a screenshot normally. To get just the current tab, you need to use a browser extension or third-party program with tab capture options, like Lightshot.

Can I edit screenshots taken with the Snipping Tool?

Yes! The Snipping Tool lets you annotate, highlight, crop, and draw on the screenshots before saving them. You can also open screenshots in an editing program later.

Where does the Snipping Tool save screenshots?

Screenshots taken with the Snipping Tool are saved within the Snipping Tool app in the screen clip history. You need to manually save them from there to another location if you want to access them outside the app.

How do I capture a scrolling screenshot?

HP’s built-in tools don’t support scrolling screenshots. You’ll need a third-party program like Lightshot that includes scrolling capture features to take screenshots longer than your screen size.

Is there a way to take screenshots without using my hands?

Yes, you can use voice commands to take screenshots by saying “Hey Cortana, take a screenshot” if you have Cortana enabled. You can also set up the Xbox Accessories app to assign screenshot capture to an Xbox controller button press.

Conclusion

Capturing screenshots is a vital function for most PC users today. Following this guide, you should now feel comfortable taking screenshots quickly and easily on any HP laptop or desktop model.

Use the Print Screen button, Snipping Tool, keyboard shortcuts, Game Bar, or third-party apps to take standard, scrolling, annotated, and other screenshots types. Remember to organize and edit your screenshots so they are ready to save and share.

With the right tools and strategies, you can become a screenshot expert on your HP computer. Refer back to these tips whenever you need a refresher on the variety of capture options available. Taking screenshots on your HP desktop or laptop can then become second nature.

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