In Windows 11, the Snipping Tool is your go-to for capturing screen moments. But how do you use it to the max? Let's break it down. We'll explore its modes and settings, not just the 'how', but also the 'why' and 'what-if'. With insights from real users, we'll cover taking, editing, and saving screenshots. Together, we'll make the Snipping Tool a breeze!
Part 1: Introduction to the Snipping Tool in Windows 11
The Snipping Tool, a versatile screenshot utility, comes preinstalled in Windows 11, providing users with a seamless way to capture images. Similar to its predecessor in Windows 10, the tool's interface retains a striking resemblance, ensuring familiarity for existing users. This section offers a concise overview of its features, advantages, and potential drawbacks. Additionally, we'll guide you to the location of the executable (.exe) file, allowing for easy access and customization.
The Snipping Tool also includes a number of features that make it a powerful tool for taking screenshots. For example, you can use the Snipping Tool to:
Add annotations to your screenshots: You can use the Snipping Tool to add text, arrows, and other annotations to your screenshots.
Delay the capture: You can use the Snipping Tool to delay the capture by a few seconds. This can be useful for taking screenshots of menus or other objects that disappear quickly.
Capture multiple screenshots: You can use the Snipping Tool to capture multiple screenshots in a row. This can be useful for creating a series of screenshots that show a process or workflow.
Features:
Simple and easy to use
Four snipping modes: Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, and Full-screen Snip
Ability to add annotations to screenshots
Ability to delay the capture
Ability to capture multiple screenshots
Pros:
Free and preinstalled with Windows 11
Easy to use
A variety of features for taking screenshots
Cons:
Some features, such as the ability to capture scrolling windows, are not available in the Snipping Tool
The interface is a bit outdated
Location of the .exe file:
The .exe file for the Snipping Tool is located in the following directory:
C:\Windows\System32\SnippingTool.exe
You can also open the Snipping Tool by searching for it in the Start menu.
Note: Windows 10 has the same snipping tool as Windows 11, and the interface is very similar.
Part 2: [2023 Update] New OCR Feature for Snipping Tool in Windows 11
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a transformative technology that enables the conversion of text within images or scanned documents into editable, digital content. This section sheds light on the significance of OCR technology, emphasizing its role in enhancing text accessibility and digitalizing information from physical sources.
Microsoft is currently developing an OCR feature for the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. This feature will allow users to extract text from screenshots and save it as a text file. The OCR feature is expected to be released in a future update to Windows 11.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the upcoming OCR feature in the Snipping Tool:
Pros:
The ability to extract text from screenshots will make it easier to share and edit text from images.
The OCR feature could be useful for a variety of tasks, such as extracting text from scanned documents or photos of signs and billboards.
The OCR feature could also be useful for people with visual impairments, as it would allow them to access text from images that they would otherwise not be able to read.
Cons:
The OCR feature is not yet available, so it is unclear how well it will work in practice.
It is also unclear what languages the OCR feature will support.
The OCR feature may not be able to extract text from all types of images, such as images with low contrast or images with complex backgrounds.
Overall, the upcoming OCR feature in the Snipping Tool is a welcome addition. It could be a useful tool for a variety of tasks, and it could make digital content more accessible to people with visual impairments. However, it is important to note that the OCR feature is not yet available, so it is unclear how well it will work in practice.
e.g., can not convert text to Excel
It is important to note that the OCR feature in the Snipping Tool is designed to extract text from images and save it as a text file. It is not designed to convert text to other formats, such as Excel.
If you need to convert text to Excel, you can use a dedicated OCR software program or a web-based OCR service. There are a number of free and paid OCR options available.
Part 3: How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11 (A Comprehensive Guide)
In this section, we'll provide you with a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make the most of the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. To ensure clarity, we've included screenshots for each step. Remember to pay attention to the bolded keywords for easy navigation.
Method 1: Screen Snipping by Hotkey or Shortcut (Rectangular Mode)
Step 1: Press the Windows logo key + Shift + S.
Step 2: Select Rectangular Snip from the menu.
Step 3: Drag your mouse cursor over the area of the screen you want to capture.
Step 4: Release the mouse button to capture the screenshot.
Step 5: The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
Step 6: Paste the screenshot into any program or document.
This is my favorite method for taking screenshots because it is the fastest and easiest. I like that I can simply press a keyboard shortcut and then start taking my screenshot without having to open any additional programs.
Method 2: Take a Screenshot from an Active Window
Step 1: Press Alt + Print Screen.
Step 2: The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
Step 3: Paste the screenshot into any program or document.
This method is useful for taking screenshots of specific windows, such as dialog boxes or error messages. It is also faster than using the hotkey method if I only need to take a screenshot of a single window.
Method 3: Take a Screenshot of the Entire Screen
Step 1: Press Print Screen.
Step 2: The screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.
Step 3: Paste the screenshot into any program or document.
This method is useful for taking screenshots of specific windows, such as dialog boxes or error messages. It is also faster than using the hotkey method if I only need to take a screenshot of a single window.
Method 4: Freeform Snipping Mode
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool.
Step 2: Select the Freeform Snip option.
Step 3: Drag your mouse cursor over the area of the screen you want to capture.
Step 4: Release the mouse button to capture the screenshot.
Step 5: The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
This method is useful for taking screenshots of irregular shapes, such as buttons or menus. I also use this method to take screenshots of specific objects on the screen, such as a cursor or a highlighted area.
Method 5: Delayed Snipping Mode
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool.
Step 2: Click the Delay button.
Step 3: Select the number of seconds you want to delay the capture.
Step 4: Click OK.
Step 5: Click the New button.
Step 6: Start taking your screenshot.
Step 7: The screenshot will be captured after the selected number of seconds.
Step 8: The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard.
This method is useful for taking screenshots of things that happen quickly, such as pop-up windows or error messages. I also use this method to take screenshots of things that I need to prepare for, such as a specific step in a tutorial.
I find that the hotkey method is the fastest and easiest way to take screenshots, but it is not as versatile as some of the other methods. For example, if I need to take a screenshot of a specific window or irregular shape, I need to use a different method.
The delayed snipping mode is very useful for taking screenshots of things that happen quickly, but it can be frustrating if I am not careful. For example, if I delay the capture for too long, I may miss the screenshot altogether.
Overall, I recommend using the method that works best for your specific needs. If you are unsure which method to use, I recommend starting with the hotkey method and then experimenting with the other methods as needed.
Part 4: How to Edit the Screenshot in Windows 11
In this section, we'll walk you through the process of editing screenshots in Windows 11 using the built-in app. We've included screenshots for each step, and important keywords are bolded for easy reference.
Step 1: Navigate to the Image File
Locate the saved screenshot on your computer. Typically, it will be in the "Pictures" folder, within a subfolder named "Screenshots."
Step 2: Open and Edit Your Screenshot (Using Built-in App)
Right-click on the screenshot image and select "Open with" from the context menu. Choose "Photos."
In the Photos app, click on the "Edit & Create" button at the top right corner of the window.
Use the editing tools provided by the Photos app to make adjustments to your screenshot. This may include cropping, rotating, adding text, or applying filters.
Once you're satisfied with the edits, click on "Save" to save the edited version.
By following these steps, you'll be able to efficiently edit your screenshots using the built-in app in Windows 11.
Part 5: How to Extract Text from the Screenshot for Free in Windows 11 via WPS PDF
WPS PDF is a free and powerful PDF editor for Windows 11. It offers a variety of features, including the ability to create, edit, and convert PDF files. WPS PDF also includes a built-in OCR feature, which allows you to extract text from images, including screenshots.
Advantages and functions of the WPS PDF OCR feature:
High accuracy: The WPS PDF OCR feature is highly accurate, even when extracting text from images with low contrast or complex backgrounds.
Support for multiple languages: The WPS PDF OCR feature supports a wide range of languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and French.
Conversion to Word and Excel: The WPS PDF OCR feature can extract text from images and convert it to Word or Excel documents. This makes it easy to edit and share the extracted text.
How to Use the OCR Feature in WPS PDF Editor
To extract text from a screenshot using WPS PDF Editor, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open WPS PDF Editor.
Step 2: Click the Open button and select the screenshot image that you want to extract text from.
Step 3: Click the OCR button in the top toolbar.
Step 4: Select the desired OCR language from the drop-down menu.
Step 5: Click the OK button to start the OCR process.
Step 6: Once the OCR process is complete, the extracted text will be displayed in a new window.
Step 7: You can now edit the extracted text or save it to a file.
The WPS PDF OCR feature is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for extracting text from screenshots. It is a good choice for users who need to extract text from images for editing or sharing purposes.
FAQs
1. Can I use the snipping tool to capture video or recordings?
Yes, you can use the Snipping Tool to capture video or recordings, but only on Windows 11.
2. Is the snipping tool available on Windows 11 Home edition?
Yes, the snipping tool is available in all editions of Windows 11, including the Home edition. You can use it to capture screenshots in various modes like rectangular, freeform, window, and full-screen.
3. Are there any alternatives to snipping tools in Windows 11?
Yes, there are several alternatives to the built-in snipping tool in Windows 11. Some popular alternatives include:
Snip & Sketch: This is a modern screenshot tool provided by Microsoft. It offers more features and flexibility compared to the traditional snipping tool.
Greenshot: It's a free and open-source screenshot tool that allows for easy capturing, annotating, and sharing of screenshots.
Lightshot: This is a lightweight screenshot tool that provides a simple interface for capturing and editing screenshots.
ShareX: ShareX is a powerful and feature-rich screen capture tool that also supports recording, editing, and sharing of screenshots and screen recordings.
Snagit: While not free, Snagit offers advanced features for capturing and editing screenshots, making it a popular choice for professionals.
Depending on your specific needs and preferences, you can choose the one that best suits you. Each of these tools has its own set of features and capabilities.
Summary
In this comprehensive guide to using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, we delve into every facet of this indispensable feature. From its introduction to the intricacies of its various modes and settings, we provide step-by-step instructions complemented by insightful tips.
Additionally, we highlight the integration of OCR technology in Windows 11, showcasing its potential and limitations. For advanced editing, we explore the built-in capabilities of Windows 11, ensuring you master the art of refining your screenshots. Finally, we introduce WPS PDF and its OCR feature, empowering you to extract text effortlessly. Throughout, our emphasis remains on leveraging WPS PDF as a powerful tool in your Windows 11 arsenal.
