Taking a screenshot on your computer is a useful skill to have, especially when you need to capture something quickly for reference or sharing with others. In this tutorial, we will cover several methods on how to take a screenshot in Windows 8.1.
Method 1: Using the Share Feature
The first method we will cover is using the share feature on the new “Charms Bar”. To do this, open the app you want to share (for testing we will use the “Weather” app). Open the “Charms Bar” by bringing the mouse to either the top or bottom right corner of the screen or by using the keyboard shortcut of “Windows Key + C”. Select “Share” on the charms bar and click on the drop-down menu at the top. Select “Screenshot” and choose the app you want to share it with. If you select Mail, it will open the screenshot in the Mail app. Note that there is no option here to save the screenshot.
Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
The best method is to use the keyboard shortcut of “Windows Key + Print Screen”. If you have a touch screen device, press and hold the Windows button and the volume down button. The button combination may be different depending on the manufacturer. When you take the screenshot, the screen will temporarily dim to show it was taken. Using this method takes the screenshot and places it directly in the pictures folder. Select the Photos app, where a folder called “Screenshots” will be created. All screenshots taken using this method are saved directly to this folder.
Method 3: Using the Snipping Tool
The last method we will review is using the “Snipping Tool”. The Snipping Tool allows you to take screenshots of the entire screen or just parts of the screen and also allows for editing of the screenshot.
To use the Snipping Tool, navigate back to the “Start Screen” and select the “All Apps” button to open the “Apps View”. Scroll to the right, under “Windows Accessories” select “Snipping Tool”. The “Snipping Tool” will open to the Windows desktop. If you click the down arrow to the right of the “New” button, you can see the four available options:
– Full-screen Snip: Takes a screenshot of the entire screen.
– Window Snip: Allows you to take a screenshot of a single open window.
– Rectangular Snip: Allows you to select part of the screen by dragging a box around the part you want to capture.
– Free-form Snip: Allows you to select part of the screen by drawing a line around the part you want to capture.
After the image is captured, it will open to allow further editing. There are multiple colored pens that you can use to mark up the image, a highlighter that can be used to draw attention to areas of interest, and an eraser that removes markups individually from the pen or highlighter. After the screen capture is edited to your satisfaction, click on the “Save” button, select a location and name for the file, and select the “Save” button.
In conclusion, taking a screenshot on Windows 8.1 is a simple process with several methods to choose from. Whether you prefer using the Share feature, keyboard shortcuts, or the Snipping Tool, you can capture and save screenshots quickly and easily for future use.