How to Take a Screenshot on a Dell Laptop: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever wanted to capture exactly what’s on your Dell laptop screen—maybe to save a funny meme, jot down an error message, or share part of a presentation—you’re in the right place. Screenshots are super handy, but figuring out how to take them, especially on different Dell models, can be confusing if you’re new to this. Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through it all. We’ll cover keyboard shortcuts, grabbing specific parts of your screen, where your screenshots get saved, and useful built-in tools you might not know about.

What Are the Keyboard Shortcuts to Take a Screenshot on a Dell Laptop?

Let’s start simple. The quickest way to take a screenshot is usually with keyboard shortcuts. But here’s the catch: Dell laptops come in all sorts of flavors, and sometimes the keys might be slightly different.

Here are the most common shortcuts you’ll use:

So, if you just press the PrtScn button on your Dell, your computer snaps the whole screen but doesn’t save it as a file right away. Instead, it’s ready for you to paste somewhere—like in Paint, Word, or an email—by pressing Ctrl + V.

Tip: On some newer Dell laptops, you might need to press Fn + PrtScn if your keyboard has multifunction keys, where the Print Screen is a secondary function. If you’re not sure, check the top row for a tiny PrtSc label.

Example Scenario

Imagine you’re on a Zoom call, and you want to capture just the chat window. Pressing Alt + PrtScn will capture only that window instead of your whole desktop cluttered with other apps. Handy, right?

How Can I Take a Screenshot of a Specific Window or Area on a Dell Laptop?

Now, what if you don’t want to screenshot everything? Maybe you want only a piece of your screen without cropping afterward. Here’s how you do it:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts with Selection

Press Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim, and your cursor changes into a crosshair. You can now:

• Click and drag to select a rectangular area.
• Use the toolbar at the top to choose other options like freeform snip, window snip, or full-screen snip.

Once you select the area, your screenshot is copied to the clipboard. A notification pops up—click it, and you can edit or save the image in the Snip & Sketch app.

Using the Snip & Sketch Tool Directly

If you want a bit more control:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type Snip & Sketch and open the app.
3. Click New at the top left.
4. Select the area or window you want to capture.

This tool also lets you annotate your screenshots, which is great if you want to highlight something important.

Using the Snipping Tool (Older Versions of Windows)

Some Dell laptops still have the classic Snipping Tool:

• Open Start, search for Snipping Tool.
• Click New.
• Drag the cursor to capture the area.
• Save the screenshot manually by clicking File > Save As.

Pro tip: The Snip & Sketch tool is replacing the old Snipping Tool in newer Windows versions, but both work similarly.

Where Are Screenshots Saved by Default on a Dell Laptop?

After you take a screenshot, you might wonder, “Okay… now where did it go?” The answer depends on which method you used:

If You Pressed PrtScn Alone

Nothing gets saved automatically. You need to paste (Ctrl + V) into an app like Paint, Word, or an email and save the image yourself.

If You Used Windows key + PrtScn

Your screenshot is saved automatically. Go to:

This PC > Pictures > Screenshots

You’ll see your screenshot here, named something like Screenshot (1).png.

If You Used Windows key + Shift + S

This copies the screenshot to the clipboard, but you have to save it yourself by clicking the notification or pasting it into an app.

Saving Your Screenshot

If you want to save a clipboard screenshot:

• Open Paint (search it in Start).
• Press Ctrl + V to paste.
• Click File > Save as, choose PNG or JPEG, and pick a folder.

Quick FAQ Table

Are There Built-in Tools on Dell Laptops for Taking Screenshots?

Absolutely. You don’t need to download anything extra. Dell laptops run Windows, so you get:

1. Snip & Sketch

This is a built-in Windows 10 and 11 tool. It’s fast, user-friendly, and lets you capture the entire screen, a window, or a user-drawn area. Plus, you can annotate screenshots within the app.

Open it by pressing Windows key + Shift + S or searching for it in the Start menu.

2. Snipping Tool

The old faithful from Windows. It’s still around in many Dell laptops. It offers similar functionality but less polished than Snip & Sketch.

3. Xbox Game Bar

You might not think of this for screenshots, but pressing Windows key + G opens Xbox Game Bar even on Dell laptops. You can take screenshots here by clicking the camera icon or pressing Windows key + Alt + PrtScn. This is mostly for gamers, but it works fine for anyone.

4. Dell PremierColor (on some models)

Certain Dell laptops, like the XPS series, have Dell PremierColor software for color calibration. Though it’s not for screenshots per se, it sometimes integrates with screen capture functions for professional users. Not something most beginners need, but good to know.

Troubleshooting Common Screenshot Problems on Dell Laptops

Q: My Print Screen key doesn’t work. What should I do?

• Try pressing Fn + PrtScn—some Dell laptops need the Function key to access Print Screen.
• Check if your keyboard has a dedicated PrtScn or if it’s combined with another function (like Insert).
• If nothing helps, try using Snip & Sketch (Windows + Shift + S)—it usually works regardless.

Q: How do I capture just part of the screen?

• The quickest way is Windows + Shift + S to open the selection tool.
• Avoid pressing just PrtScn because it snaps the whole screen.

Q: I can’t find my saved screenshots.

• If you used Windows + PrtScn, check Pictures > Screenshots.
• Otherwise, your shots are likely on the clipboard waiting to be pasted.

Final Thoughts: Screenshotting on Dell Laptops Made Easy

Taking screenshots on Dell laptops might feel tricky at first because of different key layouts and Windows versions, but once you know these shortcuts and tools, it’s easy.

Remember:

• Use PrtScn or Windows + PrtScn for full-screen captures.
• Use Alt + PrtScn for active window capture.
• Use Windows + Shift + S for capturing a part of your screen.
• Use Snip & Sketch for more editing and annotation options.

And don’t forget where your screenshots live! Usually, the Pictures > Screenshots folder is your go-to spot.

Next time you want to save or share something on your screen, you’ll have the confidence to do it quickly—no Googling required.

References

1. According to Microsoft Support, the Snip & Sketch tool offers flexible screenshot options on Windows 10 and 11, including partial screen capture (Microsoft).

2. Dell official documentation notes that some laptop keyboards require using the Fn key with PrtScn for screenshots (Dell).

3. Windows Central explains how Xbox Game Bar can be used for screenshots and screen recording (Windows Central).

Got questions or want tips for specific Dell models? Just ask—I’m here to help!