Microsoft set to change the Print Screen button so it opens the Snipping Tool in Windows...

[midian182]

A hot potato: Windows users don't like it when Microsoft changes long-used and familiar functions in its OS, so altering something that's been the same for 28 years is always going to bring controversy. Nevertheless, it seems that the Redmond firm is planning on changing the Print Screen button into a key that opens the Windows 11 Snipping Tool.

The Print Screen button has performed the same function in the Windows operating system since Windows 95: taking a screenshot of the current screen and copying it to the clipboard, usually so it can be edited in another program.

But Windows Latest discovered that Microsoft is changing the default function of the Print Screen key in Windows 11. In the Windows 11 Beta preview builds 22621.1546 and 22624.1546, hitting the key will open the Windows Snipping Tool, Windows' built-in screenshotting tool that's currently accessed by pressing the Windows logo Key + Shift + S.

The Windows 11 Snipping Tool, which combines features from the legacy Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch, is pretty useful. The default rectangular mode lets users capture a select portion of the screen, meaning there's no need to crop a captured image. There's a freeform capture mode, a Window mode, and a full-screen mode. Moreover, it allows you to do a timed screen capture, and there's even a screen recorder mode within the Snipping Tool.

Despite the Snipping Tool's various features, many people, this writer included, would rather keep the Print Screen button's original function. Microsoft has, however, included a way to revert this change by going to the Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard menu and toggling the 'Use the Print Screen key to open Snipping Tool' to off. It can also be changed by editing the registry.

Courtesy of Windows Latest

Not all Windows preview features make it into the final version of the operating system, of course. But it's more than likely that Microsoft will go all the way with this one, especially as it can be undone in the menu settings.

Masthead: ranonaudit

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/98269-microsoft-set-change-print-screen-button-opens-snipping.html

 

[NintPlayBox]

An actual good idea!!

 

[yannus]

On MX linux, there's a popup that appears with different options, like copy to the clipboard or save as a file.... Windows seems more prehistoric every day.

 

[brunocasarini]

Install Lightshot or Flameshot and forget about Snipping Tool.

 

[DSirius]

It's about time to do it. Though, I use an 84 key+knob keyboard, so no PrintScreen key at all. B Ut I can assign some function key to knob

 

[VitalyT]

And I want "Back" button to reload into Linux.

 

[netman]

"The Windows 11 Snipping Tool, which combines features from the legacy Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch, is pretty useful"

I think it is awful...!

 

[passwordistaco]

There are items that disappear as soon as you click to make a new "snip". Print Screen is still necessary.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

You can already do this in Windows 10 an it's pretty useful. Search "Use the Print Screen key to launch screen snipping" to enable it. By default it lets you crop the screen, then gives you a notification. That notification will let you mark up the screenshot or choose how to save it, but it's unnecessary to use and the button puts the screenshot in your clipboard. Alt+PntScr doesn't change its behavior at all with this setting, and Shift+PntScr will replace the old behavior of PntScr.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

I'd say I make use of the PrtScn button a few dozen times a year, sometimes it's just quicker and more convenient over opening up the snip program and then trying to capture what is on the screen.

Steps for using the PrtScn button:
* PrtScn button
* open up MS Paint (Windows Key + "paint")
* Enter key to open the app
* Ctrl+V to paste the image
* Ctrl+S to save
* if I need to edit something, I'm already in paint and then I can save it.

More steps to use the snipping tool:
* Windows Key + "snip"
* Enter key to open the app
* then click on New or use Ctrl+N
* then highlighting what I want a snip of (hopefully what I need a pic of hasn't changed/moved/gone away)
* then Ctrl+S to save
* if I need to edit something on it I now have, Windows Key + "paint" (or whatever program you use)
* Enter key to open the program
* Do what I need to edit it
* Ctrl+S to save changes

It's faster not using the snipping tool, at least in my experience. I don't need MS to try and simplify things for me because when they do it's generally a bunch of extra steps to do the same thing I used to be able to do before they made things "easier".

At least they offer a way to disable the PrtScn button from opening the snipping tool, too bad it defaults to being on and now you have to navigate to the option to disable it in the convoluted Settings options.

 

[harm9963]

Can do both on 23430 .

 

[trieste1s]

Just use ShareX

 

[axiomatic13]

Just use ShareX

Yes, ShareX is superior in every way.

 

[SpiritCrusher]

The one thing that I find possible with Print Screen but impossible with Snipping Tool is to capture the display when hovering over something. As far as I know, you can't do this with the Snipping Tool.

 

[LetTheWookieWin]

I use alt+prtsc almost daily for capturing the currently active window and pasting into mspaint. With Win+R to launch mspaint and Ctrl V to paste, my fingers never leave the keyboard.

Why couldn’t MS just add a different macro combination for the snipping tool and call it a day?

Oh wait, we’re talking about Microsoft…

 

[RudyBob]

Sounds OK why not give it a button

 

[Julnor]

I've had it set like this for years on Win10.

 

[trgz]

I could do this already in Win10 (and previous incarnations) if I wanted - I already have my Del key mapped to where my Ins key is/was

 

[MasterFig]

The one thing that I find possible with Print Screen but impossible with Snipping Tool is to capture the display when hovering over something. As far as I know, you can't do this with the Snipping Tool.

Yes, you can. That's what the time delay is for. You set a 5 or 10 second delay and then hover over what would normally disappear. When snip activates the disappearing item will stay in place while you make your snip.

 

[DonquixoteIII]

As there is already a winkey shortcut to do the exact same thing, why does M$ have to mess with what already works?My normal methodology is to do a 'print screen' to clipboard, then open up my editor of choice (PS, paint.net, paint, whatever...) and use it. If WANTED the snip tool, I would use the winkey for the tool. That's why it is there.

Fortunately, they are (this time) providing a (somewhat) convenient way to reverse it. Unlike the last 'feature' upgrade, that overwrote my entire IP stack, with no recovery possible....

I also suggest they include a keycap for your keyboard that says 'Snip Tool'...

 

[Hodor]

Finally a good idea from Microsoft. I have to bookmark this article, because good ideas don't happen to Microsoft very often.

I also want a more usable screen capture on Android. That would offer me a sniping tool while capturing. But Google is so slow in actually improving their software, it probably won't be implemented before the spring of 2097.

 

[Xenon]

In my opinion, this isn't a great change. As a gamer, it's nice to have a button to quickly screenshot something as soon as it happens. Snipping tool isn't ideal, I would like to stick to the old shortcut.

 

[m3tavision]

My print screen has always been set up as a snipplet.

I think it was the original powertoys that enabled the option on earlier versions of Windows..!

 

[SpiritCrusher]

Yes, you can. That's what the time delay is for. You set a 5 or 10 second delay and then hover over what would normally disappear. When snip activates the disappearing item will stay in place while you make your snip.

Nice, thanks for posting. Learned something new today.