The Snipping Tool is a handy little utility application integrated into Windows that provides users with significant screen-capturing capabilities.Let's review how to use it and how it can prove valuable to your business.What Can the Snipping Tool Do?The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is more than just a screenshot tool; it's a versatile utility for capturing images, recording video, extracting text, and scanning QR codes right from your screen. Forget needing multiple apps; this built-in tool handles many common tasks.Taking Screenshots (Snips)After pressing Win + Shift + S, choose Rectangle (drag), Window (click window), Full-screen, or Free-form (draw shape).Delay Timer: Need to capture a menu? Open the full app, select a 3, 5, or 10-second delay, click + New to trigger the action, and wait for the snip prompt.Recording Your ScreenLaunch: Use Win + Shift + R or click the Record icon in the app.Select Area: Drag to outline the recording region.Audio: Toggle microphone and/or system audio capture on/off.Record: Click Start. Use the control bar to Pause or Stop.Save: Videos save automatically as MP4 files in your Videos\Screen Recordings folder. You might see an option to edit further in Clipchamp, a clip editor bundled into Microsoft 365.Extracting Text (OCR) & Redacting InfoCapture/Open: Snip an image with text or open one in the Snipping Tool.Activate: Click the Text Actions button. Detected text will be highlighted (processed locally on your device).Copy: Select text and press Ctrl + C, or click Copy all text.Redact: Click Quick Redact to hide detected emails and phone numbers automatically. Choose what to redact (emails, phones, or both) via its dropdown.Scanning QR CodesCapture/Open: Get an image with a QR code using the Snipping Tool.Activate: Click "Text Actions."Interact: The tool will show a clickable link or the decoded text near the QR code.Editing and SavingEdit: After snipping, use the toolbar to draw (Pen), highlight, erase, add shapes/emoji, crop, and more.Clipboard: Snips copy to your clipboard automatically for pasting (Ctrl+V).Save Manually: Click the Save icon or press Ctrl+S to save as a PNG, JPG, or GIF file.Auto-Save: Enable "Automatically save screenshots" in Settings to save every snip as a file (usually in Pictures\Screenshots) and copy it to the clipboard.Share: Use the Share button to send via email or other apps.Fast Access MethodsImage Snip: Press Win + Shift + S for immediate screen capture options (Rectangle, Window, Full-screen, Free-form).Video Record: Press Win + Shift + R to jump into the screen recording setup.Optional PrtScn: Remap the Print Screen key via Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.The Snipping Tool Can Cover a Lot of Common Business NeedsWindows 11's Snipping Tool is a powerful, built-in utility for screen capture, recording, text extraction, and more. Its integrated features save time and reduce the need for extra software, making it a handy option for businesses.Stay tuned for more handy tips and computer best practices!
