Screenshots are essential when you wish to capture and showcase a particular event on your computer, like an error, or to guide your near ones to a setting they couldn't find alone. Alternatively, you might wish to save some information for later.
The use cases are limitless for screenshots; however, you don't need a full-screen screenshot every time, as it might contain sensitive information. A cropped screenshot can work wonders in that department, as it only showcases the parts you wish and omits the rest of the screen.
There are many native and non-native methods to take a cropped screenshot on a Windows 11 computer, and for your convenience, we have listed them all below.
1. Snipping Tool
Windows 11 comes with a Snipping Tool app that lets you take a screenshot anywhere on the computer with a shortcut key. Since it is a built-in function, you don't need to install or even run a program to use the shortcut key.
Head to the screen you wish to take a screenshot of, then press the Windows + Shift + S shortcut key. Your screen will be dimmed a bit, and you should be able to see an overlay window on the top of your screen.
After that, if you wish to capture a freeform-shaped screenshot, click on the 'Freeform' shape icon. Otherwise, click on the 'Rectangular' shape icon to capture a rectangular screenshot.
To have more granular control over the screenshot-capturing process, head to the Start Menu and type Snipping Tool to perform a search. Then, click on the 'Snipping Tool' tile from the search results.
After that, click on the 'Mode selection' button and click on your desired option. If you instead wish to click a screenshot with a delay, click on the 'Clock' icon and select the required delay.
Once you have selected the desired option, click the right mouse button and drag the cursor across the screen to select the area. Then, once the desired area is covered, release the mouse button to capture the screenshot.
You will then receive a toast notification of the captured screenshot. Click on it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool app.
Otherwise, you can also find the screenshot in the 'Screenshots' folder in the 'Pictures' directory.
2. Third-Party Tool
If, for some reason, you are not able to use the method mentioned above, you can also capture a screenshot using a third-party tool. PicPick is one such free tool.
First, head to picpick.app using your preferred browser and click on the 'Download' button. You will be redirected to another webpage.
After that, click on the 'Download' button on the 'Free' tile. This will initiate the download.
Once downloaded, head to your default downloads directory and double-click on picpick_inst.exe to run the installer.
On the installer window, click on the 'Next' button to proceed.
Afterward, click on the 'Browse' button if you wish to change the default installation directory. Otherwise, click on the 'Install' button.
Once installed, the PicPick window will appear on your screen.
To click a cropped screenshot, click on the 'Region' option.
Now, click and hold on the right mouse button to begin selecting the region and release it to capture the screenshot of the selected region.
The captured screenshot will be visible on the PicPick window. You can either copy the screenshot by pressing the Ctrl + C shortcut on your keyboard, or you can save it by pressing the Ctrl + S keyboard shortcut.
If you opted for saving the screenshot, a File Explorer window would open, which you can use to save it at your desired location.
3. Use Xbox Game Bar
This is more of a workaround rather than a method, but you can also capture a screenshot in Windows 11 using the Xbox Game Bar. However, you can only take a screenshot of an app window. Additionally, the Game Bar only allows you to capture a full window screenshot, which you can crop using a third-party tool or MS Paint.
To summon the Game Bar, press the Windows + G keyboard shortcut on your keyboard. Once the Game Bar appears, click the 'Camera' icon on the capture window to click a screenshot.
After that, click on the 'See my captures' button to proceed. This will open a new window on your screen.
Next, select the screenshot you wish to view from the sidebar and then click on the 'Open file location' button to continue.
Then, right-click on the screenshot and hover over the 'Open with' option. Next, click on the 'Paint' option.
On the Paint window, click the chevron for the selection tool and choose 'Rectangular' or 'Freeform,' according to your requirements.
Then, click and hold the right mouse button and drag across the screen to select the desired area and release the button. Press the Ctrl + Shift + X keyboard shortcut to crop the picture. Otherwise, you can also click on the 'Crop' button.
Finally, press the Ctrl + S keyboard shortcut to save the screenshot at your desired location.
There you go, people. Taking a cropped screenshot is really easy on a Windows 11 computer, and the above-mentioned methods will help you achieve it.
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