Capturing screenshots is an invaluable skill when you need to share specific moments from your computer screen, such as error messages or settings instructions for someone who needs assistance. Sometimes, you might only need to capture a portion of your screen to avoid sharing sensitive information. In Windows 11, taking a cropped screenshot is straightforward and can be done using built-in tools or third-party applications.

Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is a handy built-in utility that allows you to capture any part of your screen quickly. It doesn't require you to install or run any additional programs. Here's how you can use it:

Step 1: Navigate to the screen you want to capture. Press the Windows + Shift + S keys simultaneously. The screen will dim slightly, and a small overlay menu will appear at the top.

Step 2: Choose the snip shape that suits your needs from the overlay menu. Click on the 'Rectangular Snip' icon to capture a rectangular area, or select the 'Freeform Snip' icon to draw a custom shape around the area you wish to capture.

Step 3: Click and hold the left mouse button, then drag the cursor to select the area of the screen you want to capture. Release the mouse button when you're done. The captured screenshot will be copied to your clipboard.

Step 4: A notification will appear showing a preview of your screenshot. Click on it to open the screenshot in the Snipping Tool app, where you can make annotations or edits if needed.

If you prefer more control over your screenshot, you can open the Snipping Tool directly:

Step 1: Click on the Start Menu and type Snipping Tool in the search bar. Click on the 'Snipping Tool' app from the search results to launch it.

Step 2: In the Snipping Tool window, click on the 'Mode' dropdown to select the type of snip you want. You can choose from 'Rectangular Snip', 'Freeform Snip', 'Window Snip', or 'Full-screen Snip'. If you want to delay the screenshot, click on the 'Delay' icon (the clock) and select the desired time interval.

Step 3: Click on 'New' to start the snipping process. Your screen will dim, and you can select the area you want to capture as before.

Step 4: After capturing, the screenshot will open in the Snipping Tool window. You can save it by clicking on the 'Save' icon or pressing Ctrl + S. By default, screenshots are saved in the 'Screenshots' folder under 'Pictures'.

Third-Party Tool

If you prefer using a third-party application, PicPick is a free and versatile tool that offers advanced features for capturing screenshots.

Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to picpick.app. Click on the 'Download' button to get the free version of PicPick.

Step 2: On the next page, click the 'Download' button under the 'Free' section to start downloading the installer.

Step 3: Once the download is complete, navigate to your downloads folder and double-click on picpick_inst.exe to run the installer.

Step 4: Follow the installation prompts. Click 'Next', choose the installation directory if you wish, and then click 'Install' to proceed.

Step 5: After installation, PicPick will launch. To capture a specific area of your screen, click on 'Region' from the menu.

Step 6: Click and drag your mouse to select the area you want to capture. Release the mouse button to take the screenshot.

Step 7: The captured image will open in PicPick's editor. You can copy it by pressing Ctrl + C or save it by pressing Ctrl + S.

Use Xbox Game Bar

Another way to capture screenshots is by using the Xbox Game Bar, a feature primarily designed for gaming but useful for other applications as well. Note that this method allows you to capture full window screenshots, which you can crop afterward using an image editor like Paint.

Step 1: Open the application window you want to capture. Press the Windows + G keys to open the Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2: In the Capture widget, click on the 'Camera' icon to take a screenshot of the active window.

Step 3: Click on 'See my captures' to view the screenshots you've taken. This will bring up a gallery of your captured media.

Step 4: Select the screenshot you want to edit and click on 'Open file location' to find it in File Explorer.

Step 5: Right-click on the screenshot file, hover over 'Open with', and select 'Paint' to open the image in the Paint application.

Step 6: In Paint, use the 'Select' tool to choose the part of the image you want to keep. Click on the 'Crop' button or press Ctrl + Shift + X to crop the image.

Step 7: Save the cropped image by pressing Ctrl + S and choosing your desired save location.

Capturing a cropped screenshot on Windows 11 is simple and can be done using built-in tools or free third-party applications. Whether you use the Snipping Tool, PicPick, or the Xbox Game Bar, you have multiple options to suit your needs.