With Windows 11 KB5025310, Microsoft is changing the behavior of the screenshot button. Instead of taking a picture directly of the screen, you now press a button to launch Windows’ Snipping Tool.
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For about 28 years, screen capture — often called PrtSc — has had a stable role in Windows. Pressing the key creates a screenshot automatically saved to OneDrive, at least in Windows 10.
Print screen does not take a screenshot
But like many other features that Microsoft changes frequently in Windows 11 against the will of users, the company now wants to tweak the Print Screen button. With the Windows 11 KB5025310 update implemented, pressing a button no longer takes a screenshot.
Instead, it’s now called the new Windows 11 Snipping Tool. Unlike the classic cropping tool, the new one can also record videos of screen content.
Even if many users criticize the omission of the possibility of taking a quick screenshot of the screen by pressing a button, Microsoft’s decision can also be seen positively: the Snipping Tool offers much more possibilities.
For example, the screen content to be recorded can be selected with the help of the selection frame. Moreover, the screenshot can be edited directly in the Snipping Tool – for example with a pen, highlighter, text function or eraser.
more convenient
Moreover, the now chosen way to call the Snipping Tool by typing is much more convenient than the classic key combination with the Windows logo + SHIFT + S to take a screenshot of the screen in relation to the Snipping Tool.
However, what really boggles the mind is the outcry that is now shaking the internet about reassigning the Print Screen button’s functionality. In Windows 10 version 22H2, the user already has the option to call up the Snipping Tool faster and easier by pressing a button.
All the user has to do is go to Settings, choose Ease of Use and then Keyboard. Here, under “Print key function,” you’ll find the option to open the Snipping Tool’s embossing function by pressing the print key.
Set the print key yourself
However, translating this function as “use the print key to open the screenshot function” is a bit unfortunate. After changing the configuration, you must restart the computer.
Just as Windows 10 users can now enable the functionality, Windows 11 users have the option to restore the old behavior of the switch via Settings.
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