Print Screen Not Working On Windows? Fix!

You hit Print Screen expecting a capture, but nothing happens or the wrong app opens. It is incredibly frustrating when a simple system shortcut stops responding after an update, but this usually happens because Windows or another background app has hijacked the command.

Why this happens

Windows 11 updates often default the Print Screen key to trigger the Snipping Tool, or third-party apps like OneDrive and gaming overlays intercept the key before it reaches your clipboard.

What you'll need

No special tools are required, just access to your Windows Settings menu and any third-party background software you have installed.

Steps

1. 01
   Open the Settings app, navigate to Accessibility, select Keyboard, and toggle OFF 'Use the Print Screen button to open screen capture' to restore the standard clipboard function.
2. 02
   Click the OneDrive icon in your system tray, go to Settings, select the Backup tab, and uncheck 'Save screenshots I capture to OneDrive' to stop it from hijacking your key.
3. 03
   Go to Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps, find Snipping Tool, click the three dots, select Advanced options, and click Repair to fix a corrupted application.
4. 04
   If the above fails, click Reset in the same Advanced options menu to clear any misconfigured app data.
5. 05
   For laptop users, try holding the Fn key while pressing Print Screen, as some manufacturers map the key to a different function by default.
6. 06
   If you use a Logitech keyboard, open your Logitech Options software to ensure the key is correctly mapped to Print Screen and not a custom shortcut.

Still not working?

If the key still refuses to capture, check your Event Viewer under Windows Logs/Application to see if any specific driver or app reports a crash when the key is pressed. Additionally, test your keyboard on another machine or try an on-screen keyboard test site to ensure the physical key isn't failing entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my saved screenshots if I reset the Snipping Tool?

No, resetting the Snipping Tool only clears the app settings and cache; it does not delete your saved image files.

Does this fix work for Windows 10?

Yes, while the menus look slightly different, the logic of disabling background app overrides and repairing the Snipping Tool remains the same for Windows 10.