Screenshot Not Working in Windows 10? Here are 5 Quick Fixes

You might need to tweak your registry to fix this issue

Fix » Windows 10

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by Ivan Jenic 

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Key notes

  • If the screenshot feature is not working on Windows 10, it might be because of outdated drivers.
  • You can fix this issue quickly by running the hardware and devices troubleshooter and restarting your PC.
  • Updating your keyboard drivers to the latest version is another effective solution you should try.

Since Windows 8, users have been used to taking screenshots with the built-in feature on their PC. Unfortunately, some users are complaining that the screenshot feature is not working on Windows 10.

This can be pretty frustrating, especially if you don’t have a third-party tool for taking screenshots. Knowing the gravity of the issue, we have prepared this detailed guide to help you solve the problem quickly.

Why can’t I take a screenshot on Windows 10?

Below are some of the reasons you can’t take a screenshot on Windows 10:

  • Outdated drivers: One of the major causes of this issue is an outdated keyboard driver. You should be able to fix it quickly by updating your drivers.
  • Wrong key combinations: In some cases, the problem might appear because you used the wrong key combinations to take the screenshot. Knowing the key that works for PC is the only way out of this.
  • Faulty hardware: Sometimes, the screenshot not working on Windows 10 issue can be down to problematic hardware. To know this for sure and fix potential issues, you should run the hardware and devices troubleshooter.

How to fix print screen not working on Windows 10?

 1. Edit Registry

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click OK.
    regedit
  2. Navigate to the path below in the left pane: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer
  3. Now in the right pane, you need to find ScreenshotIndex. If you can’t find it, right-click the space there and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    new dword
  4. Type ScreenshotIndex as the name of the new DWORD and double-click it.
  5. Now, set its Value data to 695 and click OK.
    value data screenshot not working windows 10
  6. Next, navigate to the path below in the left pane: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/User Shell Folders
  7. Double-click the {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} entry on the right pane.
  8. Set its Value data to %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots and click OK.
  9. Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

2. Check if you’re using the correct key combination

If you’re using a Windows 10 laptop’s keyboard, the key combination for taking a screenshot is different. In most PCs, you must press the Fn key beside the usual Ctrl +PrtScr.

So, you have to note that. However, you will not need to use the Fn key on some PCs.

3. Update keyboard drivers

  1. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
    device manager
  2. Double-click the Keyboards option to expand it and right-click the device there.
  3. Now, choose the Update driver option.
    update driver
  4. Finally, choose the Search automatically for drivers option.
    search screenshot not working windows 10

We often point to outdated drivers if something’s wrong with your keyboard. Nevertheless, keeping all your drivers up to date is always a good idea.

So, if the screenshot feature is still not working on Windows 10 after tweaking the registry, go and update your keyboard drivers.

If you don’t want the hassle of searching for drivers on your own, you can use a tool in Outbyte Driver Updater that will do this for you automatically. This tool is very easy to use, lightweight, and reported to update and repair any driver without any issues successfully

4. Run the Hardware and Device troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd admin
  2. Type the command below and hit Enter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnosticmsdt
  3. Finally, wait for the command to finish running.

If none of the previous solutions resolved the issue, we would use Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooting tool. This tool can be used to address various kinds of issues, including hardware problems.

5. Use a dedicated tool

icecream screenshot not working windows 10

While there are a series of third-party screenshot tools you can use, we recommend using Icecream Screen Recorder. This is because it is a straightforward, simple, yet highly professional tool with enough features to accomplish what you want but not confuse you.

If you plan to capture an image to highlight particular areas or a specific section, this tool will be quite an innovative program. Also, it is the ideal solution if you use multiple browsers during your daily Internet sessions.

Feel free to check out more features on their official website. A fully-functional trial version is available, so you can try it out now.

⇒ Get Icecream Screen Recorder

The screenshot not working on Windows 10 issue can be pretty annoying. Fortunately, it is one that can be fixed, as we have shown in this guide.

If you are looking for ways to fix tinted screenshots on Windows 10, check our detailed guide for the steps you need to follow.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

More about the topics: Screenshot tools & guides, windows 10 fix

Ivan Jenic

Ivan Jenic Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.