[SOLVED] Print Screen Not Working on Windows 10/11 (2024)

[SOLVED] Print Screen Not Working on Windows 10/11

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[SOLVED] Print Screen Not Working on Windows 10/11

Edited by Ben Jacklin

November 13, 2023

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What do you do when you need to take a quick screenshot but the Print Screen is not working for you? Let’s walk through a few fixes and alternatives to help you get the job done without a ton of hassle.

Method

Description

Turn on the Print Screen keyboard shortcut

Ensure that the Print Screen function on your keyboard is enabled.

Close background programs

Check for programs running in the background that may have taken over your PrtScn button’s functionality.

Try hotkey combinations

Instead of using PrtScn by itself, see if holding a combination of hotkeys will work to capture your screen.

Use an alternative screen capture application

Take quick and easy screenshots with by using an application like Movavi Screen Recorder.

Make sure F-lock is off

If your computer has an F-lock key, it may have locked the PrtScn button off.

Update your keyboard driver

If your keyboard driver isn’t up to date, it won’t communicate properly with your PC.

Special pick: Movavi Screen Recorder

Download for Free

If the Print Screen is not working in Windows 10, Movavi Screen Recorder is a great alternative. This easy-to-use program includes a free trial version and allows you to capture screenshots of part or all of your screen. Plus, you can enhance screenshots and video recordings with its built-in editing tools and features. So, if the Print Screen button is not working on your computer, you might want to try Movavi Screen Recorder instead.

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6 quick fixes for the Print Screen button not working

1. Enable the Print Screen shortcut

If you’re wondering, “Why is my screenshot not working?” you may not have the keyboard shortcut for your computer enabled. The easiest way to troubleshoot this issue is to press the Win button and U at the same time. This will open Ease of Access. Click on Keyboard and make sure that Print Screen shortcut is toggled on.

2. Check for interfering background programs

If you’re running Windows 10 and the Print Screen is not working, you may have one or more programs running in the background that have taken over the functionality of your computer’s Print Screen key. While this can be really annoying, it’s a pretty easy fix. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Right-click on the programs that you’re not currently using and choose End Task from the dropdown menu to close them. When you’ve closed all your background programs, try hitting the Print Screen button on your keyboard again to capture your screen.

3. Try one or more hotkey combinations

If the PrtSc is not working, you may still be able to print your screen without using another application or navigating to your computer’s screen capture feature. If the actual Print Screen button isn’t working, try one of these hotkey combos:

Press and hold Win + PrtScn to capture your screen and save the image directly to your computer. It will save automatically as “Screenshot [NUMBER]” and you should be able to find it in the Screenshots folder.
Press and hold Alt + PrtScn to grab a screenshot of the window you currently have selected on your screen. Doing this should automatically add the screenshot to your clipboard, and you can then paste it into Paint or another image-editing app to make edits and save it to your preferred destination on your computer.

Sometimes, just hitting Ctrl + Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen will fix the issue and allow you to take screen captures from your keyboard again.

4. Use an alternative application – Movavi Screen Recorder

If you’ve been trying different fixes, and you figure out a solution for the Windows 10 Print Screen not working, the simplest fix might be to try a screenshot application like Movavi Screen Recorder. Not only is this program extremely easy to use, but it also includes a lot of incredible features, like capturing video recordings of your screen in up to 4K resolution, editing tools, and the ability to save your screenshots and videos in multiple popular file formats. To take a screenshot with Movavi Screen Recorder when the PrtSc button’s not working, follow these simple steps:

Download the Windows version of Movavi Screen Recorder (compatible with Windows 11, 10, and some previous versions), follow the installation prompts, and launch the program.
On the recording panel, click on the Screenshot icon (the one that looks like a camera).
When your cursor turns into a crosshair, you have a few easy options:

To capture part of your screen, drag the crosshair over the area you want to capture.
To grab a specific window, just hover over it until a frame appears around it and click to capture the shot.
To take a screenshot of your full screen, just click on any empty space on the screen.

With this option, you can easily grab screenshots on your Dell laptop, HP laptop or desktop, or any Windows 10 or 11 computer, even if hitting the Print Screen button is not taking screenshots for you.

5. Make sure F-lock is off

Sometimes, when the screenshot is not working for Windows 10, it’s because the F-lock is turned on. So, if your Print Screen key’s not working, take a look at your keyboard. If you have an F-lock key, push it, and then try hitting your Print Screen key again. If that fixed the problem, then your F-lock was turned on by mistake, and you should be able to print your screen from your keyboard without further issues.

6. Update your keyboard driver

If you’ve tried a few of these options and you’re still stuck wondering, “Why can’t I take a screenshot?” you may need to update your keyboard driver. Out of date hardware drivers won’t communicate properly on a PC, but fortunately, we have a pretty quick method for how to fix this issue.

First, hold Win + X together. From the menu, select Device Manager. Next, open the Keyboards directory, right-click on Standard PS/2 Keyboard, and choose Update driver. If your print screen button still won’t work, you may need to use an external app like Movavi Screen Recorder.

Summary

Now that you have solutions for when your Windows screenshot is not working, you should have all the info you need to capture part or all of your screen without spending a ton of time and energy trying to troubleshoot your computer. Instead of asking yourself, “Why is my Print Screen not working?” and banging your head against your desk in frustration, try a few of these options… Or skip all the frustration and try out Movavi Screen Recorder instead!

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Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my screenshot not working?

Why is my Print Screen not working?

How do I get my Print Screen button to work?

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