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Home » How to snip on a ThinkPad?

How to snip on a ThinkPad?

June 2, 2025 by TinyGrab Team Leave a Comment

Table of Contents

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  • How to Snip on a ThinkPad: Your Definitive Guide
    • The Core Technique: Using the Snipping Tool
      • Activating the Snipping Tool
      • Using the Snipping Tool
      • Saving Your Snips
    • Advanced Techniques and Alternatives
      • Print Screen Key (PrtScn)
      • Windows Key + Print Screen Key
      • Game Bar (Windows Key + Alt + Print Screen)
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Snip on a ThinkPad: Your Definitive Guide

Want to capture that perfect section of your screen on your ThinkPad? It’s a breeze, once you know how. Forget convoluted methods; this guide delivers the simplest and most effective ways to snip, transforming you into a screen-capturing virtuoso.

The Core Technique: Using the Snipping Tool

The most versatile and readily available method for taking screenshots on your ThinkPad is the Snipping Tool. Think of it as your built-in, feature-rich capture assistant.

Activating the Snipping Tool

  • Method 1: The Windows Key Search. Simply press the Windows key, type “Snipping Tool,” and press Enter. Bam! It’s open.
  • Method 2: The Old Faithful Start Menu. Click the Start button, navigate to Windows Accessories, and find the Snipping Tool.
  • Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows Key + Shift + S). This is the ninja move. Press these three keys simultaneously to activate the snipping tool in its default rectangular snip mode instantly.

Using the Snipping Tool

Once the Snipping Tool is open (or activated via shortcut), you’ll see a small toolbar appear. Here’s a breakdown of its key functions:

  1. Mode: This allows you to choose the type of snip you want to take:
    • Free-form Snip: Draw an irregular shape around the area you want to capture. Think Picasso meets screenshots.
    • Rectangular Snip: The most common option. Drag a rectangle around your desired area. Precise and efficient.
    • Window Snip: Captures an entire window (like a browser window or application). Perfect for quickly grabbing a whole program interface.
    • Full-screen Snip: Takes a screenshot of your entire screen. The classic snapshot.
  2. Delay: This sets a delay (in seconds) before the snip is taken. Useful for capturing menus or actions that disappear quickly. Time your snips like a pro!
  3. New: Starts a new snip.
  4. Cancel: Closes the Snipping Tool.
  5. Options: Allows you to customize the Snipping Tool’s behavior (e.g., show the URL beneath snips taken from Internet Explorer).

Saving Your Snips

After taking a snip, it will open in the Snipping Tool window. From here, you can:

  • Annotate: Use the pen and highlighter tools to add notes, draw attention to specific areas, or simply doodle. Get creative!
  • Save: Click the Save icon (a floppy disk – a relic of the past!) or press Ctrl + S to save your snip as a PNG, JPG, GIF, or HTML file.
  • Copy: Click the Copy icon to copy the snip to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it into other applications (like Word or email).

Advanced Techniques and Alternatives

While the Snipping Tool is fantastic, here are a couple of other options to broaden your snipping horizons:

Print Screen Key (PrtScn)

A venerable classic! Pressing the Print Screen key captures your entire screen and copies it to your clipboard. You then need to paste it into an image editor (like Paint or Photoshop) to crop and save. A bit more work, but always a reliable fallback.

Windows Key + Print Screen Key

This is a faster variation of the Print Screen method. Pressing Windows Key + Print Screen simultaneously captures your entire screen and automatically saves it as a PNG file in the Screenshots folder within your Pictures library. Instant gratification!

Game Bar (Windows Key + Alt + Print Screen)

If you’re gaming or using an application that is recognized as a game, the Game Bar offers screenshot functionality. Pressing Windows Key + Alt + Print Screen will capture a screenshot of the active game window.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions users have about snipping on a ThinkPad:

  1. Why is the Snipping Tool not working on my ThinkPad? First, ensure the Snipping Tool is enabled. Check Windows Features (search for “Turn Windows features on or off”) and make sure “Snipping Tool” is checked. If it’s still not working, try restarting your computer. Sometimes, a simple reboot is all it takes.

  2. How can I take a scrolling screenshot on my ThinkPad? The built-in Snipping Tool doesn’t natively support scrolling screenshots. You’ll need a third-party tool like PicPick, ShareX, or a browser extension like GoFullPage for Chrome or Firefox. These tools automate the process of capturing a long webpage by scrolling and stitching it together.

  3. Where are my screenshots saved by default? Screenshots taken using Windows Key + Print Screen are saved in the Screenshots folder within your Pictures library. The Snipping Tool will prompt you to choose a save location each time you take a snip unless you’ve set a default save location in its options.

  4. Can I change the default file format for Snipping Tool screenshots? No, the Snipping Tool doesn’t allow you to change the default file format directly within its settings. However, you can save your snips in different formats (PNG, JPG, GIF, HTML) each time you save them.

  5. How do I take a screenshot of the BIOS screen on my ThinkPad? Capturing the BIOS screen is tricky because it’s outside of the Windows environment. You’ll need to use the Print Screen key and then restart your computer and paste the contents of your clipboard into an image editor before the clipboard is overwritten. Alternatively, use a digital camera or your smartphone to take a picture of the screen.

  6. Is there a keyboard shortcut to open the Snipping Tool directly in a specific mode? Unfortunately, no. You can’t predefine the snipping mode through a keyboard shortcut. You’ll have to select the desired mode within the Snipping Tool interface.

  7. How can I take a screenshot of a video playing on my ThinkPad? The easiest way is to pause the video at the desired frame and then use the Snipping Tool or the Print Screen key. Some video players also have built-in screenshot functionality.

  8. Does the Snipping Tool work on multiple monitors? Yes, the Snipping Tool works seamlessly with multiple monitors. When using Full-screen Snip, it will capture all your monitors as one large image. When using other modes, you can drag the selection area across multiple monitors.

  9. How do I disable the Snipping Tool? You can disable the Snipping Tool by modifying the Windows Registry. However, this is an advanced step and should only be done if you’re comfortable with editing the registry. Search online for detailed instructions on how to disable the Snipping Tool via the registry. A simpler method is to uninstall it via “Turn Windows features on or off.”

  10. The Snipping Tool is crashing. What should I do? Try running the System File Checker (SFC). Open the Command Prompt as administrator (search for “cmd,” right-click, and select “Run as administrator”) and type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan for and repair corrupted system files.

  11. Can I use the Snipping Tool on a ThinkPad running Linux? The Snipping Tool is a Windows-specific application. On Linux, you can use tools like GNOME Screenshot, Spectacle (KDE), or Shutter, which offer similar functionality.

  12. How can I make the Snipping Tool open faster? While you can’t significantly speed up its initial launch, keeping your system clean and defragmented can help. Close unnecessary applications and ensure your ThinkPad has sufficient RAM available. The Windows Key + Shift + S shortcut is also quicker than opening the application through the Start menu.

By mastering these techniques and understanding the answers to these FAQs, you’ll be well-equipped to capture anything you need on your ThinkPad. Now go forth and snip with confidence!

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