How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop: 7 Quick Ways (2026)

If you are figuring out how to screenshot on Dell laptop models like the Inspiron, XPS, Latitude, G Series, or Alienware, you are in the right place. Dell sells more laptops in the US than almost anyone else, and every one of them runs Windows, which means you get a full toolbox of built-in screenshot methods. This guide covers all seven, fastest first, so you can pick the one that fits your situation.

One quirk to know up front: many Dell laptops, especially the XPS 13 and thinner Inspiron models, tuck the Print Screen key behind the Fn key. If a shortcut below does nothing on your first try, add the Fn key to it. That one trick fixes about half of all “my PrtScn key doesn’t work” complaints.

1. Press PrtScn to Copy the Full Screen

The classic method works on every Dell laptop with a Print Screen key, and it has barely changed since Windows 7.

1. Find the PrtScn key near the top-right of your keyboard, usually close to F12. On compact Dell keyboards it may be labeled PrtScr or share space with another function.
2. Press it once. Nothing dramatic happens on screen, and that is normal: the image is copied silently to your clipboard.
3. Open Paint, Word, PowerPoint, or an email draft, then press Ctrl + V to paste. Save as PNG for the sharpest quality.

If nothing was captured, try Fn + PrtScn. On XPS and Inspiron ultrabooks, the Fn press is often required because PrtScn is a secondary function of that key.

2. Windows + PrtScn to Save Instantly

This is the method most people actually want: one shortcut, and the screenshot saves itself as a file with no pasting required.

1. Hold the Windows key and press PrtScn. Your screen dims for a split second, which is your confirmation that the capture worked.
2. Open File Explorer and go to Pictures > Screenshots. Your file will be there, auto-named “Screenshot (1).png”, “Screenshot (2).png”, and so on.

This has worked since Windows 8, so it covers every Dell laptop still in use today, whether it shipped with Windows 10 or 11. On compact keyboards, you may need Windows + Fn + PrtScn.

3. Alt + PrtScn to Capture the Active Window Only

When your screen is a pile of open tabs and you only need one of them, Alt + PrtScn captures just the window in focus and ignores everything else.

1. Click on the window you want to capture so it is active.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn (or Alt + Fn + PrtScn on compact keyboards).
3. Paste with Ctrl + V into any app that accepts images.

This is the fastest way to grab an error message, a receipt, or a settings screen without exposing the rest of your desktop.

4. Windows + Shift + S for the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is the most flexible free option, and it comes built into every Dell laptop. It is the best choice when you need only part of the screen.

1. Press Windows + Shift + S. The screen dims and a small capture bar appears at the top.
2. Choose a mode: rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen snip.
3. Click and drag to select your area. A notification appears in the bottom-right corner; click it to open the editor, where you can highlight, crop, annotate, and save.

Tip: the Snipping Tool’s delay feature (3, 5, or 10 seconds) is the only built-in way to capture menus and tooltips that disappear the moment you click away. The same trick applies when learning how to screenshot on an HP laptop, since the tool is identical across brands.

5. How to Screenshot on Dell Laptop Without the PrtScn Key

If your Dell keyboard hides the Print Screen key awkwardly, or the key is physically broken, you can skip it entirely.

• Use the Snipping Tool app: Press the Windows key, type “Snipping Tool”, and open it. Click New, select your area, and save.
• Use the on-screen keyboard: Press Windows + Ctrl + O to open the on-screen keyboard, then press its PrtScn key.
• Xbox Game Bar: Press Windows + Alt + PrtScn to capture the active app or game. Files save automatically to Videos > Captures.

The Game Bar route is especially handy on Alienware and Dell G Series laptops, where it works inside full-screen games when other methods fail. It also gives you the exact steps behind how to screenshot on a Lenovo laptop, whose Game Bar shortcuts work the same way.

6. Dell Tablet and 2-in-1: Volume + Windows Buttons

On a Dell 2-in-1 like the XPS 13 2-in-1 or Latitude 7320 Detachable, used in tablet mode without a keyboard, the desktop shortcuts are useless. Use the hardware combo instead.

1. Press and hold the Windows logo button on the tablet bezel (or the on-screen Windows key on some models).
2. While holding it, press the Volume Down button on the side.
3. The screen dims briefly. The screenshot saves to Pictures > Screenshots, same as the Windows + PrtScn method.

It works exactly like the screenshot gesture on a Surface tablet, because it is the same Windows feature.

7. Screenshot Every Screen: Multi-Monitor and Print Screen Alternatives

If your Dell laptop is docked to one or two external monitors, the default Windows + PrtScn captures all screens at once, stitched into a single wide image. To capture only one monitor, press Windows + Shift + S, choose the rectangular snip, and drag across just that display.

A few extra options worth knowing:

• Snagit and Greenshot are popular third-party tools if you take dozens of screenshots a day. Snagit costs $49.95; Greenshot and ShareX are free. ShareX even handles scrolling screenshots, which no built-in Windows tool can do.
• Microsoft Edge web capture (Ctrl + Shift + S in Edge) grabs full web pages, a common need when documenting a long page that does not fit on screen.
• If screenshots suddenly save to the wrong folder, right-click the Screenshots folder, choose Properties, and check the Location tab. Windows redirects it when you use OneDrive backup, which confuses a lot of people.

Slow Dell making everything painful? Speed it up first with our guide on how to fix a slow laptop before you dive into screenshots.

FAQs

Where are screenshots saved on a Dell laptop?

Screenshots taken with Windows + PrtScn save to Pictures > Screenshots in File Explorer. Snipping Tool captures go to your clipboard until you save them manually. Xbox Game Bar captures save to Videos > Captures.

Why does my PrtScn key not work on my Dell laptop?

On most modern Dell laptops, especially the XPS and Inspiron lines, PrtScn is a secondary key function. Press Fn + PrtScn instead. You can also flip the behavior in the BIOS or the Dell QuickSet utility so the function keys default to their F1-F12 roles.

How do I screenshot on a Dell laptop with a broken PrtScn key?

Open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu (search “Snipping Tool”) and click New. Alternatively, press Windows + Shift + S or Windows + Alt + PrtScn for the Xbox Game Bar, neither of which needs the PrtScn key at all.

Can I change where Dell screenshots are saved?

Yes. The Windows + PrtScn auto-save location is fixed to Pictures > Screenshots, but the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch let you choose any folder when you save. If you use OneDrive, check its backup settings, since OneDrive can silently redirect the Screenshots folder.

Does the Snipping Tool work on Dell desktops too?

Yes. Every shortcut in this guide works identically on Dell desktops like the OptiPlex, XPS Desktop, and Precision workstations. Nothing about the methods is laptop-specific.

The Bottom Line

For most people learning how to screenshot on a Dell laptop, Windows + PrtScn is the answer: one press, one file, saved automatically. When you need precision, Windows + Shift + S and the Snipping Tool take over. And if your Dell’s keyboard buries the Print Screen key behind Fn, now you know the one extra press that fixes it.