If you are trying to learn how to screenshot on MSI laptop models, good news: it works almost exactly like any Windows machine, with a couple of MSI-specific quirks worth knowing. MSI laptops ship with Windows 10 or Windows 11, so every built-in Windows capture tool works out of the box. That includes the Print Screen key, the Snipping Tool, and the Xbox Game Bar, which suits MSI’s gaming crowd especially well.
The one quirk that catches new MSI owners off guard is the function key. On several MSI models, the Print Screen key shares a spot with the F-row, which means you have to hold Fn for it to register. This guide covers that and the six other methods, so whichever MSI machine you own, you will have a working screenshot method in the next five minutes.
Method 1: PrtScn Key (Full Screen to Clipboard)
The Print Screen key is the oldest and fastest way to grab your screen. Press it once and Windows copies the entire display to the clipboard, ready to paste anywhere. On MSI laptops the key is usually labeled PrtScn or PrtSc and sits in the top row, often sharing space with the F-keys.
- Arrange the screen exactly the way you want to capture it.
- Press the PrtScn key. If nothing seems to happen, try Fn + PrtScn instead, because many MSI keyboards route Print Screen through the function layer.
- Open Paint, Word, or any image editor and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot.
- Save the file in your preferred format (PNG for crisp quality, JPEG for smaller files).
Method 2: Win + PrtScn (Capture and Auto-Save)
If pasting into Paint feels like an extra step, use Windows + Print Screen instead. Hold the Windows key and press PrtScn. Your screen will dim for a split second, which is Windows confirming the shot, and the image saves itself automatically.
Find your screenshots in the Pictures library, inside a folder called Screenshots. Files are named Screenshot (1), Screenshot (2), and so on. This is the method I recommend to anyone who takes screenshots often, because nothing gets lost on the clipboard if you forget to paste.
Method 3: Alt + PrtScn (Active Window Only)
Sometimes you do not want the whole screen, just the window you are working in. Click the window you want to capture so it has focus, then press Alt + PrtScn. Only that window lands on the clipboard; your taskbar, desktop icons, and any background chat popups stay out of the shot.
Paste it with Ctrl + V into Paint or any app that accepts images, then save. This is ideal for documentation, bug reports, and sharing a settings panel without exposing everything else open on your machine.
Method 4: Win + Shift + S (Snipping Tool, Any Area)
For partial screenshots, nothing beats the Snipping Tool. Press Windows + Shift + S and the screen freezes with a small toolbar at the top. Drag a rectangle around any area, and that region is captured to the clipboard.
A notification appears in the corner when the snip lands. Click it to open the capture in the Snipping Tool app, where you can annotate with a pen or highlighter, crop, and save. If you want this tool always one keypress away, pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar or remap the shortcut to the single PrtScn key under Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
Related guides on this site walk through similar shortcuts on other brands: how to screenshot on HP laptop and how to screenshot on Lenovo laptop.
How to Screenshot on MSI Laptop with Xbox Game Bar (Method 5)
MSI built its reputation on gaming machines, so it is fitting that one of the best screenshot tools is built for gamers. The Xbox Game Bar is preinstalled on Windows 10 and 11 and captures in-game screens without alt-tabbing.
- Make sure Game Bar is enabled under Settings, Gaming, Xbox Game Bar.
- Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay, then click the camera icon in the Capture widget.
- Or skip the overlay entirely: press Windows + Alt + PrtScn to snap a screenshot instantly, even mid-game.
- Captures save to Videos, then Captures, or open the Game Bar gallery and click Open folder location.
Method 6: Fn + PrtScn on MSI Models That Hide the Key
This deserves its own section because it is the number one reason people think screenshotting is broken on their MSI machine. Many MSI keyboards, especially on thinner models like the Modern and Prestige lines, assign Print Screen as a secondary function of an F-key. Pressing PrtScn alone does nothing.
The fix is simple: hold Fn and press the PrtScn key together. If your keyboard has an Fn Lock toggle (usually Fn + Esc), flipping it makes the media and Print Screen functions the default so you can press PrtScn on its own. Test it once in Paint with a quick Ctrl + V; if the paste works, your muscle memory will handle the rest.
Method 7: Third-Party Tools (Greenshot, PicPick, ShareX)
Built-in tools cover 90 percent of needs, but power users sometimes want more: scrolling captures, automatic uploads, or one-key annotations. Three free options stand out on MSI laptops:
- Greenshot: lightweight, captures regions, windows, and scrolling pages, with a built-in editor for arrows and highlights.
- PicPick: adds a color picker, pixel ruler, and whiteboard on top of standard captures, all in one free package.
- ShareX: open source and extremely flexible, with workflows that upload the shot to a host and copy the link automatically.
If you go this route, disable any hotkey conflicts first, because these tools often want to claim the same Print Screen key Windows uses.
Where Screenshots Save on an MSI Laptop
Losing track of your captures is common, so here is the map. Win + PrtScn shots go to This PC, Pictures, Screenshots. Game Bar captures land in This PC, Videos, Captures. Snipping Tool snips go to the clipboard by default; only saved copies appear in Pictures, Screenshots. If a folder does not exist yet, Windows creates it the first time you use the matching shortcut.
Fix: Print Screen Key Not Working on MSI Laptop
If every shortcut above fails silently, run through these checks in order:
- Try Fn + PrtScn, as described in Method 6, in case the key is function-locked.
- Close background capture tools like Dropbox, OneDrive, or screen recorders that may have claimed the Print Screen key.
- Check Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard: if the Snipping Tool is set to open with the Print Screen key, that shortcut now behaves differently.
- Update your keyboard drivers through MSI Center or Device Manager; a stale driver can swallow keypresses.
- Restart the laptop. It sounds trite, but the clipboard and Game Bar services occasionally get stuck, and a reboot clears them.
If your machine is also running slower than it used to, our guide to fixing a slow laptop walks through the most effective speed fixes before you blame the hardware.
FAQs
What is the screenshot shortcut on an MSI laptop?
PrtScn copies the full screen to the clipboard, Win + PrtScn saves it automatically to Pictures, Screenshots, and Win + Shift + S opens the Snipping Tool for a partial capture. On MSI models where Print Screen shares an F-key, hold Fn at the same time.
Where do screenshots go on an MSI laptop?
Win + PrtScn saves to Pictures, Screenshots. Xbox Game Bar shots save to Videos, Captures. Clipboard captures (plain PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn) are not saved until you paste them into an app like Paint and save manually.
Why does PrtScn not work on my MSI laptop?
The usual cause is the Fn key: many MSI keyboards need Fn + PrtScn to trigger the screenshot. Other causes include another app (Dropbox, OneDrive, a screen recorder) capturing the key first, or a stale keyboard driver.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot on an MSI laptop?
Windows has no built-in scrolling capture, so install a free tool like PicPick or ShareX, both of which support scrolling window screenshots. Alternatively, in browsers you can use the built-in full-page capture in developer tools.
Can I screenshot on an MSI laptop without the Print Screen key?
Yes. Press Win + Shift + S for the Snipping Tool, open the app from the Start menu, or use the on-screen keyboard (Win + Ctrl + O) and click its PrtScn key. More screenshot methods for other brands are covered in our ASUS laptop screenshot guide.
Conclusion
Screenshotting on an MSI laptop comes down to one habit: learn the Fn + PrtScn combination if your model needs it, then pick the method that fits the moment. Win + PrtScn for quick auto-saved shots, Win + Shift + S for precise snips, and Win + Alt + PrtScn for gaming captures. Once those three are in your muscle memory, you will never fumble for a method again.
