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How to Take and Manage Screenshots in Windows 8

How to Take and Manage Screenshots in Windows 8

Windows users have long known how to use the Print Screen key to copy a screenshot of their desktop that could be pasted into an image editing application. Or how to use the Snipping Tool to take more advanced screenshots. With Windows 8, there’s now an even easier way.
To take a screenshot and save the image directly to a folder, press the Windows and Print Screen keys simultaneously. You’ll see your screen dim briefly, emulating a shutter effect.
Windows 8 Screenshot Shortcut
To find your saved screenshot head to the default screenshot folder, which is located in C:Users[User]My PicturesScreenshots. By default, images are saved as PNG files with the name “Screenshot” and a number designating how many screenshots have been taken.
If you’d like to store your screenshots in another folder, such as the Desktop for easy access, you can use Windows’ location mapping to redirect where the screenshots go when created. To do this, first enter Desktop mode and use Windows Explorer to navigate to the default screenshot folder, listed above. Right-click on the folder and select Properties > Location.
Windows 8 Change Screenshot Folder
The path displayed here is currently set to the default screenshot location. To change it, click “Move”, navigate to your desired new destination, and choose “Select Folder” at the bottom of the window. In our example, we’re moving the default screenshot location to the Desktop.
Once the new path is displayed in the Screenshots Properties window, press “Apply” to enable the change. Windows will ask you if you want to move any items currently in the old location to the new location. Click “Yes” to accept.
Windows 8 Change Screenshot Folder

Screenshot Saved to Desktop Windows 8

Screenshots are saved to the Desktop.


Next, if you’ve chosen a system folder as your destination, Windows will ask you to verify the redirection. Press “Yes” if you’re sure that you’d like your screenshots to go to the new location. Note that choosing a folder that contains other items, such as the Desktop, means that you won’t be able to revert to the default behavior or change the folder in the future without redirecting all of your Desktop items. In our case, we’re absolutely sure we want the screenshots to be created on our Desktop. If you’re not sure, create a “Screenshots” folder on your Desktop and use that instead.
Once you’ve made up your mind and you press “Yes,” you’ll see any screenshots that were in your default Screenshots folder appear on your Desktop (or in the location you chose in the previous steps). If you take additional screenshots with the Windows + Print Screen shortcut, they will also appear in the new destination.
As mentioned above, unless you’ve chosen a system folder such as the Desktop, you can always revert to the default location or move the folder again to a new location simply by starting with the current screenshots folder and repeating the steps above.

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12 thoughts on “How to Take and Manage Screenshots in Windows 8”

hornyatkotoT says:
Hello.
NerryGor says:
Hello from Happykiddi.
Sensei11 says:
I don’t have a default folder. I don’t know what happened.
Angel 2nx says:
I took a screen shot then i took another 1 after it immediatly and i cant find my first screenshot in the pictures folder please help me
Jean says:
I deleted the original screenshots folder. After that whenever I print screen I don’t know where they are located. Could you please help me to find solutions to bring it back?
constanswhite says:
Here is a solution to screenshots not saving to Pictures folder. http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-8-not-saving-captured-screenshots
Many people solved their problem, but some didn’t. If you can’t solve the problem either, you can use those screenshot tools which allow you to save the screenshot to any folder you like.
Leon De Vose, II says:
Here is my question. How do you change the default naming scheme for screenshots?
Leon De Vose, II says:
@afthardcore:disqus
I think that since desktop is a system folder, you can’t do it as easily. Look at me, all late to the discussion and thinking I add something relevant. Oh well. Happy computing!
Valdi Stefanson says:
Jim, I changed the default location for Screenshots in my new Windows 8.1 desktop.
Screenshot Properties>Location>Documents.
It asked if I wanted to move all items to new location? I answered yes.
Now I can’t find any screenshots. Even new ones I have just now created. Where are they?
(are they in a clipboard?)
Arne Lievens says:
Before i knew this, I took a couple of screenshots using the normal “ins prt sc” function, can I find those screenshots back somehow?
Roshen says:
i cut and pasted it on somewhere and deleted it Now how can i get it back?
David says:
how do i change it back to the default location – after i’ve moved it to the desktop ??
David says:
how to change it back to the default location after i changed it to the desktop ??

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Jim Tanous

May 9, 2013

676 Articles Published

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