How to Take Screenshots on Dell Computers

This article shows you how to take and save screenshots on your Dell computer.

Table of Contents

Using Windows 8 and 10

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f0/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-1-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-1-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f0/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-1-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-1-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:350,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:554,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Go to the page you want to take a screenshot of. All content on the screen (except the mouse pointer) will be captured when you take a screenshot, including the taskbar.

For example, you can open a Facebook conversation with a friend.‎

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/75/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:542,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Find the ⎙ PrtScr key. The “Print Screen” key is usually located on the top right of a Dell keyboard. Unlike other computer keyboards, the “Print Screen” key is usually a blank key without text.

The “Print Screen” key can print text in a variety of ways, but “PrtSc” and “Prnt Scr” are the two most common.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/51/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-3-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-3-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/51/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-3-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-3-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:541,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Find the ⊞ Win key. This key with the Windows icon above it is usually located in the lower left corner of the Windows computer.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ec/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-4-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ec/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-4-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:541,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Press ⊞ Win and ⎙ PrtScr at the same time. The screen will darken for a short time, indicating that the screen has been captured.

If the screen does not go dark, you can hold down the ⊞ Win key and press the ⎙ PrtScr key firmly.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/05/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-5-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-5-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/05/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-5-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-5-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:548,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Start menu. Action by pressing the ⊞ Win key or clicking the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen. The Start menu will open with the mouse pointer in the “Search” box.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/78/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-6-Version-5.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-6-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/78/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-6-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-6-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Type screenshots into Start. You should see a folder titled “Screenshots” appear at the top of the Start window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ea/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ea/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:349,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:553,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Screenshots folder. Perform this step to open the folder; you will find screenshots inside.

The Screenshots folder is created in the Pictures folder after you take the first screenshot.

Using Windows XP, Vista, and 7

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ee/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-8-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ee/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-8-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:343,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:543,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Go to the page you want to take a screenshot of. All content on the screen (except the mouse pointer) will be captured when you take a screenshot, including the taskbar.

For example, you can open a Facebook conversation with a friend.‎

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c4/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-9-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-9-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c4/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-9-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-9-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:542,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Locate the ⎙ PrtScr key. The “Print Screen” key is usually located on the top right of a Dell keyboard. Unlike other computer keyboards, the “Print Screen” key is usually a blank key without text.

The “Print Screen” key can print text in a variety of ways, but “PrtSc” and “Prnt Scr” are the two most common.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1a/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-10-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1a/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-10-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:542,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Press ⎙ PrtScr . Doing this will copy the screen image to your computer’s temporary storage area, from where you can paste it into software that allows saving as an image.

Some Dell keyboards have the word “PrtSc” printed in a different color than the normal key color (eg white). If so, you need to press Fn in the left corner of the keyboard and press ⎙ PrtScr .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c5/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c5/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:548,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Start menu. You can do this by clicking the Windows (Windows Vista and 7) or Start (Windows XP) icon in the lower left corner of the screen, or you can press the ⊞ Win key.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/27/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/27/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:542,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Type paint into the Start menu. You should see the Paint software appear at the top of the Start menu window.

For Windows XP, click All Programs and then Accessories .

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e9/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e9/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Paint icon. The icon looks like a cup filled with brushes (Windows XP and Vista) or a palette (Windows 7).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/27/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-14-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/27/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-14-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:347,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:549,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Hold Ctrl and press V . Removing this will paste the captured image into Paint.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/55/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/55/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:551,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click File . The item is in the upper left corner of the Paint window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/85/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-16-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-16-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/85/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-16-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-16-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Save . This step will open a window for you to name the file.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1f/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1f/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Type a name and then click Save . This step will save the screenshot to your computer’s default save location, usually in the Documents folder.

You can change the save location by clicking on the folder in the left sidebar.

Using Snipping Top

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/15/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-18-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-18-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:548,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Start menu. Do this by pressing the ⊞ Win key, or clicking the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen.

Snipping Top is not included in Windows XP.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9c/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9c/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Type snipping top into Start. This step will display the Snipping Top icon at the top of the Start window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/32/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-20-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/32/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-20-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:343,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:543,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Snipping Top icon. Scissors icon. This step will open the Snipping Top app.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9b/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-21-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9b/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-21-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:550,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Mode or &# x25BC; . This step will open a drop-down menu with the following screenshot options:

Free-form Snip – This option allows you to use the mouse to draw any shape. The area inside the image will be captured as a screenshot.
Rectangular Snip – This is the default shape, and allows you to draw a rectangle of any ratio as a screenshot.
Window Snip – This option takes a screenshot of a specific window, just like holding Alt and pressing Print Screen. You can select the window you want to use.
Full-screen Snip – This option takes a picture of the entire screen, but does not display the Snipping Top window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c7/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-22-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-22-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c7/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-22-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-22-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the frame. The frame will be applied to the screenshot frame.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f5/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-23-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-23-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f5/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-23-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-23-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:544,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Change border. By default, the entire snip has a red border around it. You can change it by clicking the Options button. This step will open a new window, allowing you to disable the border or change the color.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fd/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-24-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-24-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fd/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-24-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-24-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:348,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:550,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click New . The item is to the right of the Snipping Top bar. The screen will go dark, and the mouse pointer will change to a crosshair.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/11/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-25.jpg/v4-460px-Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-25.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/11/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell- Step-25.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-25.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:342,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :542,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click and drag the mouse across the screen. When doing this step, a rectangle will appear and surround the selected area.

If Full-screen Snip is selected, clicking New will capture the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/75/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-26.jpg/v4-460px-Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-26.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell- Step-26.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-26.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :544,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Release the mouse. This step will capture the entire content in the rectangular area.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f1/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-27-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-27-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f1/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-27-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-27-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click File . The item is in the upper left corner of the screenshot page.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/24/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-28-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-28-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/24/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-28-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-28-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:347,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:549,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Save as . The option is near the middle of the drop-down box.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/91/Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-29-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-29-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/91/Take-a- Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-29-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-a-Screenshot-on-a-Dell-Step-29-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:346,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:547,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Type a name, then click Save . This step will save the screenshot to your computer’s default image location, usually the Pictures folder.

You can change the save location by clicking on the folder in the left sidebar.

Steps

Using Windows 8 and 10

Using Windows XP, Vista, and 7

Using Snipping Top

Related Posts