Snipping Tool Not Opening
If Snipping Tool does not open at all when you press the shortcut or click the app, start with these fixes in order.
Restart Snipping Tool
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find Snipping Tool in the list, right-click it, and select End Task. Then reopen Snipping Tool from the Start menu. This clears any frozen process state.
Restart Windows Explorer
In Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart. This refreshes the shell environment that Snipping Tool depends on. It is faster than a full reboot.
Check Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb
If Focus Assist (Windows 10) or Do Not Disturb (Windows 11) is on, the notification that lets you view your snip may be suppressed. The snip still happens: open the notification center with Win + N and look for it there.
Win + Shift + S Not Working
If pressing Win + Shift + S does nothing, another application has claimed that keyboard combination. Here is how to diagnose and fix it. For a full list of alternative shortcuts and capture mode keys, see the keyboard shortcuts guide.
Clipboard manager conflict
Clipboard managers like Ditto, CopyQ, and Clipboard Master commonly intercept Win + Shift + S. Temporarily quit your clipboard manager app from the system tray and test the shortcut again.
Remote desktop or screen sharing software
TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Windows Remote Desktop, and similar tools can capture Win + Shift + S during an active session. Disconnect or close the remote session and retry.
AutoHotkey or custom hotkey script
If you use AutoHotkey or any macro tool, check whether a script has assigned Win + Shift + S. Pause the script and test the shortcut.
Sign out and sign back in
Signing out of Windows and signing back in refreshes the keyboard shortcut registration for all apps, including Snipping Tool. This is faster than a full restart and often resolves the issue.
Snipping Tool Black Screen
Black or blank screenshots happen when Snipping Tool cannot capture hardware-accelerated content. This is common when screenshotting browsers, video players, or games.
Disable hardware acceleration in your browser
In Chrome or Edge: go to Settings > System and turn off 'Use hardware acceleration when available'. Restart the browser, then try the screenshot again.
Update your graphics drivers
Outdated GPU drivers can cause blank screenshots. For NVIDIA, update through GeForce Experience. For AMD, use Radeon Software. For Intel, check Intel Arc Control or Device Manager.
DRM-protected content (Netflix, Disney+)
These apps intentionally block screen capture at the hardware level. This cannot be fixed: it is by design. The only workaround is to use a camera or a different device.
Snipping Tool Not Saving Screenshots
If screenshots appear in the Snipping Tool editor but fail to save (0-byte files, or the save dialog closes without creating a file), the cause is usually folder permissions or a Windows Update bug.
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Try saving to a different location
When the save dialog opens, change the save location to your Desktop instead of the default Screenshots folder. If this works, the Screenshots folder has a permissions issue.
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Check folder permissions
Navigate to C:\Users\[YourName]\Pictures\Screenshots. Right-click > Properties > Security > Edit. Ensure your user account has Full Control.
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Install Windows updates
Known Windows Update compatibility issues have caused 0-byte save failures in some versions. Open Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates to get the latest Snipping Tool patches.
How to Repair Snipping Tool
The Repair option in Settings fixes corrupted app files without resetting your preferences or data. Try this before reinstalling.
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Open Settings with Win + I
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Go to Apps, then Installed Apps
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Find Snipping Tool in the list
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Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Advanced Options
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Click Repair and wait for it to complete
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If Repair does not fix the issue, click Reset to restore the app to its default state
Note: Repair only fixes corrupted files. If the app worked before a recent Windows Update and nothing else changed, updating Windows (below) is more likely to fix it.
How to Reinstall Snipping Tool
If Repair and Reset did not help, reinstalling from the Microsoft Store replaces all installation files with fresh copies and updates to the latest version.
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Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu
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Search for Snipping Tool in the search bar
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Click Install or Update: the Store will reinstall the app automatically
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Restart your computer after installation completes
Snipping Tool Crashes on Windows 11
Crashes after a Windows 11 update are usually caused by a known bug in the Snipping Tool app package that Microsoft patches in the next update.
Update Windows first
Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates including optional updates. Microsoft frequently patches Snipping Tool crashes in monthly cumulative updates.
Multi-monitor crash
Snipping Tool crashes or captures the wrong monitor on some multi-monitor setups. Move the Snipping Tool window to your primary monitor before capturing. Using Win + Shift + S works across all monitors regardless.
Check Windows Event Viewer
If the crash is consistent, open Event Viewer (search in Start), go to Windows Logs > Application, and look for errors from SnippingTool.exe. The error code can help identify the specific cause.
Symptom and Cause Table
Use this table to match your symptom to the most likely cause and fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Snipping Tool not working on Windows 11?
Why does Snipping Tool show a black or blank screen?
Why is Win + Shift + S not working?
Why is Snipping Tool not saving screenshots?
How do I repair Snipping Tool without reinstalling?
Is there a Snipping Tool alternative if nothing works?
If none of these fixes work, the built-in Snipping Tool may have a deeper system conflict. See the best free alternatives like Greenshot and ShareX that work independently of Windows Update. Also: Snip & Sketch vs Snipping Tool explains what changed in Windows 11.