How to Fix Snipping Tool Issues on Windows 11

If the Snipping Tool will not open, capture a blank screen, or seems to stop saving screenshots, start by identifying which part is failing. In Windows 11, the quickest checks are to launch the app from Start, try the screenshot shortcut, and confirm that the capture is reaching the app or clipboard. Then update or repair the app before moving on to a reinstall or Windows file repair.

Check the shortcut and capture result

Press Windows + Shift + S to open the snipping overlay. You can also open Start, search for Snipping Tool, and select New in the app. If one route fails, test the other; that helps distinguish a keyboard shortcut problem from an app problem.

If the PrtSc key is the only control that fails, open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping. Keyboard behavior can vary by device and setting. Microsoft lists Windows + Shift + S as the shortcut for selecting a screen region and copying it to the clipboard in its Windows keyboard shortcuts guide.

After you select an area, check the Snipping Tool window and try Ctrl + S to save. A captured snip is copied so you can also paste it with Ctrl + V into Paint or another image app. If the capture appears but you do not see a pop-up, troubleshoot notifications separately below.

Install app and Windows updates

Restart Windows once, then check for pending updates. Snipping Tool is updated through Microsoft Store: open Store, choose Library, and select Get updates. If Snipping Tool is listed, install its update and try another capture. Microsoft’s Store update instructions explain how to check for app updates.

Repair the app, then reset it if needed

Windows can repair some installed apps without removing them. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Snipping Tool, select its three-dot menu, and choose Advanced options. Select Repair first. This attempts to fix the app while keeping its data. If the issue remains, select Reset; Windows warns that resetting deletes the app’s data.

These are Microsoft’s recommended app-level options when they are available. See Repair apps and programs in Windows for the current Settings path.

Reinstall Snipping Tool

If the app is missing, will not launch after a reset, or still fails, reinstall it. In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, open the three-dot menu beside Snipping Tool, choose Uninstall, and confirm. Then reinstall the official app. If Microsoft Store offers the Snipping Tool listing published by Microsoft Corporation, select Get. Otherwise, follow Microsoft’s Snipping Tool reinstall instructions and use the installer that matches your PC. Avoid third-party download sites.

Fix missing capture notifications

Do this only if a snip is captured but its notification banner does not appear. Open Settings > System > Notifications, make sure notifications are enabled, and confirm Snipping Tool is allowed to show banners. Turn off Do not disturb temporarily and check the notification center for a missed alert. Do not disturb can send notifications directly to the notification center; it does not repair a capture or prevent the shortcut from taking a snip. See Microsoft’s Windows notifications and Do not disturb guide.

Repair Windows system files

If Snipping Tool still crashes or will not start, run Microsoft’s built-in DISM and System File Checker tools from an administrator Command Prompt. Search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. Run this command first and wait for it to finish:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Then run:

sfc /scannow

Keep the window open until the scan completes, then restart Windows and test Snipping Tool again. Microsoft recommends running DISM before SFC because DISM can repair the files SFC uses. Follow the full System File Checker instructions if either command reports that it could not complete.

Check for background software conflicts

If the problem began after installing screen-capture, keyboard-remapping, overlay, or security software, a clean boot can help test whether another service or startup app is interfering. Microsoft’s clean boot instructions explain the full process. In brief, use System Configuration, hide all Microsoft services before disabling other services, and disable startup apps in Task Manager for the test. A clean boot temporarily changes startup behavior, so record what you disable and restore a normal startup afterward. If the Snipping Tool still fails after these checks, use the Microsoft Support or Get Help app to investigate a Windows-specific issue.

These steps focus on current Windows 11 settings and official repair paths. You do not need to change the system clock to an old date or edit a registry policy to troubleshoot an ordinary Snipping Tool failure.