Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11 How to Fix It

Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11 How to Fix It

You press Windows key + Shift + S and nothing happens, the Snipping Tool window won't open, or it shows "This app can't open". The fixes below go from the quickest checks to a full reinstall. They're for Windows 11; menu names can differ a little between Windows 11 versions.

If you only need a screenshot right now, press Windows key + Print Screen - the screen goes dim for a moment and the image is saved in Pictures > Screenshots. More options are in how to take a screenshot on Windows 11.

1. Check Whether the Snip Is Actually Working

Windows key + Shift + S copies your snip to the clipboard and shows a small preview notification in the corner. If notifications are off, it looks as if nothing happened.

1. Press Windows key + Shift + S and drag over part of the screen.
2. Open Paint (or a Word document) and press Ctrl + V.

If the image pastes, the tool works. To see the preview again, open Settings > System > Notifications, make sure Notifications is on, and turn on Snipping Tool in the app list. Also check that Do not disturb is off. For more on these settings, see how to turn off notifications in Windows 11 - the same page lets you turn them back on.

2. Restart the PC

A restart clears a stuck Snipping Tool process and finishes any pending app updates. It fixes this problem more often than you would expect.

3. Check the Date and Time

Store apps such as Snipping Tool are signed with certificates that are checked against your PC's clock. If the date is wrong, the app may refuse to open with "This app can't open".

1. Open Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
2. Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically (if available).
3. Select Sync now.

If the clock keeps going wrong, see Windows 11 clock shows the wrong time.

4. Update Snipping Tool and Windows

1. Open Microsoft Store, select Library (bottom left) and select Get updates.
2. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

If the Store itself won't open, fix that first with Microsoft Store not working in Windows 11.

5. Check the Print Screen Key Setting

On Windows 11, the Print Screen key can open the snipping bar instead of copying the whole screen.

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
2. Find Use the Print screen key to open screen capture (the exact wording depends on your Windows 11 version).
3. Turn it on if you want Print Screen to open the snipping bar, or off if you want it to copy the full screen.

Some laptops need Fn + Print Screen, because the key shares space with another function. Gaming keyboards may also block the Windows key with a "Win Lock" switch - see Windows key not working if no Windows-key shortcut works.

6. Repair or Reset Snipping Tool

Microsoft's own fix for a misbehaving app:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Snipping Tool, select the three dots (...) and choose Advanced options.
3. Select Terminate, then Repair. Try the tool again.
4. If it still fails, go back and select Reset.

Repair keeps the app's settings. Reset clears them (auto-save folder, delay and similar options), but your saved screenshots aren't touched.

7. Uninstall and Reinstall Snipping Tool

Microsoft lets you remove and reinstall Snipping Tool on Windows 11.

1. In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to Snipping Tool and choose Uninstall.
2. Restart the PC.
3. Open Microsoft Store, search for Snipping Tool and select Install (or Get).

8. Repair Windows System Files

If several built-in apps fail, not only Snipping Tool, damaged system files may be the cause. Follow how to run SFC and DISM to repair Windows 11. Both commands run in Terminal (Admin) and keep your files.

Still Not Fixed?

• Try another user account on the same PC. If Snipping Tool works there, the problem is in your profile's app data.
• Check for screen-capture blocking: some work PCs block screenshots by policy, and some apps (such as streaming services) show a black area on purpose.
• Use Windows key + Print Screen or the Xbox Game Bar (Windows key + Alt + Print Screen, for apps and games) while you sort it out.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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