Snipping Tool Not Working on Windows 11? 10 Easy Fixes

Updated October 2026 · Fixes checked on Windows 11

Quick answer: If the Snipping Tool isn’t working on Windows 11, close it completely in Task Manager and open it again. If that doesn’t help, go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Snipping Tool → Advanced options and click Repair, then Reset if needed.

The Snipping Tool handles almost every screenshot on Windows 11, including Windows + Shift + S and the PrtScn key. So when it stops working, it can feel like screenshots are broken altogether.

Below are 10 fixes, starting with the quickest. Most problems are solved by the first three.

What’s Your Problem? Jump to the Right Fix

What happensTry
Snipping Tool won’t openFix 1, Fix 6, Fix 7
Windows + Shift + S does nothingFix 1, Fix 2, Fix 3
The toolbar appears but freezesFix 1, Fix 4
You snip, but nothing shows upFix 5
Snips come out black or blankFix 8
It worked before and stopped suddenlyFix 6, Fix 9, Fix 10

Fix 1: Close and Reopen the Snipping Tool

Sometimes the Snipping Tool gets stuck in the background and won’t respond.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Find Snipping Tool in the list, right-click it, and choose End task
  3. Open the Snipping Tool again from the Start menu, or press Windows + Shift + S

Fix 2: Open the Snipping Tool From the Start Menu

If Windows + Shift + S does nothing, check whether the problem is the shortcut or the app.

  1. Press Start and type Snipping Tool
  2. Open it and click + New
  • It works from the Start menu → the app is fine, so the shortcut is the problem. Go to Fix 3.
  • It doesn’t open at all → the app itself is the problem. Skip to Fix 6.

Fix 3: Check Your Keyboard and Shortcut Settings

A few settings can stop the shortcut from reaching the Snipping Tool:

  • Another app may be using the shortcut. Screenshot apps like Lightshot, Greenshot, ShareX, Snagit, or Dropbox can take over it. Close them in Task Manager and try again.
  • Windows key turned off. Some gaming laptops and keyboards have a Windows key lock in gaming mode. Turn it off in your keyboard’s app, like Armoury Crate or Alienware Command Center.
  • PrtScn setting. If you use PrtScn to open the Snipping Tool, check Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and make sure “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture” is turned on.

Fix 4: Restart Windows Explorer

If the snip toolbar appears but freezes, or the screen stays dimmed, restarting Windows Explorer usually clears it without rebooting your PC.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart
  3. Your taskbar disappears for a second and comes back. Then try snipping again.

Fix 5: Turn On Notifications and Auto-Save

If you snip and nothing seems to happen, the snip is probably on your clipboard, but you’re not seeing the preview.

Turn on notifications:

  1. Open Settings → System → Notifications
  2. Make sure notifications are on, and turn them on for Snipping Tool
  3. Check that Do not disturb is off

Turn on auto-save:

  1. Open the Snipping Tool, click the three dots → Settings
  2. Turn on “Automatically save screenshots”

Your snips will now save to Pictures → Screenshots too, so you never lose one.

Fix 6: Repair or Reset the Snipping Tool

This fixes most cases where the app won’t open or keeps crashing.

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Find Snipping Tool, click the three dots → Advanced options
  3. Click Repair first. It keeps your settings.
  4. If that doesn’t help, click Reset. It clears the app’s settings and starts fresh.

Fix 7: Update or Reinstall the Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is updated through the Microsoft Store, and an old version can cause problems.

Update it:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store
  2. Click Library (bottom left), then Get updates

Reinstall it if updating doesn’t help:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find Snipping Tool, and choose Uninstall
  2. Open the Microsoft Store, search Snipping Tool, and install it again

Fix 8: Fix Black or Blank Snips

If your snips come out black, here’s why:

  • Protected videos. Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services block screenshots on purpose, so a black snip is normal there.
  • Browser hardware acceleration. If other browser pages come out black, turn off hardware acceleration. In Chrome or Edge, go to Settings → System and turn off “Use graphics acceleration when available,” then restart the browser.
  • Colors look washed out instead? If you use HDR, that can happen. Turn HDR off in Settings → System → Display while you take the screenshot.

Fix 9: Update Windows

Some Snipping Tool problems are fixed in Windows updates.

  1. Open Settings → Windows Update
  2. Click Check for updates and install everything available
  3. Restart your PC

Fix 10: Run a System File Check

If nothing else works, damaged system files may be the cause. Windows has a built-in tool to repair them.

  1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin)
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
  3. Wait for the scan to finish (it can take 10–15 minutes), then restart your PC

Other Ways to Screenshot While You Fix It

These don’t need the Snipping Tool:

  • Windows + PrtScn → full screenshot, saved to Pictures → Screenshots
  • Alt + PrtScn → copies the active window to your clipboard
  • Windows + G → opens the Game Bar. Click the camera icon.
  • Microsoft Edge → press Ctrl + Shift + S to capture any part of a web page

Is the PrtScn key the problem instead? See Print Screen Not Working on Windows 11. For every screenshot method, see How to Screenshot on Windows 11.

Screenshot Guides for Your Laptop Brand

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Snipping Tool not working on Windows 11?

The most common causes are the app getting stuck in the background, another screenshot app taking over the shortcut, or notifications being off so you don’t see your snip. Close the app in Task Manager first, then try Repair under Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Snipping Tool.

Why is Windows + Shift + S not working?

Another app (like Lightshot, Greenshot, or Dropbox) may be using the shortcut, or the Windows key may be locked on a gaming keyboard. Open the Snipping Tool from the Start menu to check whether the app itself works.

How do I reset the Snipping Tool on Windows 11?

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find Snipping Tool, click Advanced options, and click Reset. Try Repair first, since it keeps your settings.

Where do Snipping Tool screenshots go?

They’re copied to your clipboard. If “Automatically save screenshots” is on in the Snipping Tool’s settings, they’re also saved to Pictures → Screenshots.

Why are my Snipping Tool screenshots black?

Streaming apps like Netflix block screenshots on purpose. If ordinary web pages come out black, turn off graphics acceleration in your browser’s settings and try again.

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