Print Screen Not Working on Windows 11? 10 Fixes That Work

Updated October 2026 · Fixes checked on Windows 11

Quick answer: If Print Screen isn’t working on Windows 11, try Fn + PrtScn first, since many laptops need the Fn key. If that doesn’t help, press Windows + Shift + S, which takes a screenshot without the PrtScn key while you fix the problem.

Pressing PrtScn and getting nothing is frustrating, especially when you need a screenshot right now. The good news is that it’s almost always a setting, an app, or the Fn key, not a broken keyboard.

Below are 10 fixes, starting with the quickest. Most people are back to normal within the first three.

What’s Your Problem? Jump to the Right Fix

What happens	Most likely cause	Try
Nothing at all when you press PrtScn	Fn key or Fn Lock	Fix 1, Fix 2
PrtScn opens a toolbar you didn’t expect	Windows 11 default setting	Fix 3
Toolbar appears but nothing saves	Snipping Tool settings or notifications	Fix 4, Fix 5
Windows + PrtScn doesn’t save to Screenshots	Folder moved or OneDrive	Fix 6, Fix 7
A different app opens instead	Another app has taken over PrtScn	Fix 8
Worked before, stopped suddenly	Driver or update issue	Fix 9, Fix 10

Fix 1: Press Fn + PrtScn

On many laptops, especially Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus, PrtScn shares a key with another function. Pressing it alone does the other function instead.

Try Fn + PrtScn. For a full screenshot that saves automatically, try Fn + Windows + PrtScn.

Fix 2: Turn Fn Lock On or Off

Fn Lock swaps what the top-row keys do by default. If it’s in the wrong mode, PrtScn may not respond.

On most laptops, press Fn + Esc to toggle Fn Lock, then try PrtScn again. Some keyboards show a small light on the Esc key when Fn Lock is on.

Fix 3: Check the Windows 11 Print Screen Setting

On Windows 11, PrtScn opens the snip toolbar by default instead of silently copying the screen. If you expected the old behaviour, it can look like it’s broken.

1. Open Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard
2. Find “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture”
3. Turn it on if you want PrtScn to open the snip toolbar
4. Turn it off if you want PrtScn to copy the full screen to your clipboard, then paste with Ctrl + V

Fix 4: Check Snipping Tool’s Auto-Save Setting

PrtScn and Windows + Shift + S both use the Snipping Tool. If your snips aren’t being saved anywhere:

1. Open Snipping Tool from the Start menu
2. Click the three dots → Settings
3. Turn on “Automatically save screenshots”

Your snips will now save to Pictures → Screenshots automatically, as well as being copied to the clipboard.

Fix 5: Turn On Snipping Tool Notifications

After you take a snip, a small preview normally pops up in the corner. If notifications are off, you’ll never see it, and it feels like nothing happened.

1. Open Settings → System → Notifications
2. Make sure notifications are on
3. Scroll down and turn on notifications for Snipping Tool

Also check that Do not disturb is off.

Fix 6: Check the Screenshots Folder

Windows + PrtScn saves to Pictures → Screenshots. If that folder was moved or deleted, screenshots may not appear where you expect.

1. Open File Explorer → Pictures
2. If the Screenshots folder is there, right-click it, choose Properties → Location, and click Restore Default
3. If it’s missing, create a new folder named Screenshots inside Pictures, then press Windows + PrtScn again

Fix 7: Check If OneDrive Is Taking Your Screenshots

If OneDrive backs up your Pictures folder, your screenshots may be saving to OneDrive → Pictures → Screenshots instead of your PC.

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon on the taskbar
2. Open Settings → Sync and backup → Manage back up
3. Check whether Pictures is being backed up, and look in your OneDrive Pictures folder for the missing screenshots

Fix 8: Close Apps That Take Over PrtScn

Some apps grab the PrtScn key for themselves, so Windows never sees it. Common ones include Dropbox, Lightshot, Greenshot, ShareX, Snagit, and some laptop brand utilities.

1. Right-click the taskbar and open Task Manager
2. Close any screenshot or cloud-storage apps
3. Try PrtScn again

If it works, open that app’s settings and turn off its Print Screen shortcut, or keep it closed.

Fix 9: Repair or Reset the Snipping Tool

If the toolbar won’t open at all, the Snipping Tool itself may be broken.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
2. Find Snipping Tool, click the three dots → Advanced options
3. Click Repair first. If that doesn’t help, click Reset

Fix 10: Update Windows and Your Keyboard Driver

A recent update or an old driver can stop keys from working properly.

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update and install everything available
2. Open Device Manager → Keyboards, right-click your keyboard, and choose Update driver
3. If that doesn’t help, choose Uninstall device and restart your PC. Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.

Is the PrtScn Key Itself Broken?

To test it, open the On-Screen Keyboard (search “osk” in the Start menu) and click its PrtScn button.

• The on-screen button works → your physical key or keyboard may be faulty. Try an external keyboard to confirm.
• The on-screen button doesn’t work either → it’s a software problem. Go back to Fixes 3–10.

Other Ways to Screenshot While You Fix It

You don’t have to wait. These work without the PrtScn key:

• Windows + Shift + S → capture any part of the screen
• Fn + Windows + Space → full screenshot on keyboards without PrtScn
• Windows + G → open the Game Bar and click the camera icon
• Snipping Tool app → open it from the Start menu and click + New

Snipping Tool won’t open? See Snipping Tool Not Working on Windows 11.

For every screenshot method, see our full guide on How to Screenshot on Windows 11.

Fixes for Your Laptop Brand

Each brand puts PrtScn in a different place and uses different Fn settings:

• Dell Laptop · Dell XPS
• HP Laptop
• Lenovo Laptop · Lenovo ThinkPad
• Asus Laptop · Asus ZenBook
• Acer Laptop
• Microsoft Surface

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Print Screen button not working on Windows 11?

The most common reasons are the Fn key (try Fn + PrtScn), Fn Lock (toggle with Fn + Esc), or the Windows 11 setting that makes PrtScn open the snip toolbar. Another app like Dropbox or Lightshot may also be taking over the key.

How do I enable Print Screen on Windows 11?

Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and turn on “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture.” PrtScn will then open the snip toolbar.

Why does Windows + PrtScn not save my screenshot?

Check that the Pictures → Screenshots folder exists and hasn’t been moved, and that OneDrive isn’t saving your screenshots to the cloud instead.

How do I take a screenshot if my PrtScn key is broken?

Press Windows + Shift + S to capture any part of the screen, or Fn + Windows + Space for a full screenshot. The Snipping Tool app and the Game Bar (Windows + G) also work without the PrtScn key.

Why does PrtScn open the Snipping Tool?

That’s the default on Windows 11. To make PrtScn copy the full screen instead, turn off “Use the Print screen key to open screen capture” in Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard.