Capture an active window

Britton30 · Sep 12, 2012

An alternative to using the snipping tool to grab a partial screenshot, make the window you want to capture Active. Press ALT+PRNTSCRN and that will place only the active window on the clipboard. Open MS Paint or your favorite graphics editor and use CTRL+V or the Paste function to open the saved image.

jcgriff2 · Sep 12, 2012

The Fn key is also needed for most laptops.

bassfisher6522 · Sep 12, 2012

Or you could just use the print screen key....works every time for dekstop/laptop.

Tekno Venus · Sep 13, 2012

I use this all the time, better quality than the snipping tool too. The snipping tool compresses the image so much, it's amazing.

bassfisher6522 said:
Or you could just use the print screen key....works every time for desktop/laptop.

The advantage with Alt + PrintScreen is it captures only the active window so you don't have to crop it

cluberti · Sep 13, 2012

Note if you've got the full Onenote installed from Office 2010 or 2013 Preview, you can press win+S to select and copy to the clipboard (and to a onenote, of course).

Digerati · Sep 13, 2012

I actually like Windows 7 Snipping tool. But like most Windows "tools" it is designed to provide only the basic essential functions. I used to use SnatIt, but they got too greedy and stopped offering a free version for home, non-commercial use. So when I need something a bit more advanced, I really like Greenshot – a free, open source alternative screenshot program to the $50 SnagIt.

Wrench97 · Sep 13, 2012

Greenshot is good I've been using it for awhile now.

bassfisher6522 · Sep 13, 2012

Ahh...roger that...I'll mess around with it...thanks.

jcgriff2 · Sep 13, 2012

SNAGIT is awesome as are the other TechSmith products.

Digerati · Sep 14, 2012

SNAGIT is awesome

It is. But $50 is outrageous - especially when programs like GreenShot are around.

usasma · Sep 18, 2012

FWIW -

Just found a clue today about screen capture utilities.
If unable to capture a screen shot with the utility - try renaming the executable to something else and see if it works.

Some anti-screen shot utilities only screen by file name - so the rename can get around it.

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Capture an active window

Britton30

R.I.P July 9, 2014

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

bassfisher6522

Sysnative Staff

Tekno Venus

Senior Administrator, Developer

cluberti

Senior Member

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Wrench97

Administrator, Hardware Expert

bassfisher6522

Sysnative Staff

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

usasma

Retired Admin

Capture an active window

R.I.P July 9, 2014

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Sysnative Staff

Senior Administrator, Developer

Senior Member

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator, Hardware Expert

Sysnative Staff

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Retired Admin

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)