The most common and straightforward method—using the key—has undergone a significant change in Windows 11. In older versions of Windows, pressing PrtScn would simply copy the entire screen to the clipboard, requiring you to paste it into another program like Paint or Word. In Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a more user-friendly default: pressing the Print Screen key now opens the Snipping Tool overlay. From there, you can choose a snip type, and the captured image is saved directly to your clipboard and appears as a notification. If you click that notification, you can annotate and save it manually. However, if you do nothing, the screenshot is not automatically saved as a file; it lives only temporarily on your clipboard. For an automatic file save, you need a different key combination.
That combination is . This is the most direct answer to the question, "Where do my screenshots go?" When you press these two keys together, your screen will dim momentarily—a satisfying visual confirmation. Windows 11 then automatically saves a full-screen screenshot as a PNG file in a dedicated folder. The path is: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots where do my screenshots go on windows 11
Finally, certain applications, like the (opened with Win + G), have their own screenshot destinations. Game Bar captures are designed for gaming, but they work in any app. Press Win + Alt + PrtScn to capture the active window, and the screenshot is saved not to Pictures, but to a video and captures folder: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Videos\Captures From there, you can choose a snip type,
Inside your library, you will find a folder simply named "Screenshots." Every image captured with Win + PrtScn will appear there, sequentially numbered (e.g., Screenshot (1).png , Screenshot (2).png ). This folder acts as a permanent archive, making it the most reliable destination for users who want to capture and forget, knowing their image is safely stored. For an automatic file save, you need a
In the modern age of computing, the screenshot has become an essential tool—whether for capturing a fleeting error message, preserving a memorable moment from a video call, or sharing a snippet of your digital life. Yet, for many users of Windows 11, the simple act of taking a screenshot can quickly lead to a moment of confusion: where did it go? The answer, it turns out, depends entirely on how you captured the image. Windows 11 offers several methods, each with its own default destination. Understanding these pathways is the key to never losing a captured moment again.
Beyond these two classic methods, Windows 11 introduces more nuanced tools. The (which can also be opened by searching for it in the Start menu or pressing Win + Shift + S) is the most versatile. When you use the Win + Shift + S shortcut, the screen dims, and a small toolbar appears at the top, offering rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen snips. By default, these captures are copied only to the clipboard. However, a notification will appear in the bottom-right corner. Clicking that notification opens the Snipping Tool editor, where you can annotate, draw, and—crucially— save the image manually to any location you choose. If you frequently use Win + Shift + S and want automatic saving, you can open the Snipping Tool app itself, click the three dots (or "See more"), go to Settings , and turn on "Automatically save original screenshots." Once enabled, these screenshots will also be saved to the same Pictures\Screenshots folder.