How to stop Print Screen opening Snipping Tool on Windows 11

By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 4 steps · Published 6 October 2026

Device

Windows

Shown on

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Keyboard

Real screenshots

2 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open the Keyboard settings

   Open Start, Settings, Bluetooth & devices, then Keyboard. Or type keyboard into the search box at the top of Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Switch off the Print screen setting

   Scroll down to Shortcuts and hotkeys. Switch off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. On our Cloud PC it is On.

   Done

3. Test the key

   Press PrtSc. Nothing appears, but the whole screen is now on the clipboard. Paste it into Paint, a chat or a document with Ctrl + V.

   Done

4. Cannot find it under Bluetooth & devices?

   On older versions of Windows 11 the same switch is in Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard. A Microsoft support answer on Microsoft Q&A gives that path. If PrtSc still opens Snipping Tool after you switch it off, restart the PC and try again.

   Done

About this guide

On current Windows 11, the PrtSc key opens the Snipping Tool bar instead of copying the screen. If you prefer the old way, or another screenshot app should get the key, one switch changes it back. On our Cloud PC the switch is under Bluetooth & devices; older versions of Windows 11 had it under Accessibility.

The screenshots are our own, taken on Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457) running as a Microsoft Cloud PC, a Windows PC that runs in the cloud. The Settings app is the same on Home and Pro PCs; where the Cloud PC shows something different, the step says so.

Good to know

Windows + PrtSc still saves the whole screen as a file in Pictures, Screenshots, whatever this switch says.

All the screenshot shortcuts: how to take a screenshot on Windows 11.

In short: Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Keyboard, switch off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture. PrtSc then copies the screen; paste with Ctrl + V.