With two monitors, the Print Screen key in Windows 10 often captures both screens as one extra-wide image, which is not what you want when you only need what is on one display. Windows has several built-in ways to capture a single monitor, a single window, or just part of one screen. This guide covers each method, where the screenshot goes, and how to crop a dual-monitor capture after the fact.
Quick Answer
Press Windows key + Shift + S, choose Rectangle (or Rectangular Snip), and drag from one corner of the monitor you want to the opposite corner. The capture of just that screen is copied to your clipboard. To capture only the active window, press Alt + Print Screen.
Methods Compared
| Method | Captures | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Windows + Shift + S, Rectangle | Exactly the area you drag, such as one full monitor | Clipboard, with option to edit and save |
| Windows + Shift + S, Window | One window on either monitor | Clipboard |
| Alt + Print Screen | The active window | Clipboard |
| Print Screen | All monitors combined | Clipboard |
| Windows + Print Screen | All monitors combined | Saved to Pictures > Screenshots |
| Windows + G (Game Bar) | The active app, on its monitor | Saved to Videos > Captures |
Method 1: Snip One Monitor With Windows + Shift + S
- Press Windows key + Shift + S. All screens dim and a toolbar appears at the top.
- Click Rectangle (the first icon).
- Click at the top-left corner of the monitor you want and drag to its bottom-right corner. The selection snaps to the screen edges.
- Release the mouse. The image is copied to the clipboard.
- Paste it with Ctrl + V, or click the notification to open it in Snip & Sketch (or the Snipping Tool) where you can annotate and save it.
Tip: if you maximize a window on that monitor first, choose Window mode and click the window to capture the whole screen area without dragging.
Method 2: Capture the Active Window With Alt + Print Screen
- Click the window you want to capture so it is active.
- Press Alt + Print Screen (on some laptops, Fn + Alt + PrtSc).
- Paste it into Paint, Word, an email, or a chat with Ctrl + V.
If you maximize the window first, this captures nearly the entire monitor (everything except the taskbar).
Method 3: Snipping Tool With a Delay
- Open Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- Set Mode to Rectangular Snip or Window Snip.
- Use Delay if you need time to open a menu.
- Click New and select the area on your chosen monitor.
- Save with Ctrl + S.
Method 4: Crop a Full Dual-Monitor Screenshot
If you already pressed Print Screen or Windows + Print Screen and captured both monitors:
- Open the image in Paint (paste with Ctrl + V or open the file from Pictures > Screenshots).
- Click Select and drag around the half you want.
- Click Crop and save the file.
The Photos app also has a Crop tool under Edit & Create > Edit.
Method 5: Xbox Game Bar
Press Windows key + G with the app you want in focus, then click the camera icon in the Capture widget, or press Windows + Alt + Print Screen. Game Bar captures the active app only, and saves the image to Videos > Captures. It is designed for games and apps, so it may not capture the desktop or File Explorer.
Where Screenshots Are Saved
- Clipboard only: Windows + Shift + S, Alt + Print Screen, and Print Screen. Paste them somewhere or save them from the editor.
- Pictures > Screenshots: Windows + Print Screen.
- Videos > Captures: Game Bar.
- OneDrive: if OneDrive is set to save screenshots, they may also appear in OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots.
Troubleshooting
The capture is blurry or the wrong size
Monitors with different scaling (for example, 100% and 150%) can produce captures that look scaled. Set both monitors to the same scale in Settings > System > Display, or use Rectangle mode on one screen only.
Windows + Shift + S does not work
Make sure Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool is installed and that notifications are on for it in Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
Print Screen does nothing
Try Fn + PrtSc, and check whether OneDrive, Dropbox, or another screenshot app has taken over the key.
Related: Change where screenshots are saved in Windows 10.
Related: Stop games from minimizing on dual monitors in Windows 10.
Related: Capture part of the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I screenshot just one monitor in Windows 10?
Press Windows + Shift + S, choose Rectangle, and drag across the monitor you want.
Is there a keyboard shortcut that captures only one monitor?
Not by default. Alt + Print Screen captures the active window, which covers the whole monitor if the window is maximized.
Why does Print Screen capture both monitors?
Windows treats all connected displays as one large desktop, so Print Screen captures the entire desktop area.
Does this work in Windows 11?
Yes. The same shortcuts work, and the Windows 11 Snipping Tool offers the same Rectangle and Window modes.
Summary
- Press Windows + Shift + S, choose Rectangle, and drag across one monitor.
- Use Alt + Print Screen for the active window.
- Crop a full dual-monitor capture in Paint or Photos if needed.
- Save from the editor, since most shortcuts only copy to the clipboard.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.