Basics

10 reasons why Screen capture doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

La capture d’écran ne fonctionne pas ? Voici la réponse immédiate : dans la plupart des cas le problème vient d’un raccourci mal utilisé, d’un pilote ou d’une application qui intercepte la touche, ou d’un composant Windows (application Snip & Sketch, Game Bar, ou le Presse-papiers) qui est mal configuré ou corrompu. Ce guide résout les dix causes les plus courantes du problème Screen capture doesn’t work in Windows 10 et vous montre comment les réparer pas à pas.

Vous apprendrez à tester les raccourcis corrects, à vérifier les applications qui interceptent les captures, à réparer ou réinstaller les outils de capture de Windows, à mettre à jour les pilotes graphiques et claviers, à lancer les commandes de réparation système, et à choisir des alternatives fiables quand le contenu est protégé.


Key Takeaway

La majorité des problèmes de capture d’écran se corrigent en vérifiant le bon raccourci (par ex. Win + Shift + S, PrtScn, Alt + PrtScn), en désactivant les applications tierces qui interceptent la touche (OneDrive/Dropbox) et en réparant/réinstallant Snip & Sketch ou le pilote graphique; si ça ne suffit, exécutez sfc /scannow et DISM pour réparer les fichiers système.


Quick Fix Guide

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem Quick Solution
Wrong shortcut or misunderstanding of keys Use the correct shortcut: PrtScn, Alt + PrtScn, Win + PrtScn, or Win + Shift + S.
Fn key or Function lock blocks PrtScn Press Fn + PrtScn or toggle Fn Lock (often Fn + Esc) in BIOS/keyboard settings.
OneDrive/Dropbox or other app intercepts PrtScn Disable screenshot upload in OneDrive/Dropbox settings or uncheck the hotkey.
Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool is corrupted Reset or reinstall via Settings > Apps > Apps & features (search app > Advanced options > Reset) or reinstall from Microsoft Store.
Game Bar / Captures disabled or misconfigured Enable under Settings > Gaming > Game Bar and Settings > Gaming > Captures.
Outdated/corrupt graphics driver Update/reinstall via Device Manager > Display adapters or manufacturer site.
Clipboard or Explorer crashed Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager or sign out/sign in to refresh clipboard.
App/DRM or Secure Desktop prevents capture Use alternative capture methods or disable hardware acceleration in the app (if allowed); UAC secure desktop cannot be captured.
Keyboard hardware/driver issue Reinstall keyboard driver in Device Manager or test with another keyboard.
Corrupted Windows system files or bad update Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then reboot.
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Detailed Fixes for “Screen capture doesn’t work in Windows 10”

Below are detailed explanations and step-by-step solutions for each reason listed in the Quick Fix Guide.

1) Wrong shortcut or misunderstanding of keys

Why it causes the problem:
Windows supports multiple screenshot methods; using the wrong key or expecting different behavior causes confusion (e.g., PrtScn copies to clipboard, Win + PrtScn saves a file).

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Try each method to verify behavior:
    • Press PrtScn — this copies the full screen to the clipboard; open Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste.
    • Press Alt + PrtScn — this copies the active window to the clipboard.
    • Press Win + PrtScn — this saves a PNG to Pictures > Screenshots.
    • Press Win + Shift + S — this opens Snip & Sketch snipping toolbar to select a region and copies to clipboard.
  2. If clipboard pasting fails, try restarting Windows Explorer (see reason 7).
    Tip: Enable Clipboard history in Settings > System > Clipboard and turn on Clipboard history to store multiple screenshots.

2) Fn key or Function lock blocks PrtScn

Why it causes the problem:
Many laptops require the Fn key to access the function row; PrtScn may be a secondary function or disabled by Fn Lock.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Press Fn + PrtScn and test.
  2. Toggle Fn Lock: often Fn + Esc or a dedicated Fn Lock key (look for a padlock icon).
  3. If symptoms persist, check BIOS/UEFI: restart PC, press the BIOS key (F2/F10/Delete), look for Function Key Behavior and set to Multimedia Key or Function Key according to your preference.
    Note: Some vendor utilities (HP, Lenovo) let you change Fn behavior in their control panel.

3) OneDrive/Dropbox or other app intercepts PrtScn

Why it causes the problem:
Cloud apps offer an option to automatically save screenshots; they can intercept PrtScn and change where screenshots go or disable expected behavior.

Step-by-step solution (OneDrive):

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray.
  2. Click Help & Settings > Settings.
  3. Go to the Backup or Auto Save tab and uncheck Automatically save screenshots I capture to OneDrive.
    For Dropbox:
  4. Click the Dropbox tray icon > gear icon > Preferences.
  5. Under Import, uncheck Share screenshots using Dropbox or similar option.
    Tip: Temporarily exit these apps from the system tray to test screenshot behavior.

4) Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool is corrupted

Why it causes the problem:
The screenshot apps themselves can be broken by updates or file corruption, preventing the snipping toolbar or saving features from functioning.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Search Snip & Sketch (or Snipping Tool for older builds).
  3. Click it, choose Advanced options.
  4. Click Repair — test the app. If not fixed, click Reset (this may clear app data).
  5. If still broken, uninstall and reinstall from Microsoft Store:
    • Open Microsoft Store, search Snip & Sketch, and install.
      Note: For the classic Snipping Tool you may need to use the Windows optional features; newer builds use Snip & Sketch.
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5) Game Bar / Captures disabled or misconfigured

Why it causes the problem:
If you’re trying to use Game Bar screen recording or want to capture with Win + Alt + PrtScn, the Game Bar must be enabled.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > Gaming > Game Bar and turn on Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar.
  2. Go to Settings > Gaming > Captures and configure Background recording, Recorded audio, and output settings.
  3. Test with Win + G to open Game Bar and use capture buttons.
    Tip: Game Bar is designed for games and some apps may not be recognized as “game” windows.

6) Outdated/corrupt graphics driver

Why it causes the problem:
Graphics drivers are involved in rendering and capturing screens; a faulty driver can prevent capture, cause black images, or crash the capture tool.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your GPU, and choose Update driver.
  3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver or download the latest driver from the GPU manufacturer’s website (Intel/NVIDIA/AMD) and install.
  4. If updating doesn’t help, right-click the device > Uninstall device, then reboot to let Windows reinstall drivers.
    Tip: For laptops, prefer the OEM driver from Dell/HP/Lenovo for better compatibility.

7) Clipboard or Explorer crashed

Why it causes the problem:
Screenshot tools copy images to the clipboard or rely on Explorer to save files; if explorer.exe or clipboard chain breaks, screenshots won’t paste or save.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Under Processes, find Windows Explorer, select it, and click Restart.
  3. If using Remote Desktop, restart rdpclip.exe: open Task Manager > Details, end rdpclip.exe, then File > Run new task, type rdpclip.exe.
  4. Test screenshot behavior after restart.
    Tip: Signing out and signing back in will also reset the clipboard and Explorer.

8) App/DRM or Secure Desktop prevents capture

Why it causes the problem:
Protected content (Netflix, DRM video) and the UAC secure desktop prevent software screenshots for copyright/security reasons.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. For protected video: Try disabling hardware acceleration in the app (e.g., browser settings) — note this may still block capture due to DRM.
  2. For UAC prompt capture: Windows intentionally blocks capturing the secure desktop. Use a physical camera if you must capture a UAC prompt.
  3. For banking/secure apps, check app settings — often designed to block screenshots for security; prefer alternative workflows like saving logs or using built-in export.
    Note: Bypassing DRM/security restrictions is not recommended and may violate terms of service.

9) Keyboard hardware/driver issue

Why it causes the problem:
A faulty keyboard or driver prevents PrtScn from registering.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Test the key: connect an external keyboard and try PrtScn.
  2. Reinstall keyboard driver: Device Manager > Keyboards, right-click the keyboard > Uninstall device, then reboot.
  3. If using a laptop, test the on-screen keyboard: open Start, type osk and use its PrtScn alternative or use Win + Shift + S which doesn’t require PrtScn.
    Tip: Some keyboards have special media drivers — install vendor software for full functionality.
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10) Corrupted Windows system files or bad update

Why it causes the problem:
System file corruption or incomplete updates may break screenshot components.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Run system file checker:
    • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for completion.
  3. If issues persist, run DISM:
    • Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This may take several minutes.
  4. Reboot and test screenshots.
    Tip: After DISM, re-run sfc /scannow to ensure all files are fixed.

Preventive tips and useful tools

  • Enable Clipboard history (Settings > System > Clipboard) to keep multiple screenshots available with Win + V.
  • Set a dedicated screenshot folder and allow OneDrive to save screenshots only if you want automatic backups.
  • Use reputable third-party capture tools (e.g., Greenshot, ShareX) if Windows tools fail — they offer advanced capture modes and history.
  • Keep Windows, GPU, and keyboard drivers up to date and create a restore point before installing major updates.
  • If you rely on screenshots for work, test your workflow after each major Windows update.

FAQ

Can I capture a UAC prompt or the Windows login screen?

No. The UAC secure desktop and the login screen are protected by Windows and cannot be captured by software for security reasons; the only way is using an external camera.

Why are my screenshots black or blank?

Black screenshots are often caused by GPU acceleration or driver issues; update/reinstall your graphics driver and try disabling hardware acceleration in the app where the problem occurs (e.g., browser or video player).

How do I change where screenshots are saved?

For Win + PrtScn, screenshots are saved to Pictures > Screenshots. To change location: open File Explorer, go to Pictures > Screenshots, right-click the Screenshots folder > Properties > Location and click Move to choose a new folder.

How can I take screenshots during a Remote Desktop session?

Local screenshots use your client machine keys; to capture the remote desktop screen, use Ctrl + Alt + PrtScn (client-specific) or use the remote machine’s On-Screen Keyboard and Win + Shift + S; alternatively save screenshots on the remote machine and transfer files.

What if none of these fixes work — can I reinstall Windows?

If all troubleshooting fails and system repair tools don’t fix the problem, consider a repair install (in-place upgrade) via the Windows 10 installation media — this reinstalls Windows while keeping files and apps. Back up important data before proceeding.


Conclusion

Most cases of Screen capture doesn’t work in Windows 10 are resolved by using the correct shortcut, disabling apps that intercept the PrtScn key, repairing the Snip & Sketch app, or updating drivers and system files. If problems persist, advanced repairs like sfc /scannow and DISM or a repair install will restore missing or corrupted components.

About the author

Jonathan Dudamel

Jonathan Dudamel

I'm Jonathan Dudamel, an experienced IT specialist and network engineer passionate about all things Windows. I have deep expertise in Microsoft project management, virtualization (VMware ESXi and Hyper-V), and Microsoft’s hybrid platform. I'm also skilled with Microsoft O365, Azure ADDS, and Windows Server environments from 2003 through 2022.

My strengths include Microsoft network infrastructure, VMware platforms, CMMS, ERP systems, and server administration (2016/2022).