Can Snipping Tool automatically save screenshots in Windows 10?

On Windows 10, after taking a screenshot using the Win + Shift + S keyboard sequence, you need to click on the notification to open the snip in the Snipping Tool and then save it manually. You wonder if an option exists to auto-save Win + Shift + S screenshots in Windows 10.

Workaround

Unfortunately, the option to auto-save Win + Shift + S snips to the Screenshots folder is unavailable in Windows 10. The “Automatically save to Screenshots” option is only available in Windows 11.

However, when you take a snip using the Snipping Tool in Windows 10, it saves the snip to a PNG file in the temporary location below:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState\ScreenClip

(To access that folder quickly, press Win + R, type the above path, and click OK.)

Reference: Screenshot a Portion of the Screen in Windows [Winkey+Shift+S]



win shift s screenshot screenclip folder

Each snip taken using Print Screen (or Win + Shift + S) creates two PNG files (and a JSON file) in that folder. One is the actual screenshot, and the other PNG is the miniature/thumbnail version.


One small request: If you liked this post, please share this?

One "tiny" share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog. Some great suggestions:
  • Pin it!
  • Share it to your favorite blog + Facebook, Reddit
  • Tweet it!
So thank you so much for your support. It won't take more than 10 seconds of your time.

Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a ten-time recipient of the Microsoft MVP award in Windows Desktop Experience (Windows Shell), from 2003 to 2012. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

1 thought on “Can Snipping Tool automatically save screenshots in Windows 10?”

Leave a Comment