Unlocking the Power of Snipping Tool: Features You Didn't Know About

Ah, the Snipping Tool—humble, unassuming, and tucked neatly into the heart of Windows. For most folks, it’s just there to grab quick screenshots of whatever’s gracing their monitors. However, if you’re only using the default rectangular capture mode to snag a picture of your screen, then my friend, you’re missing out on some serious firepower. Microsoft has packed this tool with features that can transform it from a lowly assistant to your go-to multitasking superstar for screen captures, annotations, and even more advanced needs.
Let’s pull back the curtain and dive into the juicy details of what makes the Snipping Tool a game-changer that you might’ve been sleeping on.

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1. Snip Outside the Box—Explore the Different Modes​

Most folks stick to the default “rectangular snip” mode, which, let’s be honest, is tried, tested, and true. You draw a rectangle, bam, screenshot captured. But this is just one slice of the pie.
Hidden Gems:

• Freeform Snip Mode: Draw any shape with your mouse to capture exactly what you need in all its oddly-shaped glory. Have a figure-eight squiggle you need screen-grabbed? No problem.
• Window Snip Mode: A lifesaver when you just want to capture one specific app window. Think of it as a one-click tab target—no extra cropping necessary.
• Full-Screen Snip: Ideal for multi-monitor setups when you need to bottle up your entire digital workspace.

Tip: To access these, click the drop-down next to the “New” button in the Snipping Tool and pick your poison.

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2. Give Yourself (Some) Time—Master the Delay Feature​

Ever tried to capture a dropdown menu or subtle hover effect, only to watch it disappear the moment you hit a key? Like trying to catch a firefly in the dark, it’s infuriating.
Enter the Time Delay Feature, the tool you never knew you needed. Whether it’s 3, 5, or 10 seconds, this is your golden ticket to preparation. Set up your screenshot, navigate to the menu you want, and let the Snipping Tool wait patiently. No more rushing against the clock.
How To:

• Open Snipping Tool.
• Select your snip mode.
• Use the “Delay” dropdown to set your time.
• Hit “New” and breathe easy.

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3. Annotate Like a Pro​

Snapping screenshots is the first step—annotating them makes them actionable. Need to draw attention to specific fields in a form? Want to doodle over your boss’s PowerPoint? Now you can—and you’ll look good doing it.
Features You’ll Love:

• Pens and Highlighters: Mark up, circle, or underline to your heart’s content.
• Custom Settings: Adjust colors, thickness, and styles to match your presentation style.
• Eraser Tool: Messed up? You can undo mark-ups without affecting the original image.
• Cropping: Trim out unnecessary sections without firing up external tools.

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4. Snipping Tool Isn’t Just for Images Anymore—Record Your Screen!​

That’s right—what was once a screenshot app is now also a video app. The Snipping Tool’s Screen Recording Feature allows you to record any part of your screen, with options to include system audio or voice-overs. Perfect for demos, tutorials, or just capturing proof that yes, that bug actually happened.
No third-party software? No problem.
Using This Feature:

• Switch to “Record” in the app.
• Select the area you want to record.
• Hit “Start” and say goodbye to paywall-protected recording tools.

There’s even no time limit, meaning you can record endlessly until your masterpiece is complete.

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5. Seamless Editing: Jump Straight into Paint & Clipchamp​

Captured something but need to tweak it? You can now send your screenshots directly into Paint for basic editing or export video recordings into Clipchamp, Microsoft’s much-improved video editing software.

• Paint Features: Draw, layer text, tweak dimensions, and more.
• Clipchamp for Videos: Add captions, audio, sleek transition effects, or snazzy filters. Even for beginners, the interface is surprisingly intuitive.

If you’re just jabbing around your Windows desktop, this built-in integration will save you a lot of time—and possibly subscriptions to editing software you might not even need anymore.

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6. Extract Text from Images (Hello, OCR!)​

Here’s another killer feature: Optical Character Recognition, or OCR. With this tech now embedded in the Snipping Tool, you can pull text directly from images. Handwritten notes? Screenshotted emails? OCR lets you snatch the text and copy-paste it wherever you need it.
How It Works:

• Open the Snipping Tool.
• Import your image.
• Use the “Text Actions” tool to locate and highlight any text.

What’s more, there’s a nifty Redact tool to black out sensitive information in case you’re dealing with confidential documents. Fancy, huh?

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7. HDR Screenshot Color Corrector (For the Vibrancy Afficionados)​

Have an HDR monitor? You’ve probably noticed screenshots don’t always look as vivid or vibrant as the original feed. Now, thanks to the HDR Screenshot Color Corrector, the Snipping Tool adjusts automatically for those delicious HDR-compliant colors.
How To Enable:

• Go into the Snipping Tool settings via the three-dot menu at the top-right.
• Flick on “HDR Screenshot Color Corrector.”

Just remember: This is relevant only if your monitor supports HDR. Otherwise, you’re tweaking a feature you can’t enjoy.

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8. Keyboard Shortcuts That’ll Save You Time​

Why click menus when you can wield the power of shortcuts? Here’s a quick breakdown of life-changing Snipping Tool shortcuts:

• Win + Shift + S: Immediately launch screen capture in your chosen snip mode (rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen).
• Win + PrtSc: Capture the entire screen and save it directly to your Screenshots folder.
• PrtSc: Copies your current screen to the clipboard (old-school, but classic).
• Alt + PrtSc: Grabs only the active window for clutter-free screenshots.

These are game-changers for power users tired of fumbling between apps or windows.

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Closing Thoughts: Is the Snipping Tool Still a Sleeper?​

If you’re paying for tools like Snagit or Camtasia primarily for features the Snipping Tool now offers… you might want to rethink your budget. Between the annotations, OCR text-extraction, and integrated video editing, the Snipping Tool has evolved far beyond its rudimentary beginnings. Whether you’re producing snazzy reports, helping debug software, or just sharing memes with professional flair, this tool has your back.
So, what’s stopping you from leveling up your workflow? Dive in, test out these features, and join the ranks of Snipping Tool masters. Share your thoughts or tips below—because if we’re all smarter Windows users, everybody wins.

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Source: How-To Geek 8 Snipping Tool Features You Need to Know