alt-fn-print screen fail to capture image?

so this just started a few hours ago, I was over on the lego website, trying to screenshot something for a friend of mine, and it wasn't acquiring the image. the command..was failing to capture a shot of the window I wanted it to, just producing nothing.

I was using 'alt-fn-prt sc' to capture the active dominant window on a dual screen setup. this isn't something I've run into before, so I'm at a loss for fixing it. anyone have any ideas?

xraiderv1 said:

I was using 'alt-fn-prt sc' to capture the active dominant window on a dual screen setup

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Where did this option come from?

Maybe check the keyboard manual for proprietary specific requirements.

idgat said:

Where did this option come from?

Click to expand...

Most laptops have a Fn button that needs to be pressed for certain functions.

Some OEM desktops have that feature too.

I don't know the answer to your question but I use the free (for personal use) PicPick app instead. I have added the app icon to the taskbar so one click brings up the UI from which you can choose a lot of screen capture options. A very good tool. I can't remember the last time I used the Print Screen button.

On my laptop (HP 15-dw0xx) the "prt sc" key doesn't require any extra "alt" or "fn" button. It just copies what you want to the "clipboard". Then I can open a graphic utility and just paste it in.

The graphic utility I use is IrfanView. So I can also use IrfanView to selectively clip from the screen. I can choose the whole screen, a single windows, or a selectable section. Once clipped, I can then edit the image all I want.

Scott said:

Most laptops have a Fn button that needs to be pressed for certain functions.

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Yeh, I know that, but your device specs indicate a PC/Desktop with a separate keyboard, which is why I asked.

xraiderv1 said:

so this just started a few hours ago, I was over on the lego website, trying to screenshot something for a friend of mine, and it wasn't acquiring the image. the command..was failing to capture a shot of the window I wanted it to, just producing nothing.

I was using 'alt-fn-prt sc' to capture the active dominant window on a dual screen setup. this isn't something I've run into before, so I'm at a loss for fixing it. anyone have any ideas?

Click to expand...

On my W11 laptop, the key combination is WinKey + PrtSc

Haydon said:

On my W11 laptop, the key combination is WinKey + PrtSc

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Yes, on my rig also , works fine ( all in PNG-files )

On both my systems, I just press PrtScr and the whole screen greys out, and a lozenge appears at the top with an icon of a camera on the left, highlighted, a movie camera not highlighted, and a dropdown list with a rectangle at the top. The drop down list is used to define the area captured - I nearly always choose the rectangle - then drag it around the area to be captured - and a pop up appears at the bottom which offers me the chance of editing or saving. It is also copied to the clipboard. I have found that it also saves a .png file to the folder Pictures-Screenshots.

This seems very easy and intuitive, but I don't know what happens if you have two screens on one device.

Cntrl-PrtScr just copies the whole screen to the clipboard, without the options.

John

The simplest solution surely is to use snipping tool - no need to mess around with any key press combos?

Mine does that as well Win key + PrtSC.

xraiderv1 said:

I was over on the lego website, I was using 'alt-fn-prt sc' to capture the active dominant window..., and it wasn't acquiring the image.

Click to expand...

I don't think you have to include the Function Key, unless your keyboard specifies different..,
either way, it should be on the Clipboard..., paste it into Paint...

I use control and print screen. It works for me.

One that I have always used as a secondary app is
Cropper Capture by Brian Scott.


Have been using this since mid 2000.

I use the Snipping Tool, WinKey+Shift+S, can select the desired portion of the screen I want, it saves to the clipboard for Paste to a program and some forums and also Saves as a Screenshot with date and time. Example:

all I know is last night, when I wanted a screenshot of JUST firefox, on a screen with three other things up..it wasn't working.

so, what is the keyboard shortcut for screenshotting the dominant program/app on a screen with multiple items up? cause clearly I'm not doing it right.

As I mentioned I use the Snipping Tool and the keys are WinKey+Shift+S, gives the choice to use the mouse to select the portion of a screen as desired. Don't know about its use on multiple monitors. It works in a program on screen that has the focus.

On my W11 desktop, the key combination is Fn + PrtSc. My keyboard has PrtScr and Home on the same key so I have to use the combination Fn + PrtSc.

Pirilampo2 said:

On my W11 desktop, the key combination is Fn + PrtSc. My keyboard has PrtScr and Home on the same key so I have to use the combination Fn + PrtSc.

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this is what has had me using alt fn print screen since windows vista..

but control print screen and alt print screen SEEM to work. particularly if I put text in messenger BEFORE pasting my screenshot.

looking like its not the command failing to be recognized, as I am able to drop random screenshots into paint.net successfully, but more messenger being...how to be polite...STUPID. again.
meta..can you not stop breaking things?