Having annoying issue with Snipping Tool on Windows 11

Hi everyone,
For the past few weeks, I've been having an annoying issue with the Snipping Tool on Windows 11. When I take a screenshot, the system notification pops up, but it only contains text, without the visual thumbnail preview of the crop like it used to.
I have checked all notification settings (everything is turned on). I've also tried repairing, resetting, and even fully uninstalling and reinstalling the Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store. I even rolled back some settings to default, but nothing helped.
Is this a known bug from a recent Windows 11 update? Do any of you experience the same thing?
I'm attaching two screenshots: the first one shows how it looked a few weeks ago (with the preview), and the second one shows how it looks right now (just text).
Any help or workarounds would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello @wojtekmazgaj and welcome to ElevenForum.





The following has nothing to do with your issue, but you may find it helpful in the future...

wojtekmazgaj said:

Hi everyone,
For the past few weeks, I've been having an annoying issue with the Snipping Tool on Windows 11. When I take a screenshot, the system notification pops up, but it only contains text, without the visual thumbnail preview of the crop like it used to.
I have checked all notification settings (everything is turned on). I've also tried repairing, resetting, and even fully uninstalling and reinstalling the Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store. I even rolled back some settings to default, but nothing helped.
Is this a known bug from a recent Windows 11 update? Do any of you experience the same thing?
I'm attaching two screenshots: the first one shows how it looked a few weeks ago (with the preview), and the second one shows how it looks right now (just text).
Any help or workarounds would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

Click to expand...

Check those notification settings

So, is it the fault of the September update? Because a fix for the new update's bug is supposed to arrive on October 13th. Are some users also missing the preview?

Is this a known bug from a recent Windows 11 update? Do any of you experience the same thing?

Click to expand...

FWIW: 26300.9457 - for me, it's fine- graphic preview is shown.

Could be worth you looking at the ideas in post #3 - click the 'screenshot' as it appears to be

Enable clipboard history (WIN + V - turn on) and take a few screenshots. Go to Windows settings - Apps - installed Apps - Snipping Tool - advanced options and try repair then reset. Check your results again.

(Should be able to review recent screenshots in the notification area too - Win key + N or click taskbar clock)

I am having a problem with the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. After taking a screenshot, only a small text notification appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen, stating: "Screenshot copied to clipboard. Automatically saved to the screenshots folder" (as shown in the attached screenshot #1).
However, the large graphical preview of the screenshot—which allows for quick editing and cropping (like the one in photo #2)—does not appear. Interestingly, clicking on that small notification triggers no system response and does not open the application.
I performed a clean installation of Windows 11 (from scratch), yet the problem persists.
I created a second, new user account on the same computer, and everything works perfectly there—the large preview appears.
The issue occurs exclusively on my main account with administrator privileges. Why is the administrator account blocking this preview, and how can I fix it? Is it a matter of a specific registry entry or a profile permission error?
I would be very grateful for any tips or help in resolving this issue, as it is incredibly frustrating for my daily work.

Edit (from AI): The absence of the large preview (the editable window) after clicking the notification is a common issue in Windows 11. It usually stems from corrupted application data within your user profile or incorrect protocol associations, rather than a system-wide registry error. Since everything works correctly on the other account, the system itself and its files are intact, and the problem is confined entirely to your user profile.

And thank you for your ...er... kind reply.

I created a second, new user account on the same computer, and everything works perfectly there

Click to expand...

Good diagnostic step. Now you know generalised Windows repairs will NOT help as it's an issue specific to your user account.

Thus it's up to you to try a process of elimination.

Unfortunately the snipping tool does not work in Safe Mode, so try a clean boot as your first diagnostic step.

We can't see your PC so it's rather up to you to try to find out what's interfering, but it's possible something's changed a setting or the registry as you suggest.

For the past few weeks,

Click to expand...

- so you don't now have the option of a System Restore point.

You might look to see what was installed around the time this started- or maybe it's even an effect of syncing your account, if that's applicable, esp. as you say

I performed a clean installation of Windows 11 (from scratch), yet the problem persists.

Click to expand...

Or perhaps it’s due to a Windows 11 update? A new Windows 11 update—a bug fix—is coming on October 13th, and that’s when the preview (like the one I attached in the second photo above) should appear. Will the preview return after the October 13th update (part of the "Patch Tuesday" cycle)?

Obviously not, since you yourself stated this is not a problem on a different account.

And see my post #5 - not a problem with that build. Yours is not stated.