Is Your Print Screen not Working? We are here to help!

Print Screen is a hotkey present on your keyboard that helps you take the snapshot of your desktop screen and save it on the computer. All you have to do is press this button, open Paint, press ‘Ctrl+V,’ crop the image to your setting and Voila!

Computers make everything we do more comfortable, including the usage of a computer itself. Various commands are made to make our work easier and faster. One of the most used commands is ‘Ctrl + Alt + Delete’ that helps us delete largest of files in a matter of a blink of an eye.

While some functions require commands that involve pressing a few keys, there are some keys on your keyboard that are devoted to performing a specific task. For example, the ‘Print Screen’ button. With the help of this key, you can capture a snapshot of your desktop screen.

It is beneficial in capturing the web pages that you cannot download for some reason or recording breakdowns or system errors in your operating systems.

Often, you may come across an issue with your Print Screen key. It may have stopped working for some unknown reason. There isn’t a lot of solutions available online for this. Given below are a few tips and tricks that may be helpful should you ever come across this issue.

Solution 1: Your Keyboard Driver Needs Updating

You might have an outdated or incompatible keyboard driver that is causing your Print Screen key to not work. What you need to do is to update your driver. You can do it both automatically and manually.

The update will scan your computer from any faulty drivers.

Solution 2: Your Computer Needs Restarting

A system malfunction, overloading, or excessive reheating may be causing your hotkeys to stick and preventing them from working. What you can do in situations like these is to turn off your computer and turn it back on or restarting it. Be sure to save your work before doing any of this. Hopefully, this will restore the lost functions of your key.

Solution 3: Check if the print screen key is enabled

Some keyboards have the keys, “F Mode” or “F Lock” on them. Look around on your keyboard for these keys. These keys stop the Print Screen function from working. If you find them, try pressing these buttons and check if the print Screen function works now. This might fix your issue. However, if your keyboard does not have these keys, you can skip this solution altogether.

Solution 4: Shut down all the other programs Running on your Computer

Some programs prevent the Print Screen from functioning. These can be programs like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Snipping tool. They sort of hijack your Print Screen. What you can do is close down all these programs and tey using your Print Screen and see if it is working now.

Solution 5: The operating system needs updating

Sometimes the Print Screen Keys stop working if your operating system is outdated. Here is a small guide on how to update your operating system.

1. Press the “Start” button and search for Windows Update.
2. Click on Windows Update (Windows 7) or Check for updates (Windows 10). The Windows Update program will open.
3. If you click on Windows Update Window, you will find out about any available Windows updates. Go ahead and install the update. Now see if you can perform the Print Screen Function.

Solution 6: Try these Combinations

If your Print Screen is not working, you can try some other combinations that can help you make it work. Here is a little help.

• Fn + PrtScn
• Alt + PrtScn
• Alt + Fn + PrtScn

Snipping tool also makes for an excellent substitute for the Print Screen. You can find it in the Accessories tab of the Start menu.

Solution 7: Use On-Screen Keyboard

In Windows 7, if your Print Screen fails to function, you on-screen keyboard can bail you out. Here is how you access your On-screen Keyboard.

Click the Start button > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard.