How to Screenshot on Surface Pro: Quick & Easy Methods

The Microsoft Surface Pro is one of the most versatile 2-in-1 devices on the market — equally powerful as a laptop and convenient as a tablet. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a digital artist, knowing how to take a screenshot on your Surface Pro is an essential skill. Yet many users — especially those switching from a traditional laptop — find themselves confused by the different methods available.

The good news? Taking screenshots on a Surface Pro is simple, with multiple built-in options. Whether you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, the Snipping Tool, or touch gestures, there’s a method to suit every workflow.

This guide covers every screenshot method available on Surface Pro — from the quickest keyboard shortcuts to no-keyboard tablet techniques – so you can capture your screen in seconds, no matter how you’re using your device.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut – Windows + PrtScn (Fastest Method)

If you have a Type Cover or external keyboard attached, this is the fastest and most reliable way to take a full-screen screenshot.

Steps:

1. Locate the Windows key and PrtScn (Print Screen) key on your keyboard.
2. Press both keys simultaneously.
3. Your screen will dim briefly — this confirms the screenshot was captured.
4. The image is automatically saved to Pictures > Screenshots in File Explorer.

If your Surface Pro has a keyboard attached, press Windows + PrtScn. The screen will briefly dim, indicating that the screenshot has been saved in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.

Best for: Full-screen captures when working with a keyboard attached.

Pro Tip: If your keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated PrtScn key (common on older Surface Pro models), press Fn + Spacebar to capture the screen. You may need to paste the screenshot into an image editor like Paint or Word.

Method 2: Physical Buttons – Power + Volume Up (Tablet Mode)

When your Surface Pro is in tablet mode without a keyboard, the hardware button combo is your best friend.

Steps:

1. Hold your Surface Pro comfortably in both hands.
2. Press and hold the Power button on the top edge.
3. Simultaneously press the Volume Up button on the side.
4. The screen will flash briefly — the screenshot has been captured.
5. Find the image in This PC > Pictures > Screenshots.

The user only needs to press the volume down button and the power button simultaneously and hold them for about one second until the screen flashes or briefly darkens, which indicates that the screenshot is successful. Screenshots will be automatically saved to the “Screenshots” subfolder under the “Pictures” folder.

Best for: Tablet mode use, presentations, or when no keyboard is available.

Note for Older Models: To take a screenshot on a Surface Pro 3 tablet without a keyboard attached, press and hold the Windows capacitive button, then press and release the Volume Down button on the side of the device.

Method 3: Windows Snipping Tool (Most Flexible Method)

The Snipping Tool is built into Windows and gives you the most control over what you capture — ideal when you only need a specific section of the screen.

How to open it:

• Press Windows + Shift + S on your keyboard, or
• Click Start, search for “Snipping Tool”, and select it from the results.

Capture modes available:

• Rectangular Snip — drag to select any part of the screen
• Freeform Snip — draw any shape around the area you want
• Window Snip — captures a specific open window
• Full-screen Snip — captures the entire screen

The Snipping Tool offers multiple screenshot modes, including rectangular selection, single window capture, and full-screen screenshot. After starting the tool, the screen will slightly darken and a crosshair cursor will appear. Users can drag to select the area they want to capture. Once the screenshot is completed, it will automatically open in the editor, making it convenient for further annotation or saving.

The latest version of the Snipping Tool also supports screen recording.

Best for: Precise, partial-screen captures; annotating screenshots before saving.

Method 4: Alt + PrtScn – Capture the Active Window Only

Need to screenshot just one open window without capturing the full screen? This shortcut does exactly that.

Steps:

1. Click on the window you want to capture to make it active.
2. Press Alt + PrtScn (or Fn + Alt + Spacebar on Surface keyboards without a dedicated PrtScn key).
3. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard.
4. Paste it into Paint, Word, or any image editor using Ctrl + V.

To capture only the active window, use Alt + PrtScn. This will copy the screenshot to the clipboard, requiring you to paste it into an editing program.

Best for: Capturing specific app windows, error messages, or dialog boxes.

Method 5: Surface Pen Double-Click (For Pen Users)

If you use a Surface Pen, you can take screenshots without touching the screen at all — a seamless experience for digital artists and note-takers.

Steps:

1. Make sure your Surface Pen is paired via Bluetooth.
2. Double-click the eraser button (top of the pen).
3. A full-screen screenshot is captured instantly.
4. You’ll have the option to crop and annotate before saving to OneNote or your Screenshots folder.

Double-click the top button of your Surface Pen to take a screenshot of your desktop. The full screenshot will be saved in your Screenshots folder on OneDrive, but this method also gives you the option to crop your image immediately.

You can also configure the pen button to send screenshots directly to OneNote: Open the Settings app, click All Settings under the Action Center, click Pen and Windows Ink, and select “Send screenshot to OneNote when pressing the Shortcut button.”

Best for: Artists, stylus users, and anyone annotating or sending screenshots to OneNote.

Method 6: Xbox Game Bar — Great for Gaming & App Captures

The Xbox Game Bar is a built-in Windows overlay that lets you capture screenshots of games and apps with a single shortcut.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar overlay.
2. Click the camera icon in the Capture widget.
3. Find your screenshot in This PC > Videos > Captures.

To use Xbox Game Bar to take screenshots on a Surface Pro, press Windows and G at the same time, click the camera icon in the Game Bar widget, then open “This PC” > “Videos” > “Captures” to see the screenshot in PNG format.

Best for: Gamers, screen recorders, and capturing full-screen app content.

Quick Reference: All Surface Pro Screenshot Methods

Where Are Screenshots Saved on Surface Pro?

After taking a screenshot, you can find your files in the following default locations:

• Keyboard shortcuts (Windows + PrtScn): This PC > Pictures > Screenshots
• Physical button combo: This PC > Pictures > Screenshots
• Snipping Tool / Windows + Shift + S: Copied to clipboard — paste manually or save from the editor
• Surface Pen / OneDrive sync: OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots
• Xbox Game Bar: This PC > Videos > Captures

How to Edit a Screenshot on Surface Pro

Once you’ve captured a screenshot, Windows gives you several built-in tools to annotate, crop, or enhance it:

1. Paint: Open from Start menu. Paste your screenshot with Ctrl + V, then use drawing and crop tools.
2. Snipping Tool Editor: After capturing with Windows + Shift + S, click the notification popup to open the built-in editor with pen, highlighter, and crop tools.
3. Microsoft Photos: Great for basic cropping, color adjustments, and quick saves.

After taking a screenshot, you may need to edit or annotate it. Use Paint, Snip & Sketch, or Microsoft Photos to crop, highlight, or add text to your images. If using Snip & Sketch, click the notification popup after capturing to open the editor.

Troubleshooting: Screenshots Not Working on Surface Pro?

If your screenshot shortcuts aren’t responding, try these fixes:

1. Check the Fn Lock key: If keyboard shortcuts aren’t working, check if the Fn lock key is enabled. Toggling Fn Lock can affect which key combinations register.
2. Not enough storage space Ensure you have enough storage space in Pictures > Screenshots. A full drive will prevent screenshots from saving.
3. Restart your device Restart the device if shortcuts become unresponsive. A simple reboot resolves most shortcut and system-level issues.
4. Surface Pro 3 or older?: Surface RT/2/3 and Surface Pro 1–3 keyboards don’t have a dedicated PrtScn key. Alternatively, you can use the Fn + Windows + Space shortcut keys to capture the entire screen, or Fn + Alt + Windows + Space to capture the active window.

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Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on your Surface Pro doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re a keyboard user, a tablet enthusiast, or a Surface Pen artist, there’s a method that fits perfectly into your workflow. The Windows + PrtScn shortcut is the fastest route for keyboard users, while Power + Volume Up handles all tablet-mode scenarios. For precision and annotations, the Snipping Tool remains the most powerful built-in option available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I screenshot on Surface Pro without a keyboard?

Press the Power button + Volume Up simultaneously. The screen will flash and the image saves automatically to Pictures > Screenshots.

Where do screenshots go on Surface Pro?

Most methods save to This PC > Pictures > Screenshots. The Snipping Tool copies to clipboard unless you manually save, and the Xbox Game Bar saves to Videos > Captures.

Does the Surface Pro have a Snipping Tool?

Yes. Select Start, enter the Snipping Tool in the search bar, and select it from the results. You can also open it instantly with Windows + Shift + S.

How do I take a partial screenshot on Surface Pro?

Use the Snipping Tool shortcut Windows + Shift + S and drag to select any portion of the screen.

Can I record my screen on Surface Pro?

Yes. Windows 10 users can record their screen with Clipchamp. In the Snipping Tool, select the Video icon, then select New, drag to select the recording area, and select Start to begin recording.