Take a Screenshot on an HP Laptop with Ease

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Capturing screenshots is a valuable skill, whether you want to make tutorials, save some information or simply share what’s on your computer display with someone else.

Whether you are a veteran notebook computer user or a newbie, knowing how to take a screenshot on your HP laptop will be an essential skill that could help you to boost your productivity and simplify your digital communication.

HP originated in 1939 when Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard – two Stanford engineering graduates – began their venture in a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California. It is now known as the garage that launched Silicon Valley.

This guide delves into different options and gives you the exact steps of taking a screenshot on your laptop so you can quickly grab and share what’s on your display.

Icecream Screen Recorder

Taking screenshots is a useful function for those who use HP laptops as it allows one to take an important information quickly. This Windows screen recorder gives the function to take a snapshot on your laptop.

How to screenshot on HP laptop:

  1. Download the screen recorder on your device.
  2. Install and launch the program. Before capturing a screenshot, customize the settings (e.g., output folder, file format, and so on) to your preferences.
  3. Click the "Screenshot" option. This will open a menu allowing you to select the desired area for the screenshot. This can be the entire screen or a specific region.
  4. After defining the capture area, access the drawing panel with the pencil icon. Use it to annotate your screenshot with notes and steps
  5. To take a snapshot, hit "Screenshot". The image just taken will be automatically saved to a specified folder.

Icecream Screen Recorder allows you for seamless screenshot-taking on your HP laptop, just follow the steps above. Say goodbye to complicated methods and start capturing important moments with ease.

Pros:

  • Flexible Options. Capture the entire screen, any part of it, or just a particular window.
  • Annotation Tools. The screen capture software has a drawing panel which allows you to annotate your screenshots with arrows, shapes and notes.
  • Capture and Record. The program not only captures static screenshots but also lets you record your screen.
  • Free of Charge. Best of all, the recorder comes free of charge. Get a ration of this recorder’s powerful app without paying a cent.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Capturing the screen of your HP laptop is a daunting task, but with Movavi Screen Recorder it is easier. It lets you shoot anything on the display with minimal clicks.

How to make a screenshot:

  1. Acquire and set up the software on your device.
  2. Open the program and click the screenshot button to activate the crosshair cursor.
  3. Select the area of the screen for capturing. A frame will appear, allowing for further adjustments.
  4. Then, you have several options:
    • Hit "Copy" to duplicate the picture to the clipboard without saving the screenshot to a file.
    • Click "Save" to preserve the file and open its containing folder.
    • Tap "Share" to load the image to Movavi Cloud or Google Drive.
Capturing screenshot with Movavi

Utilizing the Movavi software, you can effortlessly take a screenshot on your HP laptop.

HP was one of the first PC manufacturer to introduce laptop computers. The company's first laptop model was the HP-110, which came out in 1984. It was a small and handy computer with a built-in keyboard and display.

Snipping Tool

Thanks to the pre-installed Snipping Tool you have the ability to take a screen grab and transform it into an image file without any third-party tools. Whether you want to save a funny meme or capture an important document, this application has you covered.

How to take a screenshot on an HP laptop:

  1. Click the "Start" button and enter "Snipping Tool" or use the shortcut Win+Shift+S to open the program.
  2. Once the app is launched, choose the type of snip you want to create (rectangular, free-form, window, or full-screen).
  3. Tap "New" to initiate the process, causing your screen to pause with a white overlay. Use your mouse to define the shape of your snip.
  4. Release the mouse button and a screenshot of the specified area will be captured.
  5. Now, you can utilize the available tools to draw lines, highlight, or insert text as needed.
  6. Press the "Save" button to get your edited screenshot.
Snipping tool user interface

With a few simple clicks, you can seamlessly screenshot the HP desktop. No longer will you have to rely on third-party screen recorders – just a few clicks and your screenshot is securely saved.

A not-even-1 kg Elite Dragonfly from HP is one of the lightest business laptops in the world. It is designed to deliver the ultimate portability along with the best battery life for work on the go.

Game Bar

Utilizing the screenshot function on your HP laptop is one of the easiest ways of capturing crucial data or significant events. The Game Bar feature allows for an effortless recording screen while gaming or utilizing other programs.

How to screen capture HP screen:

  1. Press Windows key + G on your keyboard to open the Game Bar.
  2. Click the camera icon or press Windows key + Alt + PrtScn to take a screenshot.
  3. The captured image will be stored in your "Videos \ Captures" folder by default.
Screenshot on HP laptop with Game Bar

If you want to personalize your screenshot tool, click the "Settings" button in the Game Bar and choose "Capture". From here, you can adjust the shortcut keys and select the destination for your screenshots. Easily capture images on your HP laptop with these simple steps.

The HP Spectre series is famed for its sleek design. One example is the Spectre x360. This is a convertible, 360-degree hinge device that can be configured to work as a laptop or a tablet.

Keyboard shortcuts

If you use a HP laptop, you can make a take snapshot by pressing keyboard command, which is convenient and quick.

Using the Print Screen key:

  1. Locate the PrtScn (Print Screen) . It is usually located in the top row of the keyboard.
  2. To capture the entire screen, press PrtScn . If the PrtScn key is combined with another key, like Fn, you may need to press the Fn + PrtScn combination.
  3. The screenshot is now copied to your clipboard.

Using Alt + PrtScn keys:

  1. To capture only the active window press and hold Alt.
  2. While holding down the key, press PrtScn.

Using the Snipping key (Windows 10):

On some HP laptops running Windows 10, you may have a dedicated snipping key.

  1. Look for a key with a pair of scissors icon.
  2. Press the key to open the "Snip & Sketch" tool directly.
  3. Follow the prompts to screenshot the HP desktop.

For the first two methods, the captured screenshot is copied to the clipboard. To save it, open an image editing program (e.g., Paint or Word) and paste (Ctrl + V) the screenshot. Save the image in your desired location.

If you use the Snip & Sketch, you can save the screenshot directly from the respective tool.

The HP Omen series comprises incredibly powerful and immersive gaming laptops that easily meet the VR-ready standard. Those who prefer the immersive experience of VR will find it the perfect fit.

Tips

  • Ensure the screen content you want to capture is visible and properly aligned.
  • Check that you have sufficient storage space on your HP laptop for saving images.
  • Make sure your device is up-to-date with the latest software updates for optimal performance.
  • Close applications that aren’t necessary to keep clutter to a minimum and avoid distractions.
  • Verify that your screen resolution and scaling settings are adjusted for clear and high-quality pictures.
  • Consider organizing and naming your screenshot files immediately after capturing them for easy retrieval.
  • Backup your most important screenshots on a periodic basis to an external hard drive or a cloud-storage service so that you don’t lose your data.

Screenshot on HP laptop: FAQs

Can I customize the shortcut keys for taking screenshots?
Yes, the default keys are changeable via Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and changing "Print Screen shortcut".
What should I do if my HP laptop doesn't have a PrtScn key?
If you have one of those HP laptops that doesn’t have a Print Screen key, you might need to push a combination of keys. This could be Fn + Insert, Fn + Spacebar or Fn + Windows + Spacebar.
What is the difference between using the Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch for screen recording?
The Snipping Tool is available on Windows 7 and has basic features. Snip & Sketch, introduced in Windows 10, is much improved, adding more functions and proving to be a better screencaster for some users.
Can I capture screenshots while using an external monitor on my HP laptop?
Yes. Screen capture works the same whether you have an internal display on your laptop or an external one. The keyboard shortcuts we were talking about work well in either cases.
What if my HP laptop is running on a different operating system?
The methods for taking a screenshot may vary slightly on different OSs. However, most HP laptops run Windows, and the instructions provided are tailored for this environment. If using another operating system, consult the specific guidelines for that OS.

How to take a screenshot on an HP laptop: Conclusion

To sum up, capturing screenshots on your HP desktop is a basic skill. It will allow you to communicate better visually, document any information, and share and spread it as much as you want.

You can use the classic PrtScn key, built-in tools like the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch, or third-party applications such as Icecream Screen Recorder, the options presented in this guide cater to various preferences and scenarios.

Go ahead, try it out, and screenshot your HP desktop with confidence!

Rean Uehara

Expert Tech Writer

Rean is a tech enthusiast, digital marketer, operations specialist, and eCommerce coach who focuses on distributed teams. He began working remotely on web-related projects in 2010 and has never looked back. His articles published on Hongkiat, so his authoritative opinion on technology can be fully trusted.
5 min read
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