Windows + Shift + S Not Working – How to Activate It

Windows+Shift+S is a handy shortcut that allows capturing screens on a Windows PC. Every user who takes screenshots knows about it and uses it. While things are usually smooth when taking a screenshot on Windows, there have been incidents where the shortcut stops working completely or after one-time use. 

Whatever the case, if the Win shortcut has stopped working for you, there are different ways to fix it. Some users believe that the issue is related to the Snipping tool used by Windows, while others have concerns about the keyboard not working properly. Either way, a user struggles to get the job done. 

This post will discuss some regular and advanced troubleshooting methods to solve the Windows+Shift+S shortcut not working error. 

Let’s begin!

What to Do When You  Have Just Upgraded to Windows 11 & Window-Shift-S No longer works?

Before we begin the fixes you can try on your PC, let us address one of the most common issues users have shared. Lately, people have encountered a situation where Windows shortcut stopped working after upgrading to Windows 11. 

When Windows 11 was rolled out, one of its builds had an issue related to shortcuts not working. However, with the latest updates, it has been fixed.  Hence, the first thing you should do is download and install Windows updates. 

To do so, follow these steps:

Windows 11 

Press Windows + I to open Windows settings. Choose the Windows Update option from the left panel > click Check for updates, and download and install the latest updates. 

If the problem persists, ensure that the latest version of the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch is running. 

Some users have also shared that setting the date to October 30, 2021, has fixed the issue. However, you might not need it, as multiple updates have been released since then. 

11 Ways to Fix Windows+Shift+S Not Working on PC

Fix 1 – End the Snipping Tool Process in Task Manager

A simple glitch can make the keyboard shortcut non-functional. Hence, the Snipping Tool process from Task Manager should be ended to fix the issue. To do so, follow these steps:

Here’s what you can do – 

Step 1 – Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager on your PC.

Step 2 – Look for the Snipping tool in the running processes.
Step 3 – Select the process and click on End task.

After finishing the task, search the Start menu for the Snipping tool. Relaunch the app and try using the shortcut. It should work.

Read Also: How to Fix the Windows Taskbar Not Working Issue

Fix 2 – Enable Clipboard History

The screenshot you take, or the region you select on the screen to capture, is directly pasted to the clipboard on your PC. If, for any reason, the clipboard history is off on your PC, the screenshots are not saved, and the purpose of Win+Shift+S is lost. Make sure you enable it using the steps below – 

Step 1 – Press Win+I to open System Settings.
Step 2 – In System settings, scroll down to find Clipboard.

Step 3 – Open Clipboard and toggle ON the Clipboard History option.

When you want to paste your screenshots, simply press ctrl+V to access your clipboard and easily paste the one you want. 

Windows 10

1. Open Windows settings. Press Windows + I to access it.
2. Select System.
   
3. Clipboard > Toggle the button next to Clipboard history to enable the option
   

You should now be able to use the Windows key + Shift + S to grab the screen, and pressing Windows + V will show you the clipboard history. 

Fix 3 – Reset the Snipping Tool

Enabling clipboard history and ending the process doesn’t resolve the issue of the snipping tool and keyboard shortcut not working. Try resetting the app.

Step 1 – Go to the Start Menu, search for Installed Apps, and hit enter.

Step 2 – You will now get a list of apps installed on your PC.
Step 3 – Search for the Snipping tool app > right-click it > click on Advanced Options.

Step 4 – From here click Reset, and you are done.

Keep in mind that resetting the application will change every setting to default, making it a completely new application. So, if you have made any changes, you may have to make them again. 

Windows 10

1. Open Windows Settings. > select Apps.
   
2. In the right pane under Apps & features, look for Snip & Sketch. Click on it and select Advanced options.
3. Scroll down and look for the Reset option. Click on it and confirm the action when prompted.
   
4. Once the process is finished, restart the PC.

The shortcut should not be working. If not, move to the next fix.

Fix 4 – Make Sure There’s No Conflict in the Shortcuts

If you like customizing your experience in various apps and have added custom shortcuts for them, make sure none of them coincide with your snipping shortcut. You can check other apps, such as screen recording software, Xbox game recorder, etc., to ensure that none of these apps use the same screenshot. 

The conflict in shortcuts can be a typical reason your screenshot shortcut is not working properly. Hence, we recommend you avoid any similar application that may use the same shortcut. 

Fix 5 – Disable Gaming Mode on Your Keyboard

If you use a Logitech Pro gaming keyboard that offers you a dedicated gaming mode to enhance your experience, you must disable the gaming settings on the keyboard. Sometimes, these settings map the keys on the keyboard concerning the games you play. This means there is a high chance that your keyboard interprets Windows+Shift+S as something else in gaming mode. If your keyboard switches to a gaming mode, your attempts to take a keyboard using a shortcut might get wasted. 

To ensure that your keyboard is not in gaming mode, you should use the dedicated Game Mode key to disable it. You can find the game mode key on the keyboard in the top right section. 

Fix 6 – Ensure Keyboard Keys are Working

Another important thing to remember is that the Windows+Shift+S not working error is not limited to a software anomaly and can be caused by malfunctioning hardware. If any of the 3 keys, i.e., Windows, Shift, or S, are not functioning properly, the shortcut won’t work as you expect. 

To check and ensure that these keys are working properly, try using the keys individually – 

• Go to your desktop and press the Windows key to check if it opens the Start Menu.
• Open your browser and type S to check if it reflects correctly on the address bar. You can also use MS Word or any other application that allows you to type.
• Continuously press the Shift keys multiple times to check if the Sticky Keys warning appears. This is the easiest way to identify whether the keys are working properly. You can also try to check if the Left and Right Shift keys are working by playing a game that requires the Shift key as a control.

If any keys are giving issues, use an alternate keyboard. However, before that, connect the current keyboard to another PC and see if it works fine. If it works smoothly with other PCs, the issue is with your PC. 

Fix 7 – Enable Notifications for Screenshot Application

The application that allows you to take a screenshot with the Win+Shift+S shortcut, be it the Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch, or any other, requires access to your notification. That is because as soon as you press the key combination, it takes a screenshot and notifies you about its whereabouts. If the notifications are OFF, you will not be notified if the screenshot has been taken, which can be quite confusing if the combination worked. 

Hence, the best way to deal with this issue is to turn the notifications ON. here’s how you do it – 

Step 1 – Go to the Start Menu and search for Notifications. Open the setting that pops up.

Step 2 – In the Notification settings, scroll down to find the screenshot application and ensure the toggle is ON.

If the toggle is OFF, turn it ON. After making these changes, restarting the application is recommended.

Fix 8 – Unplug and Replug Your USB devices

If nothing has worked so far and you see that USB devices are connected to your PC for gaming or display, detach and reconnect them. Some seem to interfere with Win+Shift+S capturing. When you disconnect and reconnect the USB device, the default screenshot-capturing settings are applied, making the shortcut work.

Fix 9 – Update Driver on Your PC

When Windows or device drivers on Windows are outdated, the shortcut keys stop working. Hence, update drivers when you face the issues. Advanced Driver Updater is the easiest way to update drivers. Download, install, and use the software to scan the PC for outdated drivers and update them.  

Once the drivers are updated, take screenshots using the Win+Shift +S key combination.

Fix 10 – Run SFC Scan On Your PC

If you find that the notifications are ON, the keyboard is working fine, and the shortcut won’t work with screenshots, there is a chance that a system error is causing the issue. The easiest way to handle this is to use System File Checker. 

It is a utility built into Windows for times like these when your PC starts acting weird without any visible errors. 

Step 1 – Go to the Start menu and look up CMD.

Step 2 – Launch Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 3 – Use the command – SFC/Scannow and hit enter. 

Step 4 – Give the utility time to run and finish the system file checker scan. 

Step 5 – Restart the PC after the scan is over. 

When your PC restarts, the issue is instantly resolved, if you are still struggling with it, we recommend moving on to the next fix. 

Fix 11 – Reinstall Screenshot Application

If nothing has worked so far, uninstall and reinstall the application from your PC. This has worked for many users and might work for you, too. Regardless of which app you use, be it Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch, the shortcut not working issues can be resolved by completely uninstalling and reinstalling the latest versions. 

To remove the applications – 

Step 1 – Open the Start Menu and search for Add or Remove Programs.

Step 2 – From the opened list of applications, navigate to your screenshot application.
Step 3 – Find the extended menu by clicking on three dots, and you may see the uninstall option. 

Follow the instructions to uninstall, and once you are done, open the Microsoft Store and reinstall the application. It’s that simple!

Windows 10

1. Press Windows + S and type Snip & Sketch in the search bar.
2. Select the best result > right-click select Uninstall.
3. Click Uninstall again to confirm the action.

    

4. After uninstalling Snip & Sketch, download it from the Microsoft Store.

Once reinstalled, use the shortcut keys. It should work; if not, use an alternate app. 

If, by chance, you have disabled the notifications for the app, turn them on via notification settings.

Still Can’t Get Win+Shift+S to Work? Here is a Workaround

In case you are in a hurry and want to leave the issue to be fixed on another day, we have some alternatives you can try –  

#1 – Try taking a screenshot by manually opening the app instead of using the keyboard shortcut.

#2—Usually, this shortcut key allows you to decide the size and region of the screenshot manually. However, you may have to compromise and take a direct full screenshot using the Print Screen key on your keyboard.

#3 – Install another screenshot application for the time being.

If you are wondering which application you can switch to if Windows+Shift+S is not working, check out the next section. We might be a perfect fit for you!

Try Alternative  – Tweakshot Screen Capture!

If the app does not work properly after these fixes and even after a reset, we recommend using a different screenshot application. Tweakshot Screen Capture is the perfect solution as it is practical, functional, and easier to use. The best part is that you can set your shortcuts to the app, so you do not have to worry about facing a similar situation.

Download the Tweakshot Screen Capture today and do more with your screenshots.

Usually, the shared fixes will help you, but these can only fix the error and do not guarantee that it will not return. That is why switching your application makes more sense. Try these fixes, and you will get Win+Shift+S to work again. 

Hope the fixes help you out with the problem. Thanks for reading, good luck!

Next Read: Start Menu Not Working on Windows 10/11 – Ultimate Fixes!