Snipping ToolSnipping Tool in Windows 11Developer(s)MicrosoftInitial releaseNovember 7, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-11-07)Stable release(s) [±]Windows 11July 2025 Update (11.2507.15.0) / 5 September 2025; 1 day ago (2025-09-05)[1]Windows 10August 2020 Update (10.2008.3001.0) / 2 April 2025; 5 months ago (2025-04-02)[1] Operating system Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 (Experience pack) Windows Vista Windows Server 2008 Windows 7 (excluding Home Basic and Starter editions)[2] Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Home Server 2011 Windows 8.x Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows 10 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019 Windows 11 TypeScreenshot and screencast softwareWebsitesupport.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-snipping-tool-and-take-a-screenshot-a35ac9ff-4a58-24c9-3253-f12bac9f9d44
Snipping Tool is a Microsoft Windows screenshot and screencast utility included in Windows Vista and later. It can take still screenshots or record videos of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, stored as an image file (PNG, GIF, or JPEG file) or an MHTML file, or e-mailed. The Snipping Tool allows for basic image editing of the snapshot, with different colored pens, an eraser, and a highlighter.
History[edit]Before Windows Vista, the Snipping Tool, originally known as the Clipping Tool, was included in the Experience Pack for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. It was originally released as a PowerToy for the Microsoft Tablet PC launch on November 7, 2002.[3]
In Windows 10 version 1809, a new Universal app version of Snipping Tool known as Snip & Sketch was introduced. It was first named Screen Sketch, and was initially a component of the Windows Ink Workspace.[4][5][6] Snipping Tool was modified to contain a notice warning of the application's deprecation, which encouraged users to move to Snip & Sketch. Despite this, the app was never removed from Windows 10.[7]
In April 2021, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider build 21354, which made the Snipping Tool updateable from the Microsoft Store by being packaged with Snip & Sketch.[8][9]
Windows 11 insider build 22000.132, released on August 12, 2021, introduced an update to Snip & Sketch that renames it to Snipping Tool and ports it to WinUI 3.0 and brings an interface closer to the legacy Snipping Tool. The legacy snipping tool was removed with this build.[10][11][12] Since the update on March 14, 2023, Snipping Tool has a screen recording function.[13]
See also[edit] Features new to Windows Vista References[edit] ^ a b "Snipping Tool". Microsoft Apps. Retrieved September 5, 2025. ^ "Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots". Support. Microsoft. September 1, 2016. ^ "Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition". Microsoft.com. November 7, 2002. Archived from the original on December 4, 2002. Retrieved November 8, 2019. ^ Chen, Jennifer (October 2, 2018). "Find out what's new in Windows and Office in October". Windows 10 Blog. ^ Tung, Liam. "Windows 10 screen snipping tool: Microsoft gives it a new name, adds delay feature". ZDNet. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ^ Bott, Ed. "Windows 10 tip: How to use the new Snip & Sketch app for smart screenshots". ZDNet. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ^ Weatherbed, Jess (September 17, 2021). "Windows 11 gets updated Snipping Tool for better screenshots". TechRadar. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ^ Blog, Windows Insider (April 7, 2021). "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21354". Windows Insider Blog. Retrieved April 11, 2021. ^ Tung, Liam. "Windows 10: Paint and Snipping Tool now update from the Microsoft Store". ZDNet. Retrieved April 11, 2021. ^ Blog, Windows Insider (August 12, 2021). "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.132". Windows Insider Blog. Retrieved August 13, 2021. ^ Blog, Windows Insider (August 12, 2021). "First set of Windows app updates rolling out to Windows Insiders for Windows 11". Windows Insider Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ^ Weatherbed, Jess (September 17, 2021). "Windows 11 gets updated Snipping Tool for better screenshots". TechRadar. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ^ Hannemann, Patrick. "Snipping Tool". Chip. Retrieved May 31, 2023. 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