Fix Snipping Tool Issues: Unable to Save Screenshots on Windows 11

If you’re experiencing issues with the Snipping Tool not saving screenshots on your Windows 11/10 machine, this article provides guidance. When utilizing the Snipping Tool to capture images or videos, the tool generally saves these automatically to a preset location. However, if this automatic saving feature is disabled, the snip will be displayed in the app’s interface where you can annotate it before saving it manually in formats like PNG, JPG, or GIF. Unfortunately, numerous users have reported that these functionalities are not operating as intended, particularly that the screenshots are being copied to the clipboard without being saved. Consequently, they need to paste the snips into applications such as MS Paint or the Snipping Tool interface to save them. If you’re in a similar situation, explore the effective solutions outlined below.

Fixing Snipping Tool Not Saving Screenshots in Windows 11

To resolve the issue with the Snipping Tool failing to save screenshots in Windows 11/10, consider these approaches:

1. Access the Markup and share notification and save the snip from there
2. Enable notifications for the Snipping Tool
3. Activate the auto-save feature for screenshots
4. Restore or modify the default save path for snips
5. Remove the {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} Registry entry
6. Repair, reset, or reinstall the Snipping Tool.

Let’s delve into these solutions further.

1] Access the Markup and Share Notification to Save the Snip

Once you capture a screenshot, you should see a Markup and share notification with a preview of your snip in the lower right corner of your screen. If the Snipping Tool fails to save the snip automatically and the interface does not appear, click on this notification, which will launch the Snipping Tool interface. From here, you can use the Save as feature to store your snip in a specific folder.

2] Enable Snipping Tool Notifications

Many users have found success with this solution, particularly those who had turned off notifications for the Snipping Tool. If you take a snip with the hotkey and neither the notification nor the app’s interface appears, follow these steps to enable notifications for the Snipping Tool:

1. Press Win+I to launch the Settings app
2. Go to System > Notifications
3. Ensure the Notifications toggle is activated
4. Scroll to the Notifications from apps and other senders section
5. Switch on the Snipping Tool toggle and then make sure that Show notification banners and Show notifications in notification center are enabled as well. You may also adjust additional settings if desired.

3] Activate the Automatically Save Screenshots Setting

Verify whether the option to save screenshots automatically is turned off. If it is, enable it by following these steps:

1. Launch the Snipping Tool
2. Click the three horizontal dots (or See more) in the top right corner
3. Select the Settings option
4. Activate the Automatically save original screenshots toggle

You can now capture a screenshot using the Snipping Tool, and it will be saved in the default location.

4] Restore or Alter the Default Save Location for Snips

By default, the Snipping Tool saves snips in the C:\Users\username\Pictures\Screenshots directory. If there’s an issue with that directory or if it doesn’t exist, you could face challenges saving your screenshots. In this case, you’ll need to restore or modify the default save location for the Snipping Tool on your Windows 11/10 device.

5] Remove the {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} Registry Entry

Deleting this registry value has solved the problem for many users striving to keep the default save location for the Snipping Tool intact. For instance, I had previously moved the Screenshots folder to the Desktop without selecting a destination folder, resulting in one being lost. Consequently, I received an error stating Screenshot wasn’t automatically saved every time I took a snip. Upon deleting the conflicting Registry entry, the issue was resolved.

Before proceeding, ensure you back up the Windows Registry as this might be necessary later if issues arise. Follow these steps with care:

• Type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor
• Navigate to the User Shell Folders entry using this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

• Locate the {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} string value
• Right-click on it and select Delete
• In the Confirm Value Delete dialog, click Yes
• Log out and back into your PC or restart it.

The Screenshots folder should automatically be recreated in the original location, and the Snipping Tool will assign that folder for saving snips. Test it by taking a snip again; if it fails, manually create a Screenshots folder and specify it as the save location for the Snipping Tool.

6] Repair, Reset, or Reinstall the Snipping Tool

Try repairing or resetting the application to see if this resolves the issue. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate the Snipping Tool and access its Advanced options. Scroll down and select Repair to fix the app without losing any data. If that doesn’t work, opt for the Reset function, which will erase all app data. As a last resort, consider reinstalling the Snipping Tool.

We hope these steps prove helpful.

Troubleshooting: Can’t Find Your Screenshots Folder or Screenshot Not Saved Error

If you open the Snipping Tool and attempt to take a snip, you might encounter the following error:

Can’t find your screenshots folder. Your screenshot wasn’t saved; check your automatic save folder preferences in app settings.

This error arises when the designated save location is not set or is empty. To eliminate this problem, open the Snipping Tool’s Settings, activate the Automatically save original screenshots option, expand it, click on Change, and select an appropriate folder. Following this, the error should resolve, and snips will save automatically at the specified new location.

Why Is My Snipping Tool Not Functioning on Windows 11?

The Snipping Tool may fail to function correctly due to app corruption, conflicts with other third-party tools, etc. To rectify this issue, consider repairing the Snipping Tool, identifying and removing any conflicting software, and reopening the app. Additionally, if the Snipping Tool is entirely disabled, access the Group Policy Editor and check the setting for Do not allow Snipping Tool to run, changing it to Not Configured.

Author: Egor Kostenko

My goal is to make complex technical topics simple and accessible. On this site, I gather unique and useful content that not only solves users’ problems but also helps them better understand the capabilities of Windows.