Snipping Tool Not Working? 8 Ways to Fix It on Windows

So you can start capturing screenshots again

Are you facing issues using the Snipping Tool on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC? Is the tool not opening or not capturing your screenshots? There are many reasons this tool stops working. You can make a few changes here and there on your system to possibly resolve your issue. We’ll show you how to do that on your Windows computer.

Some reasons Snipping Tool doesn’t work are that your Windows version is outdated, your Windows Explorer utility has a problem, a third-party app is interfering with Snipping Tool, and more.

1.Check Interfering Apps on Your PC

The first item to check whenSnipping Tool doesn’t workis other screenshots or keyboard-related apps you may have installed on your PC. It’s possible these apps are interfering with your Snipping Tool, causing the tool not to launch or work.

Review your installed app list and turn off orremove the appsyou think could be causing your Snipping Tool problem. Once you’ve done that, your favorite screenshot tool will work as expected.

2.Give Windows Explorer a Restart

If you don’t have third-party screenshots or keyboard-related apps installed on your PC, or you’ve turned off or removed such apps, the next item to check is Windows Explorer. This built-in Windows utility may be experiencing a problem, causing your tool not to work.

In this case, you can try to resolve your issue byrebooting Windows Explorer.

3.Allow Snipping Tool to Run in Your System’s Background

Snipping Tool must have permission to run in your system’s background to allow you tolaunch the tool with a keyboard shortcut. If this isn’t the case with your PC, that may be why the tool isn’t working.

You can fix that by allowing the Snipping Tool to function in your PC’s background.

4.Restart Your Windows Computer

Your Windows operating system may be experiencing a minor glitch, causing the Snipping Tool not to launch or work as expected. This happens for various reasons, and one way to fix these minor system problems is torestart your PC.

Rebooting your PC turns off and back on all your system and app features, resolving many minor issues with those items.

5.Update Your Windows Version

If you’ve paused Windows updates and haven’t updated your Windows version in a long time, your outdated software version may be why the Snipping Tool isn’t working. Old software versions often have many problems.

You can resolve your issue byupdating your Windows versionto the latest one.

6. Update Your Snipping Tool App From Microsoft Store

Like your Windows version, you should keep your Snipping Tool version up to date as well. This ensures your app has as few bugs and issues as possible. You can resolve your current Snipping Tool issue by updating your app version.

7.Reset Your Snipping Tool App

If your Snipping Tool still doesn’t work, your configuration in the app might be faulty. In this case, reset your app’s configuration to resolve your issue potentially.

8. Fix Snipping Tool Not Working by Reinstalling the App

If you still can’tuse Snipping Tool on your PC, uninstall and reinstall the app to possibly fix your app error. Your app may be experiencing a core issue, which you can resolve by removing all the files and bringing new ones.

After removing the app, openMicrosoft Store, findSnipping Tool, select the app, and chooseGetto reinstall the app on your PC.

Troubleshoot Your Snipping Tool Problems to Start Capturing Screenshots

Snipping Tool’s issues prevent you fromcapturing screenshots on your Windows PC. If your issue isn’t resolved after multiple attempts to launch the tool, the guide above has the methods you can use to fix your problem.

Once you’ve applied the above methods, the Snipping Tool will start working as expected, allowing you to take screenshots of any screens on your PC. Enjoy!

Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio

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Snipping Tool Not Working? 8 Ways to Fix It on Windows#

1.Check Interfering Apps on Your PC#

2.Give Windows Explorer a Restart#

3.Allow Snipping Tool to Run in Your System’s Background#

4.Restart Your Windows Computer#

5.Update Your Windows Version#

6. Update Your Snipping Tool App From Microsoft Store#

7.Reset Your Snipping Tool App#

8. Fix Snipping Tool Not Working by Reinstalling the App#

Troubleshoot Your Snipping Tool Problems to Start Capturing Screenshots#

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