However, this also led to some side effects. In fact, many report a bug that prevents this application from working properly. This error reports a statement like ” the app can’t be opened ” during screen capture.
If you’ve also had to deal with this bug, we have a series of tips that should unlock the situation, allowing the Snipping Tool to work normally again.
How to get Snipping Tool back on Windows 11
The malfunction of this utility can be traced to corrupted security updates, expired digital certificates, or a missing value on the system registers.
Regardless of the triggering reason, below we will provide you with all the notions to promptly intervene and restore the app in question.
Check for Windows 11 out-of-band (OOB) updates
The universal solution to the Snipping Tool problem is to terminate an out-of-band update. We’re talking about a non-security Microsoft patch introduced beyond the scheduled release dates. One such package is KB5008295, but you should opt for the latest OOB patches whenever they are announced by the developers.
To do this:
- click on Start ;
- look for Windows Update Settings and check for the latest updates, even if the system claims that everything is up to date;
- wait for the latest updates to install on your Windows 11 PC, which will download and install any patches related to the problem;
- restart your device and check if you can work with the Snipping Tool.
Temporarily disable the automatic time and reset it manually
If Snipping Tool on Windows 11 is having trouble taking screenshots, you may have an incorrect date/time issue related to the app’s digital certificates.
- go to Settings – Time and language – Date and time ;
- deactivate the switch for the item Set time automatically ;
- select Change from the Set date and time manually option ;
- regardless of the current date, manually change the date to October 30, 2021 – leave the time section unchanged;
- check if the Snipping Tool works: if the problem is solved, switch back to the automatic clock in Set the time automatically.
Once the problem has been solved, or it has been verified that this workaround has not worked, remember to report the date and time to the automatic management.
Run the Windows 11 Snipping Tool from the Windows.old folder
For those who upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10, there may be an older version of the Snipping Tool left in the Windows.old folder.
Even if it is not an optimal solution in theory, if what you need is to capture a screenshot immediately it is still the best choice you can make. Certainly, this version of the tool offers greater guarantees in terms of stability.
Start by searching the C drive, where you should find Windows.old. If, for whatever reason, the folder is missing, skip ahead to the next solution.
Look inside the “ Snipping Tool ” folder and, once you find the app related to the old operating system, try to use it. If that works, create a shortcut on your desktop (or taskbar) for easier access next time.
Keep Copy Changes Automatically enabled in the Snipping Tool settings
The clipboard automatically saves changes when you copy and paste something to your computer. If you’re able to open the Snipping Tool program, but it’s not copying and pasting any images, enable its Automatically Copy Changes to feature.
To do this:
- open and launch Snipping Tool ;
- click the three-dot icon to enable the See More option, where you can open Settings ;
- make sure the toggle Copy changes automatically is turned on (the other switches in the menu can be turned off to suit your needs).
Since these screenshots are saved to the clipboard by default, taking a new screenshot cancels the previous one.
Enable background app permissions to take photos
Does your Snipping Tool have access permissions to take screenshots as a background app? In some cases, this permission must be provided manually, otherwise, the image will not be captured.
On your Windows 11 device, go to Settings – Apps – Installed apps – Snipping Tool – Advanced settings. This will take you to the Apps and Features section of the Snipping Tool.
Make sure the app permissions for images are turned on. Also, enable background app permissions by setting the same as Optimized Boost or Always.
Set the Print Screen key on your keyboard to launch the snipping tool
If you’re having trouble with corrupted updates making Snipping Tool unusable on Windows 11, you have another option.
In fact, you can try setting the PrtScr key on your keyboard to act as the default launch button for the app in question. To do this:
- launch the Snipping Tool ;
- select the menu with the three dots to open Settings ;
- in the Settings menu, select Print Screen key shortcut and Change in Windows settings ;
- you will see a message similar to ” Do you want to switch apps? ” or something like this: choose Yes to proceed;
- activate Use the Print Screen button to open the screen capture option ;
- therefore you can select various screen capture options directly using the PrtScn button on the keyboard.
Note: The PrtScr key has many related functions that work with other Windows tools, such as PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Microsoft Office.
Uninstall and reinstall Snipping Tool
Does your Snipping Tool hang on startup? Due to a corrupted update or other reasons, this tool may be installed incorrectly. An issue like this can cause the program to break and should therefore be replaced with a fresh install of the app.
To uninstall Snipping Tool in Windows 11:
- select Add or remove programs from the Start menu search or in the Control Panel ;
- scroll down to the Snipping Tool app and from the three-dot menu select Uninstall to proceed with the removal.
After uninstalling Snipping Tool, you can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store like any other application.
Repair and reset the Snipping Tool app
Even without uninstalling the program, you can periodically repair and restore the app if the problem keeps repeating.
To do this:
- go to Settings – Apps – Snipping Tool – Advanced options to open the Apps and features menu ;
- go to the Repair menu and click Repair, then wait a few seconds;
- if there are no particular problems, you should see a checkmark next to the Repair button.
Use the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 to enable the Snipping Tool
Occasionally, you may find that the Snipping Tool doesn’t work despite the absence of errors. Indeed, there may be some settings on your device that have disabled the snipping tool without you realizing it.
Windows 11 ‘s advanced administrator settings have a Local Group Policy Editor that allows you to override the actions of any apps that are deemed dangerous.
To unblock the situation in this sense:
- go to the Run menu using Win + R;
- type gpedit.msc to start the Local Group Policy Editor ;
- Scroll down to Tablet PC – Accessories and click the setting option Do not allow Snipping Tool to run to evaluate its status.
If the following dialog shows that Do not allow the snipping tool to run has been Enabled, you need to change it to Disabled.
Check the system logs
In addition to the Local Group Policy Editor, you can also use a small registry tweak to launch the Snipping Tool on Windows 11. This is useful when you don’t see the tool in question even by searching for it via File Explorer.
So proceed like this:
- open Run using Win + R ;
- type regedit to start Registry Editor ;
- look for the following path in your Registry Editor: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft ;
- right-click Microsoft to select a new key and name it TabletPC ;
- select the newly created TabletPC key and right-click to add a new DWORD (32-bit) value;
- call the newly created value DisableSnippingTool ;
- right-click to edit the DWORD (32-bit) value string above to set it as 0 (default is 1).
Note: Only try this method if Snipping Tool is not visible on your operating system.
Perform a clean install of Windows
The Windows 11 Snipping Tool may run into unexpected problems if your operating system has several corrupted files. It’s easy to deal with problems caused by installed apps by opting for a clean install.
Note: Before performing a clean install, back up your files, as they will be lost in the process.
Once your most valuable files are safe, you can do this:
download the appropriate installation tool from the Microsoft site ;
launch the installer and follow the onscreen instructions until you reach an option that lets you choose the media to use;
- select the USB Flash Drive option, which will allow you to install a USB setup for booting;
- once the USB installer is ready, insert a suitable medium into a USB port that you have available;
- restart the PC and, via BIOS, set the boot from USB, then start the installation procedure;
- Follow the onscreen instructions to activate the latest Windows 11 operating system on your device.
This should be bug-free, as all the old patchy updates have been purged.
Do a cloud “restore” of the OS
If the original copy of your Windows 11 system is authentic and valid, it is easier to fix any problems with a simple Cloud Reset. It works similarly to a clean install but is much easier to do since you don’t need a USB drive.
Proceed like this:
- go to Settings – System – Recovery – Recovery options ;
- select Reset PC in the menu options for Reset this PC ;
- follow the instructions and choose an option to Remove everything instead of Keep my files – this will ensure a new error-free system;
- Select Cloud Download to reinstall Windows. This will connect your system to the latest version of Windows 11 on the cloud;
- in the following steps, you can start the actual recovery process.
Leave your device plugged in and connected to the internet. After the cloud download completes, a new version of Windows is automatically installed.
FAQs
So let’s go through some frequently asked questions about using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 and related issues.
Why does my computer freeze when I use Snipping Tool?
If your PC crashes when using this app, there is a high probability that you have corrupted graphics drivers. To solve the problem, start the command prompt with administrator permissions and execute the sfc /Scannow command and then press enter and do the same thing with the DISM.exe command.
Once the bad drivers have been identified through a system scan, you can open them from Device Manager ( devmgmt.msc in the Run menu). So update and reinstall the corrupted drivers.
How can I fix a black screen encountered while using this application?
If you encounter black screens while taking screenshots, it means there are some problems with your graphics drivers. Open Device Manager using the command menu Run devmgmt.msc and select graphics drivers related to Display Adapters and Integrated Monitors. Right-click on them to update the missing drivers.
Sometimes they will be marked with an exclamation mark, just to get your attention and show that something is not working as it should.
What are the alternatives to the Snipping Tool?
Even if the Snipping Tool proposed by Microsoft is excellent, it is said that there are interesting alternative solutions.
