How to Fix Snipping Tool Not Working on Windows

Spread the love

Windows Snipping Tool was initially released with Windows XP and since then it has helped millions of users to take screenshots and edit them. With the release of Windows 10, it was relaunched as Snip & Sketch. It is a clipping tool to instantly drag and take clips of screenshots, a free-form area, rectangular areas, or the entire screen.

You can access the Snipping Tool with the (Win + Shift + S) key combination and then drag the mouse cursor. If your snipping tool is not working, you can fix the snipping tool with easy and quick tips. There can be several reasons it may stop working for you. You can try these steps to fix the Snipping Tool on Windows or use TweakShot Recorder with advanced features.

  • Restart Your Computer
  • Install Windows Updates
  • Run SFC ScanNow
  • Repair Snipping Tool App
  • Use Advanced Driver Updater

Restart Your Computer

A lot of major or minor issues can be fixed just with a restart. If you haven’t restarted your computer for so long, there are possibilities that the app can hang or get stuck in the process. You can restart the computer and check if it works.

Install Windows Updates

The Windows operating system is in an evolving phase with the Windows 11 Beta version. There are new updates released on a weekly basis that have the latest bug fixes, patches, updates, and new app features. You can manually install Windows Updates to fix the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 and earlier versions.

Step 1. Press (Win + I) to access Windows Settings.

Step 2. Click on the Update & Security option and select Windows Update in the left-hand side panel.

Check Windows Update

Step 3. Click on the Check for Updates button on the right. It will scan and list out all the available updates that can be installed. Download and install all the latest Windows Updates and restart the computer. Check if you were able to fix the Snipping Tool on Windows.

Run SFC ScanNow

SFC ScanNow is an inbuilt utility to scan and fix corrupt files and outdated builds. You will need to access the command prompt to run this command.

Step 1. Press (Win + R) to access the Run command prompt.

Step 2. Type CMD and press (Ctrl + Shift + Enter) key combination to access the command prompt with administrative rights.

Step 3. Type sfc /scannow and press the Enter key. Windows will initiate the scanning process and look for corrupt or outdated files. If found, it will instantly fix the corrupt files.

Step 4. It will show the scan result as errors fixed, no errors found, or could not fix errors. Once done, you can proceed to the next command.

Step 5. Type CLS and hit the Enter key to clear the screen.

Step 6. Copy & paste this command into the command prompt and hit the Enter key.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

DISM is another Windows utility to scan and repair system files. Let the command process and fix corrupt files and come up with the results. Close the command prompt window and restart the computer. Check if you were able to fix the Snipping Tool else more to the next step.

Repair Snipping Tool App

If your Snipping Tool is still not working, you can try and reset the app. It should refresh and repair the app settings to default and fix the issue.

Step 1. Press (Win + I) to access Windows Settings.

Step 2. Click on the Apps option from the list to find all the installed apps.

Step 3. Scroll down and select the Snip & Sketch app from the list.

Step 4. Click on the Advanced Options link on the app to get into the advanced settings.

Step 5. Scroll down and click on the Reset button to reset the app’s default settings. Restart the computer and check if the app started working.

Use Advanced Driver Updater

If you are still not able to fix the Snipping Tool on Windows, it can be a problem with your graphics driver. If there is any conflict with the graphics driver, it can stop the Snipping Tool to take screenshots.

Advanced Driver Updater Specifications:

Overall Rating:  4.9/5

Developed by:   Systweak

Updates:        Outdated Device Drivers

Backup:          Backup Drivers before Updating

Schedule Scan:  Daily / Weekly / Monthly

Scan Types:    Automatic / Manual

Advanced Driver Updater is one of the best driver updater software for Windows 11 and earlier versions. It can automatically find and update corrupt, outdated, missing, or incompatible device drivers and ensure they are working properly. It has a huge database that can update device drivers that are not even recognized by Microsoft Windows Updates. It directly downloads the latest updated drivers from the manufacturer’s website. You can update one or click on Update All to automatically update all the outdated device drivers.

Summing Up

This article on how to fix Snipping Tool not working has the best steps to fix Snipping Tool on Windows 11 or earlier versions. If resetting the app doesn’t fix the issue, you will need to use Advanced Driver Updater for Windows to update the graphics drivers. It is an automated tool to ensure that all the device drivers are always updated and you never face any driver conflict.

admin

I am a tech writer with over 6 years of experience writing about a variety of tech topics, including software, hardware, and the latest trends in the tech industry. I have a passion for writing clear and concise articles that are easy to understand for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Leave a Reply