Why Isn’t the Snipping Tool Covering My Whole Screen on Windows 11?
Why Isn’t the Snipping Tool Covering My Whole Screen on Windows 11?
3 Answers

Snipping Tool Acting Up? Let’s Sort It Out
We’ve all been there, trying to grab a screenshot with Windows 11’s Snipping Tool only to find it’s not capturing the whole picture. You’d think it was a simple perk of modern computing, but multiple monitors or whacked-out display settings can make Snipping Tool go wonky. Talk about a productivity killer, right?
Why’s This Happening?
- Scaling Shenanigans: Usually, it’s scaling issues between your screens messing things up. If you’ve got one monitor set to 100% and another at 125%, bingo! Snipping Tool might only grab bits and pieces, leaving you more frustrated than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
- Resolution Mismatches: Different resolutions across your displays can confuse Snipping Tool like a squirrel on caffeine. If your monitors don’t have matching resolutions, no wonder it’s acting up.
- Old Software Gremlins: Sometimes, things just get buggy with the Snipping Tool itself. If it’s outdated or some files went bye-bye, this could be your culprit.
- App Conflicts: Ever had apps that just don’t get along? Similar screenshot tools might clash with Snipping Tool, creating a digital face-off.
Fixes to Get You Back in Action
Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle these troubles with some practical steps:
- Tweak Display Scaling:
- Hit
Windows + I
to pull up Settings. - Dive into
System > Display
. - Under
Scale and layout
, make sure both monitors are singing the same tune with their scaling settings—preferably 100% for the sake of sanity.
- Hit
- Fine-Tune Monitor Resolutions:
- Still in Display settings? Good—make sure your screens are rocking compatible resolutions.
- If not, tweak them under
Display resolution
. It might take a few tries, but it’s worth it.
- Give Snip & Sketch a Fresh Start:
- A simple restart might do the trick. Close Snip & Sketch completely by right-clicking its taskbar icon and hitting Quit.
- Bring it back through Windows Search (
Windows + S
) and see if that clears things up.
- Repair or Reset the App:
- Back to Settings, folks (
Windows + I
). Head over toApps > Installed apps
. - Find Snip & Sketch, click it, tap Advanced options, and go for Repair or Reset. Sometimes you gotta start fresh!
- Back to Settings, folks (
- Keep Snip & Sketch Up-to-Date:
- Make sure you’ve got the latest version from the Microsoft Store. Don’t miss out on those updates—it could be the solution you need.
- Check for updates in the store, especially for Snip & Sketch. Betting this might squash the pesky bugs.
- Consider Other Screenshot Techniques:
- If all else fails and frustration wins, look at other methods like
Ctrl + PrintScreen
. It captures everything, everywhere, all at once. - Edit the images with any software. Might be an extra step but sometimes a workaround beats a headache.
- If all else fails and frustration wins, look at other methods like
With these steps, you should be back to snagging full-screen shots without those snafus. Keeping display settings consistent and your Snipping Tool updated are key, trust me.
Honestly, once you sort out those scale and resolution settings, plus ensure everything’s up-to-date, most of the Snipping Tool drama should be history. Happy snapping!

Hey there! If you’ve been having trouble with the Snipping Tool not covering your whole screen, you’re not alone. This little guy is supposed to capture full-screen snaps, but when it decides to act up, it can really throw a wrench in your workflow. So let’s dive into some reasons why it might be misbehaving and how to fix ‘em!
First off, it might just be in the wrong mode. There are different snip modes—like rectangular, free-form, or window—and if you’re accidentally in one of these, it’s not going to grab the whole screen. What do you do? Just give the mode selector a click, choose Full-screen Snip, and you should be good to go. No sweat.
Now, shortcuts are a handy way to get things done, but sometimes they just don’t play nice. You might have a shortcut conflict if shortcuts like Win + Shift + S or PrtScn aren’t firing off like they should. Check those out in your settings under Accessibility.
Let’s talk display scaling. If your monitor’s set up with high resolution or you’ve fiddled with the zoom, that can cause the Snipping Tool to get all out of whack and not match the screen size. A temporary adjustment could do the trick—try setting your scaling to 100% and see if that helps.
Are your system files in good shape? Seriously, if they’re corrupted or your software is outdated, it can mess with pretty much anything, Snipping Tool included. Make sure everything’s updated, and consider running a system file check with sfc /scannow
in the Command Prompt.
Here’s a twist—not every problem comes from inside your computer. Background services these days, like App Readiness or Windows License Manager, keep the wheels greased, and if those stop working, you’re gonna notice it. Try restarting them from the Services manager to get back on track.
Third-party apps can also throw a spanner in the works. Your antivirus, Discord overlays, or some fancy screen recorder could be cutting off your Snipping Tool’s mojo. Temporarily disabling these should let it breathe easy.
If you’ve walked down all these paths and still find yourself stuck, you might need to reinstall the darn thing. Go into your Apps settings, find the tool, and hit Reset. You could even pull up PowerShell to get a fresh install going.
And hey, if the drama just doesn’t end, don’t stress too much—you’ve got options. For Windows 10/11 users, Snip & Sketch brings some advanced editing skills to the table. Or you can throw the Game Bar into the mix, pressing Win + G to capture whole screens. If you’re needing something with a bit more customization, Greenshot or ShareX have got your back.
To wrap this up: check your modes and shortcuts, tweak any scaling issues, and make sure those system files aren’t throwing a tantrum. If all else fails, a reset could be your hero. And remember, there are loads of resources out there if you need more advice—forums and Microsoft Support are always a click away. Good luck out there!

If you’re scratching your head because the snipping tool on your Windows 11 isn’t doing its full-screen job, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve.
First up, might be worth a peek at your display settings. Jump into Settings > System > Display, just to make sure your resolution is set right and you haven’t cranked the scaling above 100%. Easy mistake to make!
Then, let’s talk updates. Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch–whatever you’re rocking, make sure it’s the latest version. Go snoop around the Microsoft Store and grab those updates if they’re lurking.
Here’s a little insider tip: reset that app. Sounds weird, but it often works like a charm. Head to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find the Snipping Tool, dive into Advanced options, and hit Reset.
While you’re at it, give those Windows Updates a once-over. Hit up Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and snag any updates you’ve been snoozing on.
Oh, graphic drivers! – Those can be sneaky. If they’re outdated, they might be playing hardball. Dive into Device Manager > Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and hit Update driver.
And for all your multiple monitor users out there, you might want to temporarily disable that second monitor. Sometimes it’s all about minimizing the chaos. Go to Settings > System > Display, and under Multiple displays, try disconnecting the second one.
If all else fails, you might need to take more serious measures like reinstalling the Snipping Tool using PowerShell. Honestly, there’s a rabbit hole of Microsoft support and community forums for this kind of thing.
Follow these tips, and your snipping tool should be back in action, covering the whole screen like a pro on Windows 11. Let’s hope one of these fixes hits the mark for you!