Where Is The PrtScn Key On My HP Laptop? | Quick Finder

Guide / By

On most HP laptops, the PrtScn (Print Screen) key sits on the top-right row, sometimes combined with Fn or mapped to another function key.

Why This Matters

You came here to press a single key and grab the screen. The hitch: labels vary by model, and some keyboards hide the feature on another key. This guide shows the spots to check, the alternate shortcuts that do the same job, and simple fixes if the button seems gone. You’ll get answers fast and capture right away.

Where You’ll Usually Find It

On full-size HP keyboards and many 15-inch or 17-inch notebooks, the Print Screen label lives on the top row, near Insert, Delete, Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn. The marking can read PrtSc, PrtScn, Prt SC, or just a small camera or scissor icon. If you see a tiny second-color icon, the function likely needs the Fn key held down.

Common Labels You Might See

  • PrtSc or PrtScn
  • Prt SC
  • A camera icon
  • A scissor or rectangle symbol
  • On some slim boards, the label appears on F10 or another function key

If The Key Shares Space With Another Function

Compact layouts save space by stacking two functions on one key. When that happens, you’ll trigger screen capture with a combo such as Fn + PrtScn or Fn + F10 (where the second-color icon indicates Print Screen). Many HP wireless and chiclet keyboards do this to keep the board narrow.

When There’s No Dedicated Print Screen Key

A few modern boards skip the label entirely. That’s not a deal-breaker. Windows gives you built-in shortcuts that don’t require a special key:

  • Windows + Shift + S: opens Snipping Tool’s capture bar for region, window, or full screen.
  • Windows + PrtScn: saves a full-screen PNG directly into Pictures > Screenshots.
  • Alt + PrtScn: copies the active window to the clipboard.
  • Fn + Windows + Space: a fallback capture on hardware without PrtScn.

Microsoft documents these shortcuts and where screenshots save, so you can rely on them even if your key is remapped. See keyboard shortcut for print screen.

Exact Spots To Find The PrtScn Key On HP Setups

  • Pavilion and Envy notebooks: top-right cluster. Some Envy x360 units map the function on a shared key; look for a small camera icon and try Fn with that key.
  • Omen gaming laptops: dedicated PrtScn in the top row near Pause and Insert.
  • ProBook and EliteBook: top-right area, often sharing with Insert or Delete. If nothing happens, try holding Fn.
  • Detachable/folio keyboards: compact rows; check F10 or nearby keys for a small icon.

Fast Ways To Confirm You’ve Found It

  1. Tap the suspected key while Word or Paint is open, then press Ctrl + V. If you see an image paste in, you located it.
  2. Press Windows + PrtScn. If the screen dims for a moment, Windows saved the capture in Pictures > Screenshots.
  3. Press Windows + Shift + S. If a toolbar appears at the top of the screen, your PC is ready for region capture; draw a box and look for a small thumbnail in the corner.

What The Different Shortcuts Do

  • Full screen to file: Windows + PrtScn. A PNG lands in Pictures > Screenshots.
  • Full screen to clipboard: PrtScn by itself. You paste it into an app.
  • Active window to clipboard: Alt + PrtScn. Handy for dialog boxes.
  • Region capture with tools: Windows + Shift + S. Choose a rectangle, window, or whole screen, then annotate in Snipping Tool.

What To Do When PrtScn Does Nothing

Start with simple checks:

  • Look for an Fn lock light. If function row behavior is inverted, you may need to hold Fn or toggle Fn-Lock (often Esc with a padlock icon).
  • Try plugging in a different keyboard to isolate whether the issue is hardware or software.
  • Open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on “Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping.” That makes the key launch the Snipping Tool capture overlay.
  • Check OneDrive or Dropbox. These apps can intercept screenshots and change where they save. Open their settings to review the Screenshots option.

Where The Files Go

Screens captured with Windows + PrtScn save under Pictures > Screenshots. Region grabs from Windows + Shift + S land in the clipboard and a Snipping Tool window, where you can Save or Copy. Active-window grabs using Alt + PrtScn copy to the clipboard.

Tips For Clean Captures

  • For menus, start Snipping Tool, set a delay, and then open the menu before the capture begins.
  • To mark up quickly, use the pen and highlighter inside Snipping Tool, then save as PNG for crisp lines.

HP-Specific Quirks You May See

  • Shared function key: Often F10 carries a small camera icon. Use Fn + F10.
  • BIOS hotkey mode: Some business models default to media actions. Tap Fn + Esc to toggle the row to standard function behavior, then try PrtScn again.
  • Wireless combo boards: Look for a PrtScn legend on Insert or End, or check the quick-start card that shipped with the board.

Chromebook Or Windows?

Most HP laptops run Windows, and the shortcuts above apply. On HP Chromebooks, the capture key is different: press Ctrl + Show Windows for a full screen, or Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows for a partial region. Chrome OS saves to the Downloads folder and also shows a shelf thumbnail.

Step-By-Step: Grab The Screen Three Ways

Method A: One-Key Paste Into An App

  1. Open what you want to capture.
  2. Press the key labeled PrtScn (or the shared key plus Fn).
  3. Open Paint or a document and press Ctrl + V.
  4. Save if needed.

Method B: Save A File Automatically

  1. Prepare the screen.
  2. Press Windows + PrtScn.
  3. Open File Explorer > Pictures > Screenshots to find the PNG.

Method C: Select A Region With Tools

  1. Press Windows + Shift + S.
  2. Drag to select the area or pick Window/Full screen.
  3. Click the thumbnail to annotate and save.

Small Troubleshooting Playbook

  • No key on the board: rely on Windows + Shift + S or Windows + PrtScn.
  • Key exists but does nothing: toggle Fn-Lock, try Fn + the shared key, or enable “Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping.”
  • Clipboard pastes blank: close apps that watch the clipboard and try again.
  • Wrong save location: check OneDrive > Settings > Backup > Screenshots.

Where To Look On Different Keyboard Sizes

Ten-key-less boards: the print label still usually sits above the arrow cluster, near Insert and Delete. Thirteen-inch notebooks: look for small second-color icons on the function row; the capture feature may share a key to save space. Seventeen-inch and desktop replacements: expect a dedicated key in the classic six-key cluster next to the function row. Detachable covers: symbols can be tiny. Use your phone’s camera as a magnifier to spot the icon.

Using An External Keyboard With Your HP Laptop

USB and Bluetooth boards from other brands still work. Windows listens for the same shortcuts, so a PrtScn on a third-party board triggers the same capture. If the key is labeled Print, PrtScr, or PrtSc, it will act the same way. If you pick a gaming board, check its software for remaps; some let you assign any key to a screen-capture function.

Make The Button Launch Snipping Tool

Many people like the modern overlay with a blur and a toolbar. You can set the key to trigger that experience:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Accessibility > Keyboard.
  3. Enable “Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping.”

Now, each tap summons the overlay with rectangle, freeform, window, and full screen modes. It’s quick and works on every HP model that runs Windows 10 or 11.

Game Bar Captures For Apps And Games

  1. Press Windows + G.
  2. Select Capture, then click the camera button.
  3. Files save under Videos > Captures.

Edge Cases And Fixes

  • Fn key reversed: some boards ship with media actions as default. Press Fn + Esc to switch behavior.
  • Out-of-date keyboard driver: run Windows Update or grab the latest from HP Support Assistant.
  • Third-party overlay conflicts: clip managers, RGB suites, and screen recorders can hook the same shortcuts. Quit them and test again.
  • Remote desktop sessions: the host sees the keys, not the client. Use the remote client’s screenshot tool or send the key combo from its menu.

HP Help And Microsoft Pages

If you want official wording and diagrams, HP’s keyboard shortcuts page matches the methods above and shows the default save path for Windows + PrtScn.

Screenshot Keys Quick Reference

Goal Keys Save Location
Full screen to file Windows + PrtScn Pictures > Screenshots
Active window to clipboard Alt + PrtScn Clipboard
Region capture Windows + Shift + S Snipping Tool & Clipboard

Small Notes For Multi-Monitor Setups

Full-screen shortcuts capture every display as one wide image. If you need only the front screen, grab a region with Windows + Shift + S, or press Alt + PrtScn to copy the active window.

When To Use Each Method

Use the clipboard route when you’re pasting straight into a chat, ticket, or doc. Use the file-saving shortcut for repeat captures during testing so you don’t lose shots. For step-by-step guides, the region tool is best; it trims distractions and keeps the eye on what matters.

Quick Habit Recap

Pick one shortcut for each task and stick with it. Use Windows + PrtScn for files, Windows + Shift + S for selections, and Alt + PrtScn for the front window. Pin Snipping Tool, keep your Pictures > Screenshots folder tidy, and you’ll grab clean images. That keeps captures tidy and repeatable across projects everywhere.