Screenshots need to happen from time to time. For my tips I use them all the time, but many of you need to share a screen grab for many and varying reasons. Sometimes we have an error we need to show to IT, or we just got an awesome new desktop wallpaper that deserves attention. Since dual screens are becoming much more common, screenshots are a little more difficult. Here is a quick and easy way to make sure you get what you want.
Screenshots showing only one screen:
- Place your cursor on the screen from which you want a screenshot. Make sure there is a program window on that screen, otherwise you will get a shot of both screens anyway.
- Hit CTRL + ALT + PrtScn on your keyboard.
- Hit CTRL + V to paste the screenshot in Word, Paint, an email, or whatever else you can paste it into.
Screenshot showing both screens:
- Hit CTRL + PrtScn on your keyboard.
- Hit CTRL + V to paste the screenshot in Word, Paint, an email, or whatever else you can paste it into.
Screenshot of just the active window (no matter the size):
- Hit ALT + PrtScn on your keyboard.
- Hit CTRL + V to paste the screenshot in Word, Paint, an email, or whatever else you can paste it into.
If you want WAY more options when creating screenshots, see my post on ZScreen.
CPA Tech Tips 
#1 by Robert on April 21, 2011 - 12:48 pm
Pressing CTRL is not needed for any screenshots. It does nothing. Just press PrtScrn for a full (two monitor) screenshot or alt-prtscrn for a screenshot of only the active window.
#2 by Lina on January 21, 2014 - 10:27 am
Exactly the answer I was looking for! Thanks Robert!
#3 by Monique on November 18, 2011 - 6:09 am
Wow Robert, it sure does work. I could not find this information at first and some people even said it could not be done but it does work.
“Pressing CTRL is not needed for any screenshots. It does nothing. Just press PrtScrn for a full (two monitor) screenshot or alt-prtscrn for a screenshot of only the active window.”
Thanks.
#4 by Victoria on June 20, 2013 - 10:19 am
Still looking for a way to print screen a preferred ‘monitor’. Right now, you have the option to either print screen both monitors, or print screen a single open window. However I have several applications open on one monitor and I need a screenprint of all of them together… thus the need to screen print the monitor and not the ‘window’ or ‘application’. It is 2013 and we still don’t have this functionality.
#5 by John C on August 5, 2013 - 12:36 pm
I am trying to do a screen print on a dual monitor set up where I want to print only one screen. My problem comes from the fact that I am trying to get a snapshot of a sub-menu popup. As soon as I press the ALT key and before I press the PrtScn button the popup disappears. Is there another way I can do this?
#6 by Lina on January 21, 2014 - 10:29 am
This was my problem is exactly. Robert’s advice in the first comment to this article worked with a click-open menu. “Just press PrtScrn for a full (two monitor) screenshot or alt-prtscrn for a screenshot of only the active window.”
#7 by Rowena Taylor on June 13, 2018 - 8:15 pm
Lina, for when you want drop down menu screenshots which disappear as soon as you use the mouse, use the Screen Clipping tool, and click on New. The screen goes grey, ready to clip, but just press ESC. Then, make your drop down appear, and hold down Ctrl and flick the print screen button, and you will be able to drag and capture the menu item.
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#9 by Lisette on July 28, 2014 - 3:27 pm
For whatever reason, I am still copying both screens with ALT + Printscreen. Any way to reset my settings to avoid this issue?
#10 by two monitor photo on March 12, 2018 - 8:33 am
Do you have any video of that? I’d love to find out more details.