www.makeuseof.com How to Fix Snipping Tool Not Working on Windows 11

The Snipping Tool holds the crown for the best screenshot tool for Windows OS, and for good reason. It’s efficient, the lightest of all existing alternatives, takes up very little disc space, and doesn’t clog your RAM.

However, the Snipping Tool isn’t perfect as it comes with its fair share of flaws and issues that cause major inconvenience. It may begin to malfunction or occasionally crash or freeze, leaving users in a state of frustration.

Here, we have compiled some ways to fix the "Snipping tool not working" error on Windows 11 and resolve it for good.

1. Reset or Repair the Snipping Tool

It is inevitable that once in a while, a bug might cause your programs or system files to malfunction. However, with Windows 11, it is now easier than ever to fix programs.

You can simply troubleshoot and repair an application without any additional third-party software with these few steps:

2. Turn Off Focus Assist

Focus Assist is a fantastic Windows feature that filters all unwanted notifications to help you get more done. However, this can cause problems with some helpful apps, such as the Snipping Tool, by preventing them from launching.

You can disable Focus Assist from blocking Snipping Tool by:

3. Use the Snip & Sketch Tool

The Snipping Tool has been replaced by the new Snip & Sketch tool by Microsoft, and as a result, the former’s stopped working on many PCs. The most straightforward solution is to use some other method for taking screenshots or upgrade to the more advanced Snip & Sketch tool manually. To do this:

You can also check out our in-depth guide on how to fully acquaint yourself with Snip & Sketch.

4. Perform a Clean Boot

Another reason for the Snipping Tool to not work is interference from other apps or third-party programs, especially your antivirus software. Performing a clean boot can help you with this issue and get the screenshot tool working in no time.

To perform a clean boot, you have to disable all the third-party services and programs. For this:

After you have disabled all these third-party services:

5. Disable Automatic Time

Some users identified the jump to Windows 11 as the leading cause of Snipping Tool troubles. They pinned down this error on the latest Windows version, however, later, more testing revealed that the app would work perfectly fine on devices if Microsoft Store was not set to auto-update programs, hinting that the issue is due to expired certificates.

To fix the issue and continue grabbing screenshots, you can try these steps:

6. Use the Classic Snipping Tool

If none of the above methods work, and you wish to use solely the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 without reverting to Windows 10, follow the steps below to utilize the Classic Windows 10 Snipping Tool.

7. Use Regedit

The Snipping Tool is installed and enabled by default on the Windows 11 operating system, but the Software Restriction Policy prevents some users from using it, or in some cases, restricts them from being able to view the app in the File Explorer.

If you are also facing similar issues and completely confused about what to do next, here's how what you can do as a last resort:

Capturing Screenshots on Windows, Quicker

There's no doubt that Windows' Snipping tool is quite a handy app to take screenshots on your laptops & PC; however, it is not the only way. Now, you can capture your screen more flexibly (and quickly) with different Windows hotkeys that you probably didn't even know were at your disposal. Check out these screen-capturing shortcuts and make the most of your Windows experience.

A psychology graduate, Maham is expanding and nurturing her interest in tech with MUO. Outside of work, she likes to read books, paint, and travel whenever possible.

Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!