How to Fix Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11

By Utpal Raj Add a Comment 15 Min Read
How to Fix Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11

Are you encountering difficulties when attempting to capture screenshots using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11? Generally, the Snipping Tool is a reliable tool for effortlessly capturing important screenshots on Windows 11. Nevertheless, it can encounter issues in specific situations, such as occasional crashes or freezing, which can be quite frustrating when you’re working. However, there are ways you can easily fix the Snipping Tool not working in Windows 11.

Many users heavily depend on screenshot-capturing tools like Snipping Tool, and there can be various reasons why the Snipping Tool isn’t functioning correctly on Windows 11. In this article, we’ll explore the possible causes behind these issues and provide you with potential solutions to resolve Snipping Tool-related problems on Windows 11. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

Fix Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11

Now, let’s discuss all the possible troubleshooting methods to fix the Snipping Toll not working on the Windows operating system.

However, if you prefer a video tutorial then we got you covered. Here’s a detailed video on it.

1. Restart your PC

The most straightforward and efficient solution to address this problem is to reboot your PC. Occasionally, minor glitches and issues, such as the Snipping Tool not working in Windows 11, can be resolved by simply restarting your PC. This action refreshes the system and may potentially rectify any temporary problems that affect the Snipping Tool.

Here are the steps, you can follow to restart your computer:

1. To restart your computer, press the Windows + X keys together or right-click on the Start Button.

2. A menu will pop up on your screen.

3. Choose Shut down or sign out, and then pick Restart from the small menu.

Restarting your PC

2. Allow the Snipping Tool to Run in the Background

The tool might not function correctly unless it’s granted the required permissions within the Windows 11 operating system. You can easily set the application to run in the background to help you have an uninterrupted experience while taking screenshots.

1. Press the Windows + I to open Settings. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Start Button and then select Setting from the option prompt.

Opening Settings

2. Click Apps in the left side panel.

3. Then click Installed Apps from the right side panel.

Accessing Installed Apps Settings

4. As soon as you click on Installed apps, a list of all the apps installed on your PC will appear on your screen. Scroll down and look for the Snipping Tool among them.

5. Click on the three dots right to it.

6. Select Advanced options from the menu that appears.

Snipping Tool Advanced Option

7. Under Background app permissions, activate background app permissions as either Power optimized or Always.

Allowing Background Permissions of Snipping Tool

3. Repair or Rest Snipping Tool

Fail to launch or unexpected crashes, an inability to capture or save screenshots, difficulties in using the Snipping Tool Editor or sharing screenshots with other applications, and many more issues like the same can be resolved through the repair and reset option.

Repair scans and fixes application errors, addressing issues like launch failures or crashes. Resetting clears all custom settings and data, restoring the tool to its default state.

Follow the steps below to repair and reset the Snipping Tool:

1. Open the Settings by pressing Windows + I.

2. In the left-side panel of the Settings menu, click on Apps.

3. On the right-side panel, click on Installed apps.

Accessing Installed Apps Settings

4. A list of all the apps installed on your PC will appear. Scroll down and locate the Snipping Tool among them. Apart from this, you can also find it by searching Snipping Tool in the search bar.

5. Next to the Snipping Tool, click on the three dots.

6. From the dropdown menu, choose Advanced options.

Snipping Tool Advanced Option

7. Navigate to the Reset menu and Click the Repair option. Afterward, allow a brief moment for the repair process to complete. Once the Repair is finished, you’ll notice a checkmark next to the Repair button.

8. Proceed to follow the identical steps for the Reset button.

Reset and Repair Snipping Tool

4. Enable or Disable Automatic Date & Time

The Snipping Tool relies on a digital certificate to validate its legitimacy. If the date and time settings on your computer are inaccurate, it can lead to an invalid certificate, resulting in the Snipping Tool malfunctioning.

To fix it, follow the below steps.

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I.

2. Navigate to the Time & Language section and select Date & time on the right sidebar.

Data  and Time Settings

3. Toggle off the Set time automatically option.

4. Proceed to the manual date and time settings.

5. Choose the Change option and adjust the date and time to a point before October 30, 2021.

Set time automatically

Please keep in mind that you’ll need to manually reset the time whenever you use the Snipping Tool.

5. Turn Off Focus Assist

The Focus Assist feature operates flawlessly, ensuring a distraction-free work environment for your intensive tasks. The feature can come in handy in filtering all the unnecessary notifications and keep you updated with only the prioritized messages.

However, in some instances, Focus Assist may hinder the functionality of the Snipping Tool. So, turning off Focus Assist can also be a fix that may make the Snipping Tool work again.

1. Open Settings and navigate to the System menu.

2. Within the System menu, locate the Focus section.

Focus Settings

3. Disabling Focus Assist on your Windows 11; begin by unchecking all the boxes listed below the Focus section.

4. Additionally, navigate to the System Settings and click on Notifications. Moreover, Notification settings are conveniently located within the Focus section. To access that, simply click on Notifications under Related settings.

Turning Off Focus Mode

5. Toggle off the switch right to Do Not Disturb. This action will automatically pause all notifications

Enabling Do not Disturb

Note

If you want to turn off Focus Assist for a specific period, you can use the Focus Assist button in the Action Center to select When I’m away. This will turn off Focus Assist for the next 30 minutes or until you manually turn it back on.

6. Run the SFC Scan

If you’ve already tried all of the above methods and still find that the Snipping Tool isn’t working, it’s time to resort to an SFC scan. SFC, which stands for System File Checker. The SFC scan or the scannow command on the Windows operating system can repair and restore any corrupted files that lead to malfunction.

It is a Windows built-in tool that scans your system for corrupted or missing system files and replaces them with a cached copy. If the Snipping Tool is not working in Windows 11, some of the system files required for the app to run properly may be corrupted or missing. Running an SFC scan can help to fix this problem.

Follow the below steps to do so:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Terminal (Admin).

Accessing Windows Terminal

2. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control.

3. In the terminal window, type the following command and hit Enter.

sfc /scannow

4. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take several minutes.

5. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer.

Running SFC scan on Command Prompt

7. Edit Registry Files

The Snipping Tool comes pre-installed with the Windows 11 operating system. Occasionally, the Software Restriction Policy may interfere with the tool’s functionality and limit its visibility within File Explorer. In such situations, you can depend on the Registry Editor to perform a few modifications, restoring the application’s functionality to its previous state.

To edit Registry Files to fix the Snipping Tool, follow the below steps:

1. Launch the Run program by pressing Win + R, then type regedit into the dialog box and press Enter.

Open Registry using Run

2. Click Yes when windows pop up on the screen.

3. In the Registry Editor, navigate down the left panel until you locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

4. Click SOFTWARE under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

Software Location

5. Furthermore, Expand the following folders: Policies > Microsoft.

Microsoft Policies Edit

6. Look for a key named TabletPC. If it doesn’t exist, you can create it by right-clicking on the Microsoft folder and selecting New > Key. Name the new key TabletPC.

7. Right-click on the TabletPC key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Creating New Value on TabletPC

8. Rename the newly created value to DisableSnippingTool.

Creating DisableSnippingTool Value

9. Double-click on DisableSnippingTool and set the Value data to 0. Ensure that the Hexadecimal option is selected.

Changing Value to 0

10. Close the Registry Editor.

11. Open the Snipping Tool, and you should now be able to take screenshots without any issues.

8. Uninstall and Reinstall

The next most effective method for restoring the Snipping Tool to its default state is to uninstall the current version and then reinstall the application. Removing and subsequently reinstalling the Snipping Tool can resolve common problems that may hinder its proper functioning in Windows 11.

Here’s how you can uninstall and reinstall the Snipping tool:

1. Pressing Win + I to open Windows Settings.

2. Navigate to the Apps section and select Installed Apps to find the Snipping Tool.

3. Once you spot the Snipping Tool in the list, click on the three dots icon.

4. Choose the Uninstall option and confirm your decision to remove the application.

Unistalling Snipping Tool

5. After that, reinstall the Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store only, and then launch it anew for use.

Download Snipping Tool from Microsoft Store

9. Perform a Clean Boot

In certain instances, the system might face challenges related to third-party applications or antivirus software, leading to disruptions in the normal operation of regular apps. In such scenarios, the recommended course of action for the Windows system is to initiate a clean boot and then restart the system.

1. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open Run.

2. In the dialog box that appears, type msconfig and press the OK button.

Opening MSConfig

3. When the System Configuration window appears, navigate to the Services panel.

4. Check the box previous to Hide all Microsoft services.

5. Next, click on the Disable All button. This will disable all the third-party programs.

Accessing Services Tab of System Configuration

6. Now, click on the Apply button and click on the OK in the System Configuration box.

7. Finally, restart your system and attempt to open the Snipping Tool.

10. Update Windows 11

Microsoft regularly releases updates to Windows 11 that include bug fixes and performance improvements. These updates can sometimes fix issues with the Snipping Tool. Microsoft also released new features for the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 updates. These features may include new snipping modes, editing tools, and other enhancements.

Updating the Snipping Tool can give you access to these new features and can also improve the stability and performance of the app.

1. Press Win + I to launch Settings.

2. Select Windows Update from the left side panel, or you can alternatively choose Windows Update located in the top right corner of your screen.

3. Click on the Check for updates button, and it will require several minutes to determine whether any updates are available or not.

Checking for Update

4. If updates are available, click Download and Install.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Usually, you need to Restart your computer to apply the Windows updates.

Conclusion

The Snipping Tool, known for its versatility and dependability, has become a crucial tool for numerous users when it comes to fulfilling their screenshot requirements. This application efficiently captures any on-screen visuals and allows you to edit the image instantly, eliminating any unnecessary delays.

Encountering issues that prevent the application from functioning can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re working on something significant. However, using the methods mentioned above, you can revive the Snipping Tool’s functionality.

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He is a tech content writer with more than 2 years of experience. His work is published on many prominent tech websites. When he's not writing, you can catch him watching cricket match.
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