Snipping Tool facts for kids
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Snipping Tool in Windows 11
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| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
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| Initial release | November 7, 2002 |
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| Type | Screenshot software |
The Snipping Tool is a handy program that comes with Microsoft Windows computers. It lets you take pictures of your computer screen, which are called screenshots. You can capture a small part of the screen, a specific window, or even the whole screen.
After you take a picture, you can draw on it with a mouse or a special pen. You can also save it as an image file or send it in an e-mail. The Snipping Tool has simple tools like different colored pens, an eraser, and a highlighter to help you edit your screenshots.
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How the Snipping Tool Started
Before Windows Vista, the Snipping Tool had a different name: the Clipping Tool. It was first made for a special version of Windows called Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. It came out on November 7, 2002.
Changes in Windows 10
In Windows 10 version 1809, a new app called Snip & Sketch was introduced. This app was designed to do the same things as the Snipping Tool. At first, it was part of something called the Windows Ink Workspace. Microsoft wanted people to use Snip & Sketch instead of the old Snipping Tool. Even though the old tool showed a message asking users to switch, it was never completely removed from Windows 10.
In April 2021, Microsoft made it possible to update the Snipping Tool through the Microsoft Store. This happened by packaging it together with Snip & Sketch.
The Snipping Tool in Windows 11
On August 12, 2021, an update for Windows 11 brought some big changes. The Snip & Sketch app was renamed back to Snipping Tool. It also got a new look that was more like the original Snipping Tool. With this update, the very old version of the Snipping Tool was removed. Since March 14, 2023, the Snipping Tool can also record videos of your screen, not just take pictures!
More Information
- Features new to Windows Vista
