Snipping Tool in Windows 11 Not Working [12 Best Fixes]

• The Snipping Tool usually breaks because of small Windows glitches, not major system failures.
• Quick fixes like restarting the tool, using Windows + Shift + S, or clearing temp files solve most Windows 11 snipping tool not working cases.
• Updates, background permissions, and conflicting apps often play a role, so checking those settings helps a lot.
• When the tool refuses to cooperate, alternatives like Screencapture.com or Movavi Screen Recorder keep your workflow moving.

I take screenshots and record small screen videos constantly, so when the Snipping Tool refused to open one afternoon, it threw me off. I clicked the icon a few times, leaned in like that would change anything, and still got nothing. No window, no message. Two days later it opened but saved a plain white screenshot, which was even more frustrating.

It turned out the tool wasn’t broken, just tangled up in background settings and software conflicts. Once I understood that, the fixes were much simpler. In this guide, I go through the steps I use whenever the Snipping Tool starts acting stubborn. They usually get it working again without much trouble.

When the Snipping Tool won’t launch, freezes mid-capture, or saves a blank image, these are the fixes that actually make a difference. You can jump in anywhere, but starting with the quick ones is the most efficient.

One of the most common problems is the tool getting stuck in the background. Windows keeps the old process running, so the app refuses to reopen or respond. Closing that process forces Windows to start a fresh instance, which fixes the issue almost immediately.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Look for Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch in the list.
3. Right click it and choose End task.
4. Open the Snipping Tool again.

When the tool closes this way, Windows starts it fresh the next time you run it. It is the first thing I try before messing with deeper settings.

Press Windows + Shift + S to bring up the snipping bar directly. It often works even when the taskbar icon refuses to open the app. The shortcut is quick, reliable, and perfect for grabbing something on the fly without waiting for the full tool to load.

If the Snipping Tool keeps arguing with you, switch to something else and get on with your work. Movavi Screen Recorder is an easy backup. You can grab the whole screen or outline a smaller area in a couple of clicks, and you don’t have to dig through settings to make it behave. It also lets you preview and edit your screenshots. It also doubles as a clean, reliable video recorder, which solves a lot of “I’ll just show you instead of explaining” moments. It won’t repair the Snipping Tool, but it keeps your workflow moving when the built-in tool stalls.

Repairing or resetting it through the system settings can clear corrupted files or broken configurations.

1. Open Settings and go to Apps.
2. Select Installed apps.
3. Find Snipping Tool and open Advanced options.
4. Click Repair first.
5. If that does nothing, use Reset.

Repair keeps your data and preferences and only fixes damaged components. Reset wipes the app to its default state. I usually try Repair first because it leaves everything intact, but Reset has solved every deeper problem I’ve had so far, especially random crashing during captures. It is worth trying before reinstalling anything manually.

Windows sometimes blocks the Snipping Tool from appearing on top of other applications if its permissions are restricted. Turning on the background access often fixes issues where the toolbar refuses to show.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open Apps.
3. Select Installed apps and find Snipping Tool.
4. Open Advanced options.
5. Under Background app permissions, choose Always.

This may feel unnecessary, but it gives the Snipping Tool the freedom to appear whenever you call it, no matter what you are doing on the screen. It is a small adjustment that solves more problems than you might expect.

The Snipping Tool relies on a temp folder to store its scraps, and that folder can get messy fast. When it does, the tool may freeze, save empty images, or stop saving altogether because the temp folder stopped supporting new files. Clearing out those leftovers often gets it working normally again.

1. Press Windows R and type temp.
2. Delete the files inside that folder.
3. Repeat with %temp%.
4. Restart your computer.

You do not need to delete every last file. Skip anything Windows refuses to remove. What matters is clearing enough space that the Snipping Tool can create fresh temp files without bumping into old junk.

A skipped update can lead to capture issues, which may be why my Snipping Tool is not working. I'm aware of that and recommend you to check it from time to time. Installing the latest updates often brings back missing features or fixes bugs that affect screen capture tools.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.

If you see optional updates, especially anything related to display or input devices, installing them usually helps too. After updating, restart your computer even if Windows does not ask for it.

Focus Assist keeps notifications quiet, but in some cases it blocks UI elements like the snipping toolbar. Turning it off can fix situations where the screen dims but no controls appear.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Select Focus Assist.
4. Turn it off.

If you still want some form of quiet mode, set it to Priority only instead of shutting it down completely. As long as it’s not blocking pop-ups too aggressively, the Snipping Tool should appear normally.

If you have other screenshot or overlay tools installed, they might be causing Windows Shift S not working issues. Apps like OneDrive, Dropbox, Nvidia overlays, Discord, and browser extensions can all interfere.

Try closing or disabling:

• Browser add-ons that take screenshots
• Cloud sync tools with clipboard or capture features
• Gaming overlays
• Clipboard managers
• VPN apps with privacy overlays

If the Snipping Tool suddenly starts working again after closing one of these, you have found the culprit. You can then reconfigure that app so it stops grabbing screen shortcuts.

If core system files are damaged, often because of an update missing, the Snipping Tool can break in unpredictable ways. Running a system scan repairs those files automatically.

1. Type cmd in the Start menu.
2. Right click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Enter:
   sfc /scannow
4. Press Enter.

The scan takes a few minutes. If it finds anything, Windows will repair the files on its own. After the scan finishes, restart your computer.

If the app is badly corrupted, reinstalling it from scratch can fix problems that no repair tool can touch.

1. Right click Start.
2. Select Windows Terminal (Admin).
3. Enter this command:
   get-appxpackage snippingtool remove-appxpackage
4. After it finishes, reinstall the tool from the Microsoft Store using the standard download option.

This removes the entire app and puts back a clean version. It is more drastic than the Repair button but sometimes necessary when Windows loses track of the tool’s files.

A strange bug in Windows caused the Snipping Tool to fail because of certificate timing issues. Adjusting the system clock temporarily can bypass that problem.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Time and Language.
3. Turn off Set time automatically.
4. Set the date back one day.
5. Open the Snipping Tool.
6. Return the time setting to automatic.

This workaround may sound odd, but it has solved launch issues for many users. If the Snipping Tool suddenly refused to open after a recent update, this trick is worth trying once.

Once you get familiar with the kinds of issues that trip up the Snipping Tool, the whole thing feels easier to manage. Most problems come from Windows itself, a stalled process, a shortcut conflict, or an update that left something half finished. The fixes are usually simple nudges that get everything working again.

It also helps not to get stuck fighting with it in the moment. If the tool refuses to cooperate, just switch to something else for a bit: a different screen shortcut or a simple recorder like Screencapture.com and finish what you were doing. Then you can come back and sort out the issue with a clearer head. After a bit of practice, you figure out what your system responds to, and the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 behaves normally again.