Multi-monitor setups have become increasingly popular over the years. And the truth is, why shouldn’t they be? From helping you easily enhance your level of productivity to ensuring that you multitask with a superior level of ease and convenience, there are many good things to be said about these types of setups. But having established their merits, it does bear mentioning that there can be some challenges associated with leveraging these resources. Arguably, one of the biggest of these issues is mastering how to screenshot only one monitor, especially if you’re in a bit of a hurry.
Screenshotting Only One Monitor – What to Keep in Mind
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how the process of taking a screenshot of just one monitor in a mix of four or five screens can pose a bit of a problem. As all of these screens are already connected, attempting to take a screenshot the conventional way is only certain to capture the contents of all of those screens – something that you clearly don’t want.
The immediate implication of the above is that users have to get very creative with their approach to screenshotting just one monitor. The need for finesse becomes even more imperative in light of the fact that, if you’re working with multiple monitors, then there’s a good chance you don’t have much time to dilly-dally. As such, any method of approach you adopt here not only has to be efficient at the task of capturing just one monitor but also has to be fast about it and convenient to implement as well.
In light of all these parameters, we’ll be pointing out great and effective ways that you can comfortably screenshot just one monitor without any hassle in 2023!
How to Screenshot Only One Monitor Like a Pro
As you probably already know, taking a regular screenshot with just one monitor is a simple, fast, and pretty stress-free affair, for the most part. Problems only tend to ensue when you try to replicate that level of ease and comfort with your multiple-screen setups.
The good news is that things don’t have to be that hard. There are any number of highly viable approaches that you can adopt to take a screenshot of just one monitor in a mix.
Here, we’ll be highlighting and subsequently discussing the simplest and most effective ways that multiple-screen PC users can learn how to screenshot only one monitor with the highest level of convenience.
Below is all that you need to know to get started here.
Method One – Leverage a Third Party Software or Tool
On many levels, this is arguably the simplest, most straightforward, and most highly efficient approach you can take to solving the challenge of screenshotting just one monitor. You may be wondering right now; but what exactly makes taking a one-monitor screenshot with a third-party app or program the right way to go for me?
The answer is simple; due to the fact that many of these apps are designed with the express intention of carrying out this particular function, they are equipped with a wide array of tools and features that you can readily leverage to get the job done consistently with an economy of movements.
Tools like the HitPaw Screen Recorder, ShareX, and ScreenRec stand at the pinnacle of modern technology when it comes to the ease with which they can allow you to capture and record the content of just one screen in a mix of many.
Why These Tools Are Worth It
What makes these resources stand out even more distinctly is the fact that they come equipped with tools and features that help you achieve so much more without having to put in any real or measurable amount of work.
As an example, many of these tools make it both possible and easy to capture even webcam and audio in high resolution. They also allow you to zero in on specific portions of even that single monitor and capture a given content. Thanks to this, you get the opportunity to effortlessly cut out much of the noise that comes with the typical screenshot or screen recording.
Many of these tools also afford you superior editing capabilities that you can take advantage of to get even more out of the screenshot and screen record content.
What to Remember
When leveraging these tools, be sure that you are selective and particular about which ones you opt for. As these are third-party apps, you have to be very conscious about the security of your device when downloading and installing these.
See here for our top one-monitor screenshot app recommendations.
Method Two – Use the In-Built Windows Snipping Tool
Windows operating systems like Windows 10 and Windows 11 also offer you a viable, albeit slightly longer way of taking a screenshot of just one screen when you have multiple monitors hooked up together.
But, as we said, this process can be a tad cumbersome. So, please be sure to keep up with us all the way.
Using the Windows Snipping Tool
It all starts with ensuring that you set up your primary display as the monitor that you will be taking a screenshot of. This is essentially what will let the Windows Snipping Tool know which screen it’ll be focusing its attention precisely.
Now, when you want to access the Snipping Tool, you simply need to either push the dedicated Windows button on your keyboard or hit the Windows icon at the bottom left corner of your screen. This will show you the search bar. Then, input the query “Snipping Tool” and click on the result presented.
When you have been able to access the Snipping Tool itself and the application has launched, you need to enter the “Ctrl + N” command. This will present you with the “rectangle tool”.
This rectangle tool is what you’ll use your trackpad to move to the portion of your screen that you want to capture. After activating the capture, that image will immediately appear in your Snip & Sketch tool.
All that’s left for you to do now is hit the “Ctrl + S” command and the screenshot will be saved.
Now, if you would like to take a screenshot of a different monitor, you simply need to adjust the settings of your primary screen. Remove the current primary screen and replace it with the particular secondary screen that you want.
From that point, the Windows Snipping Tool will be appearing on the screen of the new monitor chosen.
Most PC users aren’t aware that they can also leverage their “Print Screen” button to get things done when it comes to learning how to screenshot only one monitor. However, again, it’s simply vital that you remember that this process won’t necessarily be direct.
Here’s everything that goes into leveraging this resource that you should know.
Using the Print Screen Button to Take a Screenshot
To use this resource at all, the very first thing that you have to do is open a program. This is because opening a program is the only way you can be certain that this approach will work as desired.
So, start by opening a program (any program) on the particular screen that you want to capture content on. With that done, use your trackpad to shift your cursor to the portion of the screen that you want to record.
After that, you then need to press the “Ctrl + Alt + PrtSc” keys on your keyboard. In doing so, ensure that you hit all the keys at the same time as the screenshot function will not activate otherwise.
Finally, you can complete this process by using the “Ctrl + V” command to paste what you’ve just captured into a Microsoft Word document. If you’d like to save the image in your files instead, you could just hit the “Ctrl + S” command.
Method Four – Use the Windows 10 Game Bar Function
PC games have been around since forever. And, from time to time, it was normal for gamers to want to have a record of a milestone they’ve achieved or progress that they’ve made. The Windows 10 Game Bar feature was built on the back of this desire.
This tool helps users seamlessly record videos and take photos even during their gaming sessions. Thankfully, you can use this feature even without gaming as well.
Using the Windows 10 Game Bar Function
Taking advantage of this tool doesn’t take much effort, especially when compared to Methods Two and Three.
All a user has to do is press the “Windows + G” command. This will present them with an interface showing four different options. These options they can readily leverage to either take a screenshot or record video of their preferred monitor.
By default, the files captured here are saved to the “Captures” folder in “Videos” on your computer device.
Conclusion
And that’s all there is to learning how to screenshot only one monitor like a pro. Which method do you prefer?
Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments section below.