How To Fix Windows Shift S Not Working

Combining the Windows key with other keys on your keyboard allows you to perform various Windows tasks quickly. The Windows + Shift + S shortcut is a handy way to capture your computer screen, so it can be frustrating if it suddenly stops working. Luckily, there are several methods you can use to restore its full functionality. Keep reading to learn more.

Windows 10

If the Windows + Shift + S shortcut isn’t working, the issue may lie in the app controlling the tool, Snip & Sketch. Alternatively, your system might be causing the issue. Whatever the root cause is, there’s a simple fix.

Turn On Snip & Sketch Notifications

If you’ve turned off notifications for the Snip & Sketch tool, the shortcut might be working, but you’re just not seeing the result. You can quickly fix this issue by turning the notifications back on. This way, once you press the Windows + Shift + S shortcut, a message will appear in the bottom-right corner.

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch “Windows Settings.”
   
2. Tap the “System” icon.
   
3. Go to the “Notifications & actions” tab on the left panel.
   
4. Scroll down to the “Get notifications from these senders” section.
   
5. Find “Snip & Sketch” on the list.
   
6. Toggle on the slider next to its name.
   

Reset Snip & Sketch

If your notifications are on, but the Snip & Sketch tool is still playing coy, it might be best to reset it. This should allow you to resume taking screenshots using the Windows + Shift + S shortcut.

1. Visit “Windows Settings” by pressing the “Windows + I” shortcut.
   
2. Tap the “Apps” icon.
   
3. Select the “Apps & features” tab from the left panel.
   
4. Scroll down until you find “Snip & Sketch” on the app list and click it.
   
5. Press the “Advanced options” button.
   
6. Tap the “Reset” button.
   
7. Confirm the action by pressing “Reset” again in the pop-up window and restart your PC to complete the process.
   

Reinstall Snip & Sketch

Suppose the shortcut issue persists even after resetting the Snip & Sketch tool. In that case, it’s time to take a more drastic step and remove it altogether. But don’t worry, we’ll bring it right back afterward.

To uninstall the app from your PC, do the following:

1. Hit the “Windows” key to launch the Start menu.
   
2. Find “Snip & Sketch.”
   
3. Right click on it and select “Uninstall” from the drop-down menu.
   
4. Confirm the action by pressing “Uninstall” again.
   

After uninstalling the app, visit the Microsoft Store and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Snip & Sketch on your PC. Finally, try capturing a screenshot using the Windows + Shift + S shortcut to see if the method has worked.

Turn On Clipboard History

When you capture a screenshot, it automatically gets copied to your clipboard. You can turn on clipboard history and view your screenshot there.

1. Press “Windows + I” to open the “Windows Settings.”
   
2. Click on the “System” icon.
   
3. Go to the “Clipboard” tab on the left panel.
   
4. Enable the slider for the “Clipboard history” section.
   

After turning on this feature, press the Windows + Shift + S shortcut. Then, press Windows + V, and the screenshot should appear on the clipboard.

Check for Windows Updates

Updating Windows is one of the go-to methods of resolving any issues you might experience. If you can’t find any problems with the snipping tool, try checking for system updates. These can frequently fix bugs and improve system performance.

1. Launch “Windows Settings” by pressing the “Windows + I” keys simultaneously.
   
2. Click on the “Update & Security” icon.
   
3. Select the “Windows Update” tab from the left panel.
   
4. Press the “Check for updates” button at the top of the window.
   

Once you install the available updates, restart your PC. When it boots back up, check if the shortcut works.

Perform a System Restore

If all else fails, you can always restore your system and return to the last state where the snipping tool was working correctly. Follow these steps to perform a system restore:

1. Press “Windows + R” simultaneously to open the Run command box.
   
2. Enter “rstrui” in the command search box.
   
3. Press “OK.”
   
4. Click “Next” in the “System Restore” window and follow yhe on-screen instructions to complete the process.
   

Once the process is completed, restart your computer. The restart might take some time, so be patient. Once the computer is back on, you should be able to use the snipping tool again.

Windows 11

If the Windows + Shift + S shortcut isn’t working in Windows 11, it’s likely due to keyboard issues or misconfigured settings. So, before tweaking your settings, we suggest doing some basic checks.

First, make sure your keyboard is connected correctly. Then, check if there’s something stuck under the keys in question. If nothing’s out of place, your keyboard isn’t the culprit.

Restart the Windows Explorer Process

The Snip & Sketch tool is a subset of the File Explorer service. If this program malfunctions, the Windows + Shift + S shortcut will too. If that’s the case, you only need to restart the Windows Explorer process. Here’s how:

1. Press the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keys to launch the Task Manager.
   
   
2. Scroll down until you locate “Windows Explorer” under the “Name” tab.
   
3. Right-click on its name to see the pop up window.
   
4. Select “Restart” from the drop-down menu.
   

Update Your Keyboard Driver

While the physical keyboard might not create the problem, its drivers may very well be. To update your keyboard driver, do the following:

1. Press the “Windows + S” shortcut to open the Search bar.
   
2. Type “Device Manager” at the top of the page.
   
3. Click on the Device Manager app in the search results.
   
4. Double-click the “Keyboard” tab.
   
5. Right-click on your keyboard and choose “Update driver” from the drop-down menu.
   
6. Tap the “Search automatically for drivers” button and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
   

Uninstall the Latest Window Update

If the Windows + Shift + S shortcut stopped working after a recent Windows update, you should return to the previous stable build. Follow these steps to uninstall a problematic update:

1. Press “Windows + I” to launch the “Settings” app.
   
2. Go to the “Windows Update” tab on the left panel.
   
3. Tap the “Update history” button.
   
4. Navigate to the “Uninstall updates” tab.
   
5. Click on the latest update.
   
6. Hit the “Uninstall button” above the list.
   
7. Press “Yes” in the pop-up window.
   

Snap Away

While it can be annoying to lose the possibility of taking a screenshot by pressing three keys, this issue can be easily fixed. It doesn’t matter if the problem lies in the snipping tool or your system. Either way, our guide will get you back to taking as many screenshots as you’d like in no time.

Have you had problems with the Windows + Shift + S shortcut not working? How did you fix the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.