6 Ways to Fix Snipping Tool Not Working on Windows 11

Quick Tips

• The Snipping Tool can malfunction for various reasons, such as temporary app glitches, insufficient permissions to operate in the background, or corrupt app files.
• Try restarting the Snipping Tool app or your PC to see if that helps.
• You can consider resetting or reinstalling the Snipping Tool if the issue remains.

Fix 1: Make Sure Snipping Tool Notifications Are Enabled

Snipping Tool may fail to show screenshots after capturing them if you have turned off its notification permission. Hence, it’s the first thing you should check.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to System > Notifications.

Step 2: Scroll through the list to locate Snipping Tool and enable the toggle next to it.

Fix 2: Disable Do Not Disturb

Have you enabled Do not disturb mode on your Windows PC? If so, Snipping Tool notification won’t appear. Here’s how to turn it off.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to System > Notifications.

Step 2: Toggle off the switch next to Do not disturb.

Fix 3: Allow the Snipping Tool to Run in the Background

Snipping Tool may fail to respond to its keyboard shortcut if the app does not have the necessary permission to run in the background. Here’s what you can do to change that. 

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to Apps > Installed apps.

Step 2: Scroll through the list to locate the Snipping Tool app. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Advanced options.

Step 3: Under Background apps permissions, use the drop-down menu to select Always.

Exit the Settings app and press the Windows key + Shift + S on your keyboard to access the Snipping Tool.

Fix 4: Repair or Reset the App

Apps on Windows 11 are bound to run into problems occasionally. Thankfully, your Windows PC is capable of repairing most app-related issues on its own. Here’s how you can repair the Snipping Tool app on Windows 11.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu. Type snipping tool in the text box, right-click on the first result, and select App settings from the list.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Reset section and click the Repair button.

If the problem persists, try resetting it from the same menu. Doing so will delete all the app data and reset app configurations.

Fix 5: Reinstall the Snipping Tool App

If repairing or resetting the Snipping Tool does not work, you can try reinstalling the app on your Windows 11 PC to get it working. Here are the steps for the same.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu.

Step 2: Type snipping tool in the text box. Right-click on the first result and select Uninstall.

Step 3: Hit Uninstall to confirm.

Step 4: Open the Microsoft Store on your PC to download and install the Snipping Tool.

Fix 6: ‌Enable Automatic Date and Time

This may seem strange, but if your Windows 11 PC is set to an incorrect date or time, apps like Snipping Tool may fail to work. To avoid such issues, you can enable the automatic date and time feature on Windows by following the steps below.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. In the Time & language tab, click on Date & time.

Step 2: Enable the toggle next to Set time automatically.