Windows 10 screenshot tool issues

It looks like Windows 10’s native screenshot tool called ‘Snip & Sketch’ is being hit by a pretty annoying problem, where the app simply fails to load for some users when they try to take screenshots. This bug doesn’t appear to entirely affect the operating system’s ability to capture screenshots as long as you don’t rely on Snip & Sketch tool.

The fact that Microsoft’s own app is not able to run on its own operating system isn’t a great look, but this isn’t the first time. A bug broke the same app last year and the company later rushed out a fix for some of the issues.

As you’re probably aware, Snip & Sketch tool allows users to capture screenshots on Windows and it comes with a variety of options, including the ability to edit screenshots, capture only parts of the screen, and later make changes using apps like Paint, so it can be a genuinely useful tool for many folks.

On April 28, Microsoft quietly updated its support documents to acknowledge the problem with Windows 10’s screenshot tool. The document states that the company is aware of an issue whereby the Snip & Sketch app might fail to capture a screenshot and might fail to open when you press and hold Windows key+shift+S.

This issue originated in Windows 10’s February 2022 update and it affects all cumulative updates released later.

Microsoft hasn’t revealed when a fix for the snipping tool will arrive, but it has suggested that it’s actively working on a fix.

“We are presently investigating and will provide an update when more information is available,” Microsoft said.

In addition to a buggy Snip & Sketch tool, Windows 10 is also plagued with an issue whereby the recovery discs created using Control Panel’s legacy Backup and Restore (Windows 7) app won’t start on some devices. Thankfully, no third-party recovery apps are affected and Microsoft is working on a workaround.

It is worth noting that these issues are still present in Windows 10’s latest optional update (KB5011831). This means that the May 2022 Patch Tuesday update won’t resolve the problems, but the hotfix could still arrive by the end of the month via another optional patch.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is Windows Latest's owner, Editor-in-Chief and entrepreneur. Mayank has been in tech journalism for over seven years and has written on various topics, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.