Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11: How to Fix

Sadique Hassan•Updated Aug 25, 2023

In this guide, we will make you aware of various methods to fix the issue of the Snipping Tool not working on your Windows 11 PC. While there are quite a few methods to capture a screengrab, yet it’s the Snipping Tool that has quickly become everyone’s go-to tool. And the reason for the same is hardly a secret either. You could easily invoke it via the Windows+Shift+Esc key combinations and it hardly takes a second or two to open.

Likewise, its three different snip modes in the form of Rectangular, Freeform, and Windows snips make it really easy to take a screenshot of the desired content. However, not everyone is able to make full use of these tools. Right after installing the latest Windows security update, the Snipping Tool is no longer working on Windows 11.

Whenever they are trying to launch the tool, they are instead being greeted with the ‘This app can’t open. A problem with Windows is preventing Screen Snipping from opening” error message. If you are also getting bugged with this issue, then this guide is here to help you out. In this tutorial, we will show you various methods to fix the Snipping Tool not working on Windows 11 issue. Follow along.

Table of Contents

How to Fix: Snipping Tool Not Working in Windows 11

Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and see which one works best in your favor. So keeping that in mind, let’s get started.

UPDATE 1: Install Windows 11 (KB5008295) Update

Microsoft has rolled out a new update titled “2021-11 Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5008295)” that has fixed the issue of Snipping Tool not working on Windows 11. So head over to Settings > Windows Update and download and install the said update right away. Once done, restart your PC and the issue should be rectified. However, if you face this issue again any time in the near future, then you could refer to our below-mentioned workarounds.

FIX 1: Use the Date Tweak

For many users. this issue first started after installing a security update that was rolled out on 31st October 2021. As strange as it may sound, rolling back the system date to a couple of days before did manage to rectify this issue for many users. So refer to the below instructions to try it out:

To begin with, right-click on the date and time present at the bottom right of the taskbar and select Adjust Date and Time.
Then disable the Set Time Automatically and Set Time Zone automatically toggles.
Now click on the Change button next to Set the Date and Time Manually.
After that, set the date to any date before 31st October 2021 and hit the Change button.
Verify if it is able to fix the Snipping Tool not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 2: Install an Old Version of Snipping Tool

If you have recently updated your PC to Windows 11, then there would be a Windows 10backed up folder by the name of Windows.old that would be having backed-up apps and system files, including the Snipping Tool. So as of now, we will be installing that Windows 10 version over the current one as performing this downgrade might fix the underlying issue

So bring up the File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys.
Then copy-paste the below location in the address bar and hit Enter:
```
C:/Windows.old/Windows/System32/
```
Now copy the SnippingTool.exe file from that directory, and then head over to the below location
```
C:/Windows/System32/
```
Then paste that copied SnippingTool.exe in this directory.
After that, head over to the below location:
```
C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\en-US\
```
Now copy the SnippingTool.exe.mui file from that folder paste it in the below location:
```
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\
```
If you get any prompt to replace files, reply in the affirmative (YES/OK).

Now check if the Snipping Tool not working issue on your Windows 11 PC has been fixed or not. If it works out for you, then you could also create a shortcut of the ‘working’ Snippet Tool onto your desktop. For that, head over to the location where you had pasted the SnippingTool.exe [C:/Windows/System32/], then right-click on that EXE file > Show More Options > Create a Shortcut.

FIX 3: Re-Enable Clipboard History

By default, the screenshots taken by the Snippet Tool are saved in the clipboard. So if there’s any sue with the clipboard, then its repercussion is bound to be faced by the apps that make use of it, including the Snippet Tool. Hence you should consider disabling and then re-enabling the Clipboard History, which could be done as follows:

Bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
Then go to the Clipboard section and disable the Clipboard history toggle.
Now wait for a few seconds and then re-enable that toggle.
Check if it manages to fix the Snipping Tool not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 4: Reset/Repair Snipping Tool

If the tool’s data has got corrupted, then repairing it or bringing it back to its factory default state might be the best route forward. And as of now, we will be trying both these approaches. Follow along:

To begin with, open the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
Then go to Apps > Apps and Features.
After that, scroll to the Snipping Tool app, click on the overflow icon next to it and select Advanced Options.
Now close the app by clicking on the Terminate button. After that, click on Repair and check if the underlying issue has been rectified or not.
If your answer is in a negative tone, then click on the Reset button and wait for the process to complete.
Once done, check if it manages to fix the Snipping Tool not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 5: Use the SFC and DISM Command

System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two command-line utility tools that scan for the corrupt Windows files and then replace them with their working counterpart. The major difference between the two is that the SFC replaces the corrupt files with the working ones from the cached directory on your PC.

On the other hand, DISM does so by downloading the working files from the online Microsoft servers. And as of now, we would be making use of both these tools to fix the ‘This app can’t open. A problem with Windows is preventing Screen Snipping from opening” error. Follow along.

To begin with, right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
Then click on the down arrow present next to the new tab icon and select Command Prompt from the list.
Once the CMD window is opened, copy-paste the below command to open the SFC Tool:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Once the SFC Scanning is complete, it’s time to use the DISM Tool. So copy-paste the below command:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```

Once DISM finishes the scanning, it is recommended to reboot your PC. Once it boots up, check if it is able to fix the Snipping Tool not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 6: Reinstall Snipping Tool

If none of the aforementioned methods spelled out success, then you should take the nuclear approach of uninstalling the currently installed Snipping Tool and then re-installing its latest build. Here’s how:

Head over to the Start Menu and launch PowerShell as an administrator.
Then copy-paste the below command to uninstall Snipping Tool from your PC
```
get-appxpackage *Microsoft.ScreenSketch* | remove-appxpackage
```
After that, execute the below command to re-install the Snipping Tool:
```
Get-AppXPackage *Microsoft.ScreenSketch* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
```
Once done, restart your PC and go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
Then disable Use the Print screen key to open Snipping Tool.
Check if it fixes Snipping Tool not working issue in Windows 11.

FIX 7: Uninstall Windows Security Update KB6006674

Some of the users were able to fix the Snipping Tool issue after uninstalling the Security Update KB6006674. However, with that, you will also end up losing Windows 11 right-click context menu, Windows 11 File Explorer, and the Windows 11 Display & Personalization menus. And to be fair, this is too much of a sacrifice to be made. However, if you are ready for the same, then here’s what you need to do:

Head over to the Setting page via the Start Menu.
Then select Windows Updates from the left menu bar and go to the Update History section.
After that, scroll to the bottom and click on Uninstall Updates.
Now select the Security Update KB5006674 and hit the Uninstall button situated at the top.
Reference Image
Finally, restart your PC and then check if the Snipping Tool not working error in Windows 11 has been fixed or not.

FIX 8: Try out Official/Unofficial Alternatives

If you aren’t able to make the Snipping Tool up and running, then for the time being you could consider using its alternatives. As far as the official alternatives are concerned, here are a few:

You could use the Print Screen key to capture all the contents on your screen. Then paste the screenshot in any app such as Paint and carry out the desired edit.
Likewise, you could also make use of the Windows+Print Screen shortcut keys to take a distraction-free screenshot. It will be saved in the following location:
```
C:\Users\(username)\OneDrive\Pictures\Screenshots
```
Apart from that, you could also make use of the Xbox Game Bar to take a screenshot. For that, you may use the Windows + Alt + Prt Scr shortcut keys. The screenshots are saved in the following directory:
```
C:\Users\UserName\Videos\Captures
```
As far as unofficial alternatives go, you could give a shot to the following apps:
- Greenshot: Download Link
- ShareX: Download Link
- Snipaste: Download Link
- Screenpresso: Download Link
- SnagIt (paid): Download Link

With this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the Windows 11 Snipping Tool not working. We have shared eight different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one worked out in your favor. Likewise, all your quires are welcomed in the comments below.

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