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Disable Print Screen keyboard shortcut for Snipping Tool

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script prevents the Print Screen key from launching the Snipping Tool.

This is the default Windows behavior starting from Windows 11 22H2 1.

The script targets the HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard\PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled registry key. This key toggles the setting "Use the Print screen button to open screen snipping" in the control panel 1 2 3. Changing this setting through the user interface also modifies this registry entry 3. This key is absent by default in modern Windows versions, confirmed through testing starting with Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 23H2, which indicates that the Print Screen shortcut is enabled.

Applying these changes requires restarting File Explorer (explorer.exe) 3. Both explorer.exe 4 and Taskbar.dll 5 reads this configuration at startup.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Remove Snipping Tool category. This category addresses privacy risks related to the Snipping Tool (also called screen capture) and its earlier forms, Snip & Sketch and Screen Sketch. The Snipping Tool enables users to capture screenshots and record their screens. This capability can expose sensitive... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Print Screen keyboard shortcut for Snipping Tool.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Set the registry value: "HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard!PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard' /v 'PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Suggest restarting explorer.exe for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'This script will not take effect until you restart explorer.exe. You can restart explorer.exe by restarting your computer or by running following on command prompt: `taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer`.'; $warn =  $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Delete the registry value "HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard!PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKCU\Control Panel\Keyboard' /v 'PrintScreenKeyForSnippingEnabled' /f 2>$null"
:: Suggest restarting explorer.exe for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'This script will not take effect until you restart explorer.exe. You can restart explorer.exe by restarting your computer or by running following on command prompt: `taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer`.'; $warn =  $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"

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