How to Grab a Screenshot in Excel in 60 Seconds

Screenshots are perfect for adding an illustration to your Excel workbook. You might be using Excel to create documentation or work instructions for someone. Instead of using a separate app to grab and edit screenshots, you can do this right inside Excel. Let's learn how.

How to Quickly Grab Screenshots Inside Excel

Note: Watch this short tutorial screencast or follow the quick steps below, that compliment this video.

1. Open the Excel Screenshot Windows

Start off by making sure that you're on the Insert tab in Excel. Then, find the Screenshot button here on the ribbon. When you click on it, you'll see thumbnails for the other open apps on your computer.

2. Insert Your Snapshot into Excel Workbook

You can click any one of these window thumbnails to add a screenshot of the entire app inserted into your Excel workbook.

3. Format and Crop Your Screenshot in Excel

From there, you could crop the snapshot by using the Picture Tools' Format option. You can drag the handles to select only the part you want to keep and then press Crop to lock it in.

Apply Crop to your Excel Screenshot after formatting.

4. Use the Screen Clipping Option

Another option is to choose Insert > Screenshot and then choose Screen Clipping. Now you can click and drag to select certain parts of the screen that you want to select.

Screen Clipping in Excel — Take screen clippings in Excel for more control over your snapshots.

After you do that, you'll jump back to Excel and you'll add the selection to your file as a screenshot. You can use all of the normal Picture Tools to edit your snapshot as needed.

Finishing Up!

Taking screenshots or screen clippings directly inside Excel will save you time, when you need to add snapshots into your workbooks.