Is your snipping tool broken? Here’s How to Repair It

The Snipping Tool is a critical component of every Windows operating system; it enables users to take, modify, and save screenshots straight to their computer.
However, the software hasn’t been the most reliable since Windows Vista. Even after we upgraded to Windows 10 and 11, the Snipping tool continued to have unusual difficulties. Such problems cause the “Snipping tool not functioning” message to appear frequently, which might impede your operation and slow you down.
We’ve identified a few reasons why the Snipping Tool can stop functioning and how to simply fix them. Let’s have a look at how to cope with them.
1. Restart the Windows File Explorer
Let’s begin by getting to the bottom of the issue. Because the Snipping Tool is a subset of the File Explorer service, it is most likely that the issue originated there. If File Explorer becomes inactive, so does the Snipping Tool.
As a result, restarting File Explorer may remove whatever is preventing the Snipping Tool from functioning properly. To do so, press Ctrl + Alt + Del and then choose Task Manager. Alternatively, you may enter the Task Manager by pressing CTRL + Shift + ESC.
Scroll down to Windows Explorer and right-click on it. Select Restart from the drop-down option that displays.
While File Explorer restarts, you may notice some strange changes to your desktop. The taskbar, for example, will disappear, and your desktop background will become entirely black. This is completely typical since all of these aspects depend on File Explorer. When you restart the service, all of these pieces are forced to restart as well.
When everything seems to be in order, open and use the Snipping Tool.
2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
For 90% of folks, restarting Windows File Explorer should have fixed the problem. If it didn’t, you have two options: look for alternative methods to take screenshots on your Windows PC or find out why your Snipping Tool isn’t functioning.
If you choose the latter option, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter next. You may use it by following the steps below:
- By hitting Win + I, you may access the Settings menu.
- Select Update and Security.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Additional Troubleshooters from the left-hand panel. Then, choose the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
- In the Windows search box, type ‘System configuration’ to enter the System Configuration panel.
3. Look for Interfering Third-Party Software
A freshly downloaded software may sometimes interfere with the smooth operation of the Snipping Tool. If you want to get to the bottom of this riddle, one guaranteed approach is to follow the procedures outlined below:
- Switch to the Services tab at the top, and then at the bottom, pick the option to conceal all Microsoft services. Disable any services that you believe are interfering with the Snipping Tool.
- After you’ve disabled it, try running the Snipping Tool again. If it works, it signifies that the program was incompatible with the Snipping Tool. It should be left deactivated in order for your Windows Snipping Tool to function correctly.
- In the Windows Search box, type “Command Prompt” and execute it as administrator. To do so, either choose Run as Administrator from the right-hand panel or right-click the search result and select Run as Administrator.
- In Command Prompt, type:sfc /scannow… and press Enter.
If all else fails and your Snipping Tool continues to malfunction, you may use the scannow command to repair and restore the damaged files that are causing it to malfunction. You may do this by using the Command Prompt function. This is how you can accomplish it:
- Once completed, type:snippingtool.exe…to manually run the Snipping Tool. Check to check whether the problem has not been resolved.
- From the context menu, pick Settings from the Windows icon.
- On the Settings screen, click the Privacy option.
Snipping Tool may also fail to function if it is not granted permission to operate in the background. This indicates that the app will not function unless you are engaged in the app’s window. To fix this, perform these steps to allow the Snipping Tool’s program to operate in the background:
- Scroll down to the left side to find Background applications.
- Look for Snip & Sketch in the app list and make sure it’s turned on.
- Right-click on the Windows icon and choose Device Manager from the menu that appears.
- Expand Display adapters, then right-click on the available driver.
6. Update Graphics Drivers
A non-functioning Snipping Tool might be caused by obsolete or faulty graphic drivers. Their primary function is to capture and transform the screenshot into a format that the Windows device can comprehend.
If it is out of date, it will not properly translate the pictures and will become incompatible with your machine, resulting in the “Snipping Tool not functioning” message. As a result, in this case, the key is to upgrade these drivers to the most recent build. To do this:
- Select Update driver > Search for drivers automatically. The system will rapidly look for and install any accessible drivers.
- Navigate to Display adapters, expand it, and right-click on the available driver.
- Select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. The system will quickly scan for any available drivers and install them.
- Restart your Windows device.
The Snipping Tool’s value cannot be overstated since it is related with capturing screenshots. Screenshots are a convenient method to share data, and being unable to utilize this feature might put you in a bind.
There is no question that the Snipping Tool is a crucial component of the Windows operating system; thus, it is also critical to fully use its capability. Knowing all of the important tips and tricks, shortcuts, and how to create your own hotkeys can make capturing, editing, and saving screenshots on your Windows PC much simpler.
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