Snipping Tool Archives

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool now creates DIY animated GIFs

Microsoft has enhanced the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, allowing users to create animated GIFs directly from the application. This feature can be accessed using the Win + Shift + R shortcut and is currently available for Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels. The Snipping Tool now includes a "Create GIF" option, enabling users to record a selected screen area and save the animation as a GIF or share it directly. Users can export GIFs in "low" or "high quality," with a maximum length of 30 seconds, after which they can export as MP4. The feature supports multi-monitor setups and is exclusive to Insider versions of Windows 11 from build 11.2405.24.0, with a broader rollout anticipated in the summer.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Microsoft begins testing built-in GIF maker on Windows 11

Microsoft is enhancing the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 by introducing a feature that allows users to create GIFs. This feature is currently in early testing with Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels, with a broader rollout expected soon. Users can select a specific area of their screen to record and then convert the recorded video into a looping GIF. The Snipping Tool will also allow users to choose between high and low resolution for their GIFs and includes a new text extraction mode for copying text from images, as well as a visual search feature for identifying items in screenshots.

Winsage

June 19, 2025

GIF export in Snipping Tool begins rolling out to Windows Insiders

A new update for the Snipping Tool (version 11.2505.21.0) is now available for users in the Canary and Dev Channels on Windows 11. This update introduces a GIF export feature for screen recordings, allowing users to transform captures into shareable GIFs. Users can access the screen recorder by pressing Win + Shift + R or launching the app and switching to screen recording mode. After recording, a preview appears, and users can click the “Export GIF” button to choose GIF quality and save or copy the GIF. GIF export is limited to videos of 30 seconds or less, with the tool automatically exporting only the first 30 seconds for longer recordings.

Winsage

June 19, 2025

Microsoft Drops New Windows 11 Builds for Canary and Release Preview Testers

Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 preview builds for Insiders on the Canary and Release Preview Channels. The Canary build 27881 includes features such as: - Speech recap in Narrator for monitoring spoken content and live transcriptions. - A profanity filter setting for voice typing that can be disabled. - A redesigned needy state pill UI for taskbar icons. - An accessibility flyout in quick settings categorized by assistive technology types. - Enhanced Windows Share allowing image editing and sharing through the context menu. - A new FAQs section in Settings addressing common system questions. - Updated touch input visual design with "animating bubbles." ISOs for the Canary build 27881 are available for clean installs, and an updated Snipping Tool with GIF export is accessible for Insiders. The Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.4482 for the Release Preview Channel includes: - An option for the taskbar to automatically resize icons. - Enhanced Windows Share with visual previews and three image compression levels. - A Screen Curtain feature in Narrator for privacy. - A settings homepage tailored for managed PCs with enterprise features. - Updated app defaults in the EEA for selecting new default browsers. - A new PC-to-PC migration experience for transferring files and settings during setup. Additionally, Microsoft has released the Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.5548, which addresses issues from a previous build, and Windows 10 Insiders can access build 19045.6033 to rectify issues from an earlier release.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool gets a handy upgrade it should’ve had from day one

Microsoft has updated the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 to version 11.2504.38.0, introducing a built-in color picker that allows users to determine exact color values from their screen in HEX, RGB, and HSL formats. The color picker operates by hovering a dropper icon over any area of the screen. Users can also zoom in or out for precision using Ctrl and the +/- keys. Additionally, an AI-powered feature called Perfect Screenshot intelligently resizes screenshots based on selected content. Users can access this feature through keyboard shortcuts by holding the Ctrl key while invoking the Snipping Tool. These features are currently being tested for Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels, with a gradual rollout expected.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

Windows 11’s new Color Picker tool makes finding color codes a breeze

Windows 11 has introduced a new color picker tool that allows users to obtain HEX, RGB, and HSL color codes without third-party applications. This feature is part of an enhanced Snipping Tool, which includes automatic cropping and GIF conversion. Users can access the color picker by using the shortcut Win + Shift + S, where a dropper icon will appear, enabling them to hover over any color on their screen to see the corresponding color codes. This tool is currently in testing and available only to Windows Insiders with Snipping Tool version 11.2504.38.0 installed.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

Microsoft Notepad gets an AI makeover

Microsoft is introducing an AI-powered feature called “Write” to Notepad as part of the Copilot Plus initiative, transforming it into a more interactive tool. The “Write” feature allows users to generate and refine text by right-clicking within a document to access a prompt box powered by Windows Copilot. Users can submit ideas, and the AI drafts text based on the input, offering options to accept, refine, or restart the writing process. Microsoft is also enhancing Paint with an AI sticker generator and an object selection tool, and the Snipping Tool will feature automatic cropping and resizing of screenshots. Users must sign in with a Microsoft account and use a Windows 11 system with a Copilot Plus PC to access these new features, and a credit system will meter the use of the AI tools.

Winsage

May 25, 2025

Microsoft Notepad’s latest AI trick churns out custom text for you

Microsoft's Notepad app has been updated to include AI capabilities that allow users to generate custom content based on prompts, available to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscribers. Users can refine generated text through follow-up prompts and access the Copilot menu for content creation. Other Microsoft apps, such as Paint and the Snipping Tool, have also received AI enhancements, with Paint allowing for custom sticker creation and the Snipping Tool offering an automatic editing feature for screenshots. These updates will initially be available to Windows Insiders before wider release.

Winsage

May 24, 2025

Note, Paint and Snip With AI: Microsoft Adds New Features, but Not for Everyone

Notepad will soon include generative AI capabilities powered by Copilot, allowing users to assist in text creation by right-clicking and inputting instructions. This feature will be available only to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscribers. Paint will enable users to create custom stickers through prompts, but this feature will only be available on devices with Copilot Plus. The Snipping Tool will introduce a "perfect screenshot" capability accessible to all users, eliminating the need for manual cropping or resizing.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

Microsoft gives a trio of Windows 11 apps some nifty new AI powers, but not everyone will get them

Microsoft is enhancing its Windows 11 applications with AI-powered features, particularly in Notepad, Paint, and the Snipping Tool. Notepad will receive an AI-driven text generation feature in preview version 11.2504.46.0, allowing users to generate text by right-clicking in the document. This feature requires a Microsoft 365 subscription, providing 60 AI credits monthly for users on Personal or Family plans. The Snipping Tool will introduce a 'perfect screenshot' feature that refines selections for precise cropping and a color picker for identifying colors on-screen, supporting HEX, RGB, and HSL codes. Paint will feature a new 'welcome experience' to guide users, an AI object selection tool for easier editing, and a sticker generator for creating custom stickers based on prompts. These updates aim to integrate AI into everyday applications, although concerns exist about potential feature bloat in Notepad and the requirement for a Copilot+ PC with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for many features, which may limit accessibility.