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Windows 11⏱ 3 min

How to Annotate a Screenshot on Windows 11

Add arrows, text, and highlights to a screenshot using built-in tools.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Windows builds annotation into the Snipping Tool workflow — after a capture, clicking the notification banner opens the image directly in Snipping Tool's editor, which includes a ballpoint pen, highlighter, and eraser. For more powerful annotation with shapes, arrows, and text boxes, the screenshot opens cleanly in Paint or Paint 3D, both of which ship with Windows and support adding callouts without installing third-party software. The annotated file can then be saved over the original or exported as a new file in your preferred format.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Take a screenshot with Windows + Shift + S, then click the preview notification to open Snipping Tool. Use the pen, highlighter, and text tools in the toolbar.
  2. 2Add callout arrows and text labels to draw clear attention to specific areas.
  3. 3Save or share the annotated image using the Done / Share button in the editor.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I annotate a screenshot on Windows 11 without installing anything?
Yes. Take a screenshot with Windows + Shift + S and click the notification to open it in Snipping Tool, which has built-in pen, highlighter, and text tools.
How do I add an arrow to a screenshot on Windows 11?
Open the screenshot in Snipping Tool or Photos. In Snipping Tool, use the pen to draw arrows manually. For pre-made arrow shapes, open the file in Paint and use the Shapes > Arrow tool.
How do I blur or hide sensitive information in a screenshot?
In Snipping Tool, draw over the sensitive area with the pen or a filled shape in a solid colour to obscure it. For pixel-blur specifically, use Paint 3D or a free tool like ShareX.
Does annotating a screenshot on Windows 11 overwrite the original?
Built-in annotation tools save the annotated version as the same file by default. If you need both the original and annotated version, duplicate the file first before opening it for editing.

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