With the vast amount of software available for Windows, it is easy to find yourself in a situation where your Windows + Shift + S shortcut is not working. If you’re like many people, this could be getting annoying.
The Windows + Shift + S shortcut is a default OneNote hotkey to allow users to take screen clippings of the full computer screen or apart.
However, some people are facing an issue where this key isn’t working and they get an error message saying “The Snipping Tool window has been disabled”.
The good news is that there’s an easy way to fix the issue and get your computer back up and running in no time. All it takes is a few simple steps and you’ll have your shortcut working again!
Let’s see what it all looks like!
Methods
Solution on Windows + Shift + S Is not Working issue
We have practically performed the below methods to help you out from the Windows + Shift + S issue.
let’s do it step by step.
Method 1: Resetting Snip & Sketchif Windows + Shift + S Is not Working
If you are using the snip and sketch feature, it’s possible that Windows 10/ 11 is interfering with this function. The snip and sketch feature is a third-party application that turns your computer into a drawing pad.
This method will show you how to fix Windows + Shift + S not working in Windows 10 by resetting snip and sketch.
1) Go to Start > search for “snip &sketch“
2) Right Click and select the “App setting” option.
3) You’ll then be taken to the following screen; click on the “Reset” tab.
4) and, then restart your computer.
5) When you restart your computer, the problem should be fixed!
If you’re having Windows + Shift + S not working in Windows 10/ 11, you should enable clipboard history.
To do this, all you have to do is hold down the Windows key and press the ‘Windows+V’ key.
This will open up a little menu on your screen with a few options.
Scroll through the menu until you see Clipboard History, then click it to enable it.
That’s all there is to it!
Now, when you type something into your computer’s keyboard, it will go straight into your clipboard!
Method 4: Use PrntScrn instead of Win + Shift + S
Keep in mind that if you don’t have a problem with Windows + S not working, then this tutorial is not for you.
If you’re wondering what the problem is, then here’s what to do.
Press PrntScrn instead of Win + Shift + S so that when you press the button on your keyboard, a screenshot will be taken and saved to your clipboard.
You can then paste the screenshot into Paint or some other image-editing program and save it as a new image.
Then go back to your computer and see if that worked!
Method 5: Uninstalling Snip & Sketch and then Installing Again
If you are facing the problem with Windows + Shift + S not working in Windows 10/ 11, you can fix it by uninstalling and then reinstalling an app that is causing the issue.
The first step to fixing this issue is to uninstall Snip & Sketch. To do so:
1) Click on the Start button
2) Type “setting” into the search bar
3) Click on “Apps” in the setting results
4) Go to the Apps & features option on the right side.
5) Scroll till you find Snip & Sketch app.
6) Click on “Uninstall”
7) Follow the instructions to uninstall and restart your computer
8) After reinstalling it, open up a new sketch and try again.
Method 6: Changing the OneNote Hotkey Via Regedit
If you aren’t able to open OneNote due to Windows + Shift + S not working, try changing the hotkey via Regedit. You can do so by following this guide:
1. Launch Regedit by typing regedit in the search bar at the bottom of your taskbar on Windows 10/ 11.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon in the registry editor.
3. Now, right-click Winlogon and click Edit > New > Dword (32-bit) Value then name it OneNoteLauncher. Set the value data to 1 and click OK twice.
4. Navigate back to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon in Regedit and right-click Winlogon again; select New > Dword (32-bit) Value then name it ShellNewWndPID and set its value data to 1 as well.
5. Close Regedit and launch OneNote once more by pressing Windows + R, type one note in the box, then press Enter/Return on your keyboard or click the OneNote icon on your taskbar and enjoy!
The easiest way to fix this problem is by performing a system restore. This process will return your computer to the state before you updated to Windows 10, so it should fix the issue.
Open the Run command search box, type rstrui, and hit OK to open the System Restore window.
select a preferred Date and Time from the list and click Next.
But even if you perform a system restore, there’s still no guarantee that Windows + Shift + S will work again. If that doesn’t work for you, then see if one of these other tips fixes the problem for you:
One of the most common reasons why Windows + Shift + S is not working in Windows 10 is because of incompatible 3rd party software.
If you notice that Windows + Shift + S does not work and you’re using Microsoft Edge, it’s likely that your computer has been infected by a virus that is preventing the key combination from working.
The best way to fix this problem is to do a system restore using System Restore.
This will allow your computer to go back to its original state, without viruses or malware.
Method 9:Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
If you’re not familiar with the term ‘clean boot’, it means shutting down your computer, starting it up in a clean state, and then installing all drivers from scratch.
This is the best way to troubleshoot problems associated with Windows + Shift + S not working.
To do this, follow these steps:
1) Shut down your computer and wait until it shuts off completely (unplug the power cord).
2) Remove all peripherals, memory cards, and anything else connected to your computer that might be causing a problem.
3) Plugin one USB stick with a fresh copy of Windows 10 on it.
4) Restart your computer and press F8 during the startup process to enter into Safe Mode.
5) Open Device Manager and locate any unidentified devices that are missing or stopped displaying drivers (just make sure you have at least one device plugged in).
This should be if you don’t see any devices under “Human Interface Devices,” “USB Controllers,” or “Unknown Devices.” You should also see any other unidentified devices that are missing drivers in “Other Devices” or “Lanman Workstation.”
6) Double-click on each device that has no driver installed to uninstall the current Windows driver and install a new driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Make sure you get the latest driver for each device as some manufacturers release updated versions out of support for older models every few months.
Method 10: Physically clean the keys
One thing you should do before trying to fix a problem with the keys is physically clean the keyboard.
If you have spilled coffee, there’s a chance that something was left on the keyboard and it is causing problems when pressing certain keys.
When it comes to cleaning your keyboard, you can use a soft cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe down each key.
What causes for Windows + Shift + S Is not Working ?
The problem with Windows + Shift + S not working in Windows 10 could be caused by one of two things.
The first possibility is that the issue is caused by the hardware, and it isn’t much you can do about it.
Your computer might be having compatibility issues with the keyboard or mouse (usually referred to as an input device) that you are using.
This reason seems to be confirmed by many users who also experience this issue on older versions of Windows, like Windows 7.
The second possibility is that the problem is caused by a driver update on your computer.
If you have recently updated your driver, then you may need to uninstall the old one and reinstall the new one before the problem will fix itself. If this is the case, then follow these steps:
Log into your computer using either a Microsoft account or a local account Login as administrator Delete any leftover files for previous versions of drivers Uninstall all versions of drivers restart your computer Wait for Windows to install all new drivers and restart it
If neither of these suggestions works for you, then you might need to reinstall Windows 10 completely! This solution should only be used in extreme cases when other methods have failed.
