Snipping Tool - How to turn off auto- generated lines arrows etc

Question

Snipping Tool - How to turn off auto- generated lines arrows etc

Erich Friesen 30

When I use the built-in Windows 11 snipping tool I frequently want to sketch over the item I have made a snip of. I have no desire for anything other than what I sketch, but sometimes the sketched line turns into an automatically generated vector line with end points, or even worse an arrow, which seems to be a vector object. I have no desire or need for those items and find this interfering with what I am trying to sketch. Is there a possible way to turn this feature off? I just want the sketches that I make, and do not want anything to be converted into vector objects.

KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-05T18:36:33.9933333+00:00

I agree that this is an issue. I never had this issue with the Snipping tool in Windows 10. Very annoying.
Erich Friesen 30 Reputation points

2025-06-05T21:55:39.2266667+00:00

Thank You KD! I have spoken to a number of users that I work with and almost uniformly they find the auto-generated vector object a feature that no one ever wanted or asked for and we really wish that there would be a way to turn this off. The suggestion to open MS Paint or some other program is wholly inappropriate, as the utility of the snipping tool is its availability to make a quick snip of on-screen content, for example during an MS Teams call. To add yet another two or three steps to what should be a single keypress, is going the wrong direction-user want the immediacy of sketching over something not the requirement to jump through two other programs before doing so. Frustrating that MS does not seem to understand this.
Reza-Ameri 45,816 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-06T15:05:39.9033333+00:00

Hi,

Would you mind share screenshot of issue , so we could see example of what is happening?
KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-09T23:05:14.6933333+00:00

@Reza-Ameri Sure, here's a screenshot. I was trying to write "Troy" but the the sketching tool turned everything into a straight line.
Reza-Ameri 45,816 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-10T20:25:37.02+00:00

Hi KD,

Unfortunately, we couldn't see your screenshot, would you mind try to upload it again.
KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-18T17:14:39.74+00:00

@Reza-Ameri

trying to sketch an outline the borders of an area, literally had it just right, then the snipping tool turned it into a dang oval. Unhelpful, irritating, and a waste of my time. The tool was perfectly fine before the update. Seriously this one basic tool was the main reason I stuck with Windows instead of Mac. Come on, Microsoft.
Henry White 0 Reputation points

2025-07-13T22:11:31.7166667+00:00

Here is an image of the ANNOYING "arrow line" (in green) that auto-generates when you try to draw any type of line. Snippet Tool will automatically turn all lines (even squiggly lines) into a straight "arrow line" . There's NO setting to disable the automatic "arrow lines" from populating. You can NO longer make squiggly or bent lines; as Snippet Tool will automatically change it into a straight "arrow line". SO ANNOYING !!!!!
Thomas Newsom 0 Reputation points

2025-10-30T11:43:51.58+00:00

This feature is extremely annoying, especially when using a pen. I am quite capable of drawing things, but Snipping Tool always thinks it knows better and ruins what I draw. It's kind of useful when drawing with a mouse, but even then it does more harm than good. Please please please add an option to turn it off.
Leszczynski, Thomas (Naugatuck) 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T15:35:04.8733333+00:00

My snipping tool ballpoint pen suddenly stopped free drawing and became a permanent line tool. Bad job Microsoft! Shame on all those involved!

The solution is to stop using the product, as noted by other users ("just" use paint! which MS also messed up). The cause of these issues is that the rulers of MS do not care as they have ever-increasing levels power and money, thus, all of their products will continue to degrade until competition emerges.

6 answers

Your answer

KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-05T18:36:33.9933333+00:00

I agree that this is an issue. I never had this issue with the Snipping tool in Windows 10. Very annoying.
Erich Friesen 30 Reputation points

2025-06-05T21:55:39.2266667+00:00

Thank You KD! I have spoken to a number of users that I work with and almost uniformly they find the auto-generated vector object a feature that no one ever wanted or asked for and we really wish that there would be a way to turn this off. The suggestion to open MS Paint or some other program is wholly inappropriate, as the utility of the snipping tool is its availability to make a quick snip of on-screen content, for example during an MS Teams call. To add yet another two or three steps to what should be a single keypress, is going the wrong direction-user want the immediacy of sketching over something not the requirement to jump through two other programs before doing so. Frustrating that MS does not seem to understand this.
Reza-Ameri 45,816 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-06T15:05:39.9033333+00:00

Hi,

Would you mind share screenshot of issue , so we could see example of what is happening?
KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-09T23:05:14.6933333+00:00

@Reza-Ameri Sure, here's a screenshot. I was trying to write "Troy" but the the sketching tool turned everything into a straight line.
Reza-Ameri 45,816 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-10T20:25:37.02+00:00

Hi KD,

Unfortunately, we couldn't see your screenshot, would you mind try to upload it again.
KD 10 Reputation points

2025-06-18T17:14:39.74+00:00

@Reza-Ameri

trying to sketch an outline the borders of an area, literally had it just right, then the snipping tool turned it into a dang oval. Unhelpful, irritating, and a waste of my time. The tool was perfectly fine before the update. Seriously this one basic tool was the main reason I stuck with Windows instead of Mac. Come on, Microsoft.
Henry White 0 Reputation points

2025-07-13T22:11:31.7166667+00:00

Here is an image of the ANNOYING "arrow line" (in green) that auto-generates when you try to draw any type of line. Snippet Tool will automatically turn all lines (even squiggly lines) into a straight "arrow line" . There's NO setting to disable the automatic "arrow lines" from populating. You can NO longer make squiggly or bent lines; as Snippet Tool will automatically change it into a straight "arrow line". SO ANNOYING !!!!!
Thomas Newsom 0 Reputation points

2025-10-30T11:43:51.58+00:00

This feature is extremely annoying, especially when using a pen. I am quite capable of drawing things, but Snipping Tool always thinks it knows better and ruins what I draw. It's kind of useful when drawing with a mouse, but even then it does more harm than good. Please please please add an option to turn it off.
Leszczynski, Thomas (Naugatuck) 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T15:35:04.8733333+00:00

My snipping tool ballpoint pen suddenly stopped free drawing and became a permanent line tool. Bad job Microsoft! Shame on all those involved!

The solution is to stop using the product, as noted by other users ("just" use paint! which MS also messed up). The cause of these issues is that the rulers of MS do not care as they have ever-increasing levels power and money, thus, all of their products will continue to degrade until competition emerges.

Answer 1

There is a way to do everything asked above. There is a Freehand Mode and a Shape Mode, as I understand it.

If we click on the Pen or Highlighter Tool Buttons then drawing commences in Freehand Mode.
If we click on the Shapes Tool Button then drawing commences in Shape Mode.
If we work in Freehand and our shape is unintentionally converted to a fixed shape pressing Undo/Ctrl-Z backs up one move and we get the freehand shape again.

Therefore a simple click on the right Tool Button before starting to draw is all it takes.

If we start to draw directly and notice that the Mode is not the one we desire, then we can just Undo and click the right Tool Button.

Answer 2

ChrisP-9353 0

Well this is actually a nice feature... If you do not want your sketch to turn into an auto-shape then do not hold the mouse button for too long at the end. But for me, when i want my ugly manual sketched lines to transform into nice lines, or boxes, or circles, i just keep holding the mouse button after drawing and then Snipping Tool converts it.

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Answer 3

ChrisP-9353 0

See how it works here...
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/windows11/windows-snipping-tool-tips-neat-lines--shapes-with-draw--hold/4399451

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Answer 4

Jacob Graham 0

I love the snip tool!

Just click the 'edit in paint' button after you snip. Top right hand corner. User's image

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Answer 5

S.Sengupta 30,781 MVP Volunteer Moderator

The Windows Snipping Tool does not have a built-in toggle to disable auto-shape or arrow detection.

If you get a Classic Snipping Tool (older) then that doesn’t force vector object creation.

Alternatively use Paint, right after the snip, click "Open with Paint" — it provides raw sketching with no auto-conversion.

There are third party tools also. There is Registry edit also- but avoid such.

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Snipping Tool - How to turn off auto- generated lines arrows etc

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