Screenshot - How to Change Default File Name to Date-Time Format

Question

Is it possible to configure Windows 11 to save screenshots with a date-time format as the file name?

I use multiple computers running Windows 11 and need to manage thousands of screenshot files, many of which have duplicate names. Of course, I can sort them by date, but the main issue is that the filenames often repeat, forcing the system to rename them automatically.

This is very inefficient and not elegant.

***Moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Ustawienia***

Answer 1

Hello Paul,

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

If you use the Windows screenshot shortcut + Shift + S or use the Print Screen quick screenshot, the screenshot will be quickly pasted to the clipboard, and these screenshots will eventually be named Screenshot (***), which is a native system function, cannot be changed.

If it is possible to get a screenshot of the displayed date without the help of third-party tools, that is, open the built-in system snipping tool directly, then click "+" in the upper left corner to take a screenshot, and then click the "Save" icon on the right. At this point, you will see the option to save the file as. In the screenshot name column, the following format is generated by default:

Screenshot xxxx-xx-xx

However, I may be able to share with you an additional scheme. You can still use the native system screenshot function, but you can rename existing files in bulk using scripts:

1. Search for "Powershell" in the taskbar and run it as administrator.
2. Then enter the following command: Get-ChildItem "C:\Users\ user name \Pictures\Screenshots*.png" | rent-item-newname {"Screenshot_$(Get-Date-Format 'yyyy-MM-dd_HHmmss')$($.Name)" }

This script adds a date and time prefix to files in the screenshots folder.

Best regards

Mitchella | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Hi Pawel,

It's nice to know that my response gave you some inspiration and that you eventually refined the commands to make this option feasible.

Thank you very much for sharing the screenshot steps here, any kind sharing is meant to be appreciated.

I believe this information can help other customers with similar needs.

At the end let me explain to you that we are community support and not affiliated with Microsoft. I understand that you would like to have this functionality built into system without having to use cumbersome commands to do so. However, I recommend that you submit this suggestion via the Feedback Center:

Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app - Microsoft Support

Maybe one day your suggestion will be applied to Windows.

Have a good day.

Best Regards,

Mitchell | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 3

Hi, thanks Mitchella! The script works best for me. I had to make some modifications to fit my needs better.
BTW, please consider adding native support for date-time formatting for screenshots in the Windows Operating System.

Modified Script ( It runs on Desktop\TEST folder )
Get-ChildItem "C:\Users\MCL\Desktop\TEST\*.png" |

ForEach-Object {

$fileTime = $\_.LastWriteTime.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd\_HHmmss") 

$originalName = $\_.BaseName -replace "Screenshot\s\*\(\d+\)", "" 

$extension = $\_.Extension 

$newName = "Screenshot\_$fileTime`\_$originalName$extension" 

Rename-Item -Path $\_.FullName -NewName $newName -Force 

}
Results: