Share via

Snipping tool randomly closing

timo zheng 25 Reputation points
2026-02-13T23:21:16.48+00:00

So Windows isn't letting me record and randomly closing snipping tool/snip & sketch meaning I can't record is there a fix?.

(yes my ms store can't download apps cuz I have low storage)

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps
0 comments No comments
{count} votes

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Hendrix-V 11,780 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-02-15T00:00:35.8466667+00:00

    Hi timo zheng,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    I understand your frustration when Snipping Tool closes unexpectedly or won’t start screen recording on Windows 11. In addition to Q&A Assist's answer, here's a list of the possible checking steps that you can consider:

    1 - Repair the Snipping Tool app

    • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps
    • Find Snipping Tool > select Advanced options
    • Select Repair (or Reset if needed)

    2 - Reinstall Snipping Tool

    • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps
    • Uninstall Snipping Tool
    • Reinstall it from the Microsoft Store

    3 - Check privacy and updates

    • Go to Settings > Privacy & security
    • Ensure screen capture permissions are enabled
    • Open Windows Update and install all available updates, then restart

    If screen recording is urgent, Clipchamp (included with Windows 11) can be used for screen recordings while you troubleshoot.

    Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.


    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.


  2. TaoLi 69,595 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-14T03:01:49.4433333+00:00

    Hello,

    Open PowerShell (as Administrator) and enter:

    get-appxpackage *Microsoft.ScreenSketch* | remove-appxpackage

    Then open Microsoft Store, search for Snipping Tool, reinstall it, and see if this resolves the issue.


  3. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-13T23:21:24.9333333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    If the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch is randomly closing and you're unable to record, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

    1. Update the App: Ensure that you have the latest version of Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch. The Snipping Tool is now updated via the Microsoft Store, so check for updates there.
    2. Check System Requirements: Make sure your system meets the requirements for screen recording, especially if you're using Windows 11, as some features may be limited based on your version.
    3. Restart the App: Sometimes simply closing and reopening the app can resolve temporary glitches.
    4. Check for Conflicting Software: Other applications that use screen recording or graphics processing might conflict with Snipping Tool. Try closing those applications.
    5. Reset the App: You can reset the Snipping Tool through the app settings in Windows. Go to Settings > Apps > Snipping Tool > Advanced options, and select the reset option.
    6. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows operating system is fully updated, as updates can fix bugs and improve performance.

    If the issue persists after trying these steps, you may want to look into whether there are any specific policies or settings that might be affecting the Snipping Tool's functionality, such as the AllowScreenRecorder policy which controls access to screen recording features.


    References:

    0 comments No comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.