KeyRoutines
StepFreescreen.screenshot

Take screenshots automatically on Windows 11 with a routine

Take screenshot captures a window, a part of the screen, one monitor or all of them. Save it as a file, copy it to the clipboard, or keep it just for the next steps of the routine.

How it works

  • Choose what to capture: a window, which is captured even when other windows cover it, a region you pick on screen, a monitor, or every monitor.
  • Save it to a file, by default in Pictures\Screenshots with the date and time in the name, copy it to the clipboard, or keep it as a temporary file that is deleted when the routine ends.
  • Give a file name ending in .png, .jpg, .bmp or .gif to choose the format; JPEG quality can be set from 1 to 100.
  • Minimized windows can't be captured, because Windows doesn't draw them.
  • Screenshots are refused while they could show a game protected by anti-cheat, so KeyRoutines never reads a protected game's screen.

Routines that use it

One-key window shot

A Hotkey captures the window in front and copies it to the clipboard, ready to paste into chat.

Hourly record

Every … 1 hour, capture a monitoring app's window to a dated file in a folder.

Screenshot and share

Capture a region for later steps, then Move or copy file puts it into a shared folder.

Settings

SettingWhat it does
OfWhat to capture: a window, a region of the screen, a monitor, or every monitor.
WindowThe window to capture, even when other windows cover it. Empty: the window in front.
RefadvancedA window from an earlier step, for example {{ steps.open_app.window }}.
RegionThe part of the screen to capture. Pick it on screen.
MonitorThe monitor to capture. Empty: the main monitor.
Save toWhere the picture goes: a file, the clipboard, or only later steps of this routine (deleted when it ends).
FileThe file to save. Empty: your Pictures\\Screenshots folder, named with the date and time. A folder ending in \\ gets that name inside it.
FormatadvancedThe picture's format. A file name ending in .png, .jpg, .bmp or .gif decides it instead.
QualityadvancedJPEG quality from 1 (smallest file) to 100 (best picture).

Good to know

  • Refused while a protected game is in front or covers the captured area.
  • Doesn't capture minimized or hidden windows.

Questions

Can I screenshot a window that's behind other windows?
Yes. Choose a window and it is captured on its own, even when other windows cover it. It just can't be minimized.
Where are the screenshots saved?
In Pictures\Screenshots, named with the date and time, unless you choose another file or folder. You can also send them to the clipboard instead.
Can it take screenshots of games?
Not of games protected by anti-cheat. KeyRoutines refuses to read the screen while one could appear in the picture.

Pairs well with

Build this routine in KeyRoutines

Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.