The snipping tool freezes when taking control of screen and you can not kill it since task manager does not stay on top of snippingtool. You still have access to taskbar but can not control any window since snipping tool is blocking that.
It took me a while but I found a work around that at least gives you a way to kill snipping tool in the future. You will need to change the setup of task manager first, to make sure it stays on top when running. You can do that by:
1) Hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc to invoke TaskManager
2) On TaskManager menu, select Options-Always on top
In this way if the same problem happens in the future you can still open taskmanager and try to kill snipping tool. I have note tested this yet but will do so and update this blog.
If you have a way to change the stay on top setup while you have the problem please let me know since this would be an even better way. Someone posted this option on the same link I show below but I could not make sense of the instructions:
This happened to me today on Windows 10 when the Snipping Tool froze while making the capture selection. I was able to get the Task Manager to show up by the following:
- Press the Windows key, then type Task Manager + Enter to open the Task Manager
- Press the Windows key again to get the Taskbar in focus
- Right click the system tray icon for the Task Manager and select "Always on top"
BTW, I have compiled this answer based on discussions and suggestions posted here: How to terminate program that takes over the screen.
I found other options but not sure they really work like this recomendation:
Snipping Tool Freezes
Run this command in command-line, and it will work Again:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c echo off | clip
30 comments:
Just wanted to let you know you are a life saver. I couldn't figure out how to deal with this without losing my data, which has happened a handful of times before. Thanks!
I am happy this helped you!
Thanks for that tip. I found another way to avoid losing data. I used Ctrl-Esc to get to the Windows menu, thinking I would just have to sign out. When I chose sign out, it listed all the apps I was running and asked if I was sure, and I responded by clicking Cancel. That cancelled my signout and also returned me to normal operation.
Had the same issue. Better way is to just kill the stupid thing by pressing the Windows key and typing:
taskkill /f /im SnippingTool.exe
Should kill it, cheers!
I have just been saved by your method. The way right above did not work to mine since there was no “Always on top” and this worked instantly. It was amazing to know it for not only snipping tool but for so many future problems. Thank you I really appreciate it! Kill it!!!
Great tip!
Thank you!!! Used this one: taskkill /f /im SnippingTool.exe
"Always on top". You are a life saver. I didnt want to reboot because I am connected to a ton of remote apps for work. Was trying to issue taskkill into the cli which worked, but was typing blind.... Lol
There two methods to fix this, both of which will have you flying blind for a while:
FIRST OPTION:
Note: You won't see any visible effect during this process.
1. Press Windows+R to open the Run interface (hold down the Windows key, press the R key, then let them both go).
2. Type "cmd" (without the quote marks), then press Enter.
3. Type "taskkill /F /IM SnippingTool.exe" (without the quotes), then press Enter.
Snipping Tool should close.
SECOND OPTION:
1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager (it will not be visible).
2. Press the Windows key to make the Start Menu & Task Bar visible.
3. Right-click the Task Manager icon (looks like a vertical rectangle with caring amounts of blue in it... when the mouse cursor rests over it, a pop-up will display, showing the percentage of CPU, Memory, etc., currently being used by your PC).
4. After a short time (be patient) a new menu will pop out (you will likely have to right-click twice)... select "Always on top".
5. After a short time, the Task Manager will show up... select either the Process tab, or the Details tab.
6. Right-click "Snipping tool.exe", select "End Task", then click the "End Process" button.
Note: These methods both work to fix the issue while the screen is actively locked up by Snipping Tool.
OP -- Thank you for figuring out "how" to get Task Manager to stay on top so I could terminate the Windows Snipping tool!! :)
On my Win 7 x64, The 'Snipping tool' explorer crashes started a few weeks ago. I searched Microsoft Support iand found a few items to check in the registry, but all was ok.
I then thought I would check my startup programs to see if one was the problem. It was and I fixed it by disabling a program in my startup options..( this could of been any program but in this case it was my 'Logitech Setpoint' program that was causing the problem.
Below are the steps I used to resolve this issue:
1. I clicked my 'Start Button' on my task bar (Icon that looks like the Windows Logo), and in the search bar I typed in 'system' and selected the 'system configuration' option when it showed up
2. After it opened I selected the "Start" tab and looked for non essential programs and unchecked the Logitech 'Setpoint' program... (I got lucky as this was my first program I selected to remove from startup.)
3. rebooted and my snipping tool works fine now.
Hopes this helps... plus any program that you disable from startup that isn't the problem can easily be restored back to its original configuration by re-checking its box.
The only ISSUE I see here is how to end the Snipping Tools, but What about how to fix the main ISSUE which is: The new Windows 10 screen snip not working freeze. when I open it and snipped any area it freeze there it won't show what was snipped it just stays freeze on the area snipped. I can end the task but I need the tool working.
TaskKill saved me!!
Thank you a million time !! I was pretty much done with a long class project when this happened. I read many other methods posted, but they just weren't working for. I tried yours and boom!! I'm straight :)
yes the kill the stupid thing did the job. prevented me from data loss by shutting down pc. great!!
Actual live saver
Thank you thank you thank you!!!
you saved my life!
This won’t work for me I tried the keys and everything
These are all work-a-rounds ... as someone "unknown" stated how do you fix the frigging problem in the first place?
Only Microsoft can push you into a new POS Operating System that doesn't work, when the previous was adequate once patched ... er ... were's the patch for this conundrum?
I was able to resolve the issue by pressing the N key. This worked probably because there was an invisible dialog box not showing up asking the user to press yes or no.
This worked for me without having to shut down and lose my work. Thank you so much!!
GREAT save - thanks very much for sharing! Now to educate all of my staff to use "Snip & Sketch" instead of the Snipping Tool...
This Worked great. I had to act quickly and hit cancel, as it was going to shutdown entirely. Thank you!
Excellent. thanks
Over two years later and wow am I thankful!!
Thanks for this tip, but it's not quite a solution. Some bug apears in this software. I have installed https://app.prntscr.com/ which is simmlar like snipping tool, not complicated and easy to use.
I have enough freezing my comp with snipping tool.
I solved this by doing the following:
Pressed windows key to make task bar active
Made sure I selected the Snipping tool
Pressed Alt+F4 to quit the app
Supposing let the window appeared, asking if I wanted to save the selected (I recognized this by the sound)
Pressed the button to move right and Enter (Not to save)
And solved.
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