How to Fix Windows Shift S Not Working

The Snipping Tool has provided us with a lot of ease, just hit Windows + Shift + S simultaneously, and you’re snapping a screenshot in seconds. It even does you a favor by allowing you to crop on the spot, so you’re essentially free from needing a third-party tool that you'd otherwise have to install, open, and fiddle with. But if you were left disappointed after seeing it not work for you, there might be a few simple things you’ll want to run through. In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how to fix Windows Shift S not working.

Releasing Your Windows Button if Windows Shift + S Not Working

You rely on screenshots more often than you realize, until the keyboard shortcut fails and breaks your flow. There have been times when it wouldn’t work for me either, and I know how frustrating it can be when something so simple, like the Windows button not working, suddenly slows you down. Thankfully, I’ve found a few ways to work around the issue when the Windows button isn’t working. Let’s go over some solutions that helped me fix the problem.

Method 1: Checking if Your Windows Button Was Locked

Yes, this is a real issue, and there have been plenty of cases where users find their Windows key locked, so naturally, you’ll notice the Windows button not working. Here’s how you can quickly unlock it and get back to your routine. If the Windows key is locked, try one of these shortcuts:

• Esc + Windows Key

• Fn + Windows Key

• Press the Windows Key twice

Method 2: Disabling Gaming Mode on Your Keyboard

Some gaming keyboards let you disable the Windows key using a hardware switch or an Fn key combination. It’s meant to prevent accidental interruptions during gameplay. If you find the Windows Shift + S not working, this gaming mode could be the reason.

Here’s how you can turn off gaming mode on popular keyboards:

Method 3: Updating Keyboard Driver

The Windows keyboard driver can also be the reason why your Windows button is not working. In such cases, simply updating the driver can fix the issue and restore full key functionality. Here’s how you can update your keyboard driver:

Step 1: Start by using the Windows search bar in the taskbar and open “Device Manager”.

Step 2: In Device Manager, look for “Keyboards” and click the small arrow next to it to expand the list of keyboards installed on your system.

Step 3: Right-click on your keyboard and select the “Update driver” option from the context menu.

Step 4: You’ll be asked how you’d like to update the keyboard driver:

• Search automatically: This option looks online for the latest driver, downloads it, and installs it automatically. Make sure you’re connected to a stable internet connection.

• Browse my computer: If your keyboard manufacturer provides drivers on their website, you can download them manually and choose this option to install.

Step 5: The installation will begin and your driver should be updated within a few moments. After that, restart your system to apply the changes.

Tip: If you have multiple keyboards connected, repeat the same steps to update each one individually.

Restarting Windows Explorer if Windows Shift + S Not Working

Sometimes the shortcut fails due to a minor system bug, and a quick restart of Windows Explorer can resolve it. Here's how you can do that:

Step 1: First, open “Task Manager” by pressing the “CTRL + ALT + DEL” shortcut and then selecting Task Manager from the menu.

Step 2: In the “Processes” tab, find the “Windows Explorer” app and click the “Restart” button to restart it.

Tip: To find it faster, press the “W” key on your keyboard, it'll jump to apps starting with ‘W’.

Resetting Snip & Sketch App if Windows Shift + S Not Working

The next method to get your Windows + Shift + S shortcut working again is by resetting the Snipping Tool from the app settings. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Use the search bar in your taskbar to look for “Apps & features”, then click on the matching result to open it.

Step 2: In the Apps & features window, search for “Snipping Tool/Snip & Sketch” using the built-in search bar, or scroll through the list to find it manually.

Step 3: Click on the More options (three-dot menu) next to Snipping Tool and select “Advanced options”.

Step 4: You’ll be taken to the Snipping Tool’s advanced settings. Scroll down to the Reset section and click the “Reset” button.

Running System File Checker (SFC) on Windows if Windows Shift + S Not Working

You can also get help from the core of your Windows system: the Command Prompt. Windows has a built-in tool called System File Checker (SFC) that scans for corrupted or missing system files and tries to fix them using the Windows image. But if that image is damaged too, you’ll need to run another tool called DISM to repair the image first. Here’s a list of commands along with the steps to execute them in Command Prompt to restore your system:

Step 1: Search for "Command Prompt" using the search bar located in the taskbar.

Step 2: Next, click on "Run as administrator" to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Step 3: Now, in Command Prompt, paste the following command to find any integrity violations:

sfc /scannow

Step 4: This might take a few seconds. Once it's complete, run the next command to check if any component store is corrupted:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Step 5: Next, run a deeper scan to detect any potential issues:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Step 6: Finally, restore the health of your system image using this command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Note: This last step may take a while. It might seem stuck at certain points, but avoid closing the window, let the process complete fully.

Step 7: Once the restoration is complete, you’ll see the message; “The restore operation completed successfully”.

You can now close Command Prompt and try using the Windows + Shift + S shortcut again.

Running the Command Prompt on Windows if Windows Shift + S Not Working

Sometimes, the Shell Components in Windows may become corrupted or misconfigured, causing issues like Win + Shift + S (Snip tool) and Win + V (clipboard history) not working. In such cases, simply re-adding the components (as most guides suggest) may not resolve the issue if the components are already broken. This method involves removing and reinstalling the Shell Components to ensure a clean installation of this critical Windows module.

Disclaimer: This method involves removing and reinstalling a core Windows component. It's not officially recommended and could lead to system instability if done improperly. Only use this if all other solutions fail and you're comfortable taking the risk.

Step 1: Let's first open the "Command Prompt" with administrative privileges. Simply use the search bar to search for Command Prompt, then click on "Run as administrator”.

Step 2: Next, enter the following command to remove the Shell Components from your system first:

DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:Windows.Client.ShellComponents~~~~0.0.1.0

Step 3: Once the Shell Components are removed, we can run the following command to reinstall the Shell Components:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Windows.Client.ShellComponents~~~~0.0.1.0

Note: Make sure to let the reinstallation complete. Interrupting a DISM process could lead to further corruption or unpredictable behavior.

Step 4: Once the reinstallation completes successfully, reboot your system and try using the Win + Shift + S shortcut.

Important:

Please note that while this method worked for some users, it may not be suitable for everyone. It's essential to follow the steps carefully and avoid interrupting the process.

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FAQs

1. What are the functions of keyboard shortcuts in Windows？

Keyboard shortcuts in Windows allow users to complete tasks swiftly needing to use the mouse. They help streamline navigation, program access, and operations like copying, pasting, and switching between open windows. While some shortcuts may differ slightly across various versions of Windows, many remain the same throughout the system. Additionally, certain applications might modify or replace the default shortcuts to meet their particular needs.

2. What is the Alt Shift S?

Alt+Shift+S is a shortcut used in Google Sheets to open the sheet menu, where you can manage options like deleting or copying sheets. If you're using a Chromebook, pressing this shortcut opens the status menu.

3. How is the new Snipping Tool on Windows 11?

The new Snipping Tool in Windows 11 combines features from both the previous Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch, providing an enhanced and user-friendly way to capture and edit screenshots. Here's what it offers:

• Capture screenshots in multiple formats: rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen.

• Edit screenshots by cropping, annotating, or redacting sensitive content.

• Extract text from images using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

• Record your screen with or without audio.

4. How can I disable the Windows + Shift + S Shortcut?

Here’s how you can turn off the Windows + Shift + S shortcut by modifying the registry:

Step 1: Open the Run dialog box using the Win + R shortcut.

Step 2: Type regedit in the Run dialog box and hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 3: Navigate to the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Step 4: On the right side, right-click and choose New, then select String Entry.

Step 5: Set the name of the new value to DisabledHotkeys and its value to S.

Step 6: Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes.

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