So just when you needed to take a screen shot, the print screen key stops working suddenly and you have absolutely no idea in the world on how to fix the issue.

Well, don’t worry. This problem is easily fixable. And we will show you how to fix it quickly.

In this post, we’ve shared 4 solutions to troubleshoot the print screen not working issue. Needless to say, there’s no need to try all the listed solutions. Start with the first one and then move to the next one in the line and so on, till the error vanishes.

So, let’s dive in.

Solution 1 – Update Keyboard driver

Old or corrupt keyboard driver can cause a host of problems, including this one. So, the first thing you should do is update your keyboard driver.

You can update your drivers manually or automatically. We always recommend the latter, because it is not only quick but also comfortable. Plus you don’t need any kind of technical knowledge to update drivers automatically.

The only thing you require is a good driver software tool.

Update Keyboard Driver Using Driver Update Tool

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download

 

Update Keyboard Driver Using Device Manager

If you want to update the keyboard driver manually, there are two ways to go about it—using device manager or through the manufacturer website (discussed next).

Here are the steps to follow for updating the keyboard driver using Device Manager.

• Click the Windows icon in the taskbar
• Type ‘run’ in the start search box and then press enter
• Type ‘devmgmt.msc’ and click the OK button
• Expand Keyboards and then right-click on your keyboard device and select Update driver software
• Click Browse my computer for driver software

• Next, select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer

• Select a suitable driver from the list that appears on your screen and follow on-screen prompts
• Once the driver is installed, you’ll be asked to restart windows. Reboot so that the changes can take effect

Update keyboard Driver From The Manufacturer’s Website

The other way to update the keyboard driver manually is by going directly to the manufacturer’s website and downloading the driver executable file. Once you’ve have downloaded the driver file, run it to update the keyboard driver, and then reboot Windows.

Solution 2 – Press F Lock or F Mode Key

If you have the F Lock key or F Mode key on the keyboard, press it. Now check whether the Print Screen is working. Sometimes these keys may not let you use the print screen key.

However, if these keys are not there on the keyboard, simply skip this step and move on to the next one.

Solution 3 – Stop Running Programs

It is possible that one of the many programs running on your computer right now might be causing this issue. Some users have reported that stopping Dropbox or OneDrive helped them resolve this problem. It is very much possible that this step might work for you as well. Another program which is known to interfere with the Print Screen key is Snipping Tool. As a matter of fact, it would be best if you stop all the running programs and check if the Print Screen works now.

Solution 4 – Download Windows Update

Is your Windows up-to-date? No? Then download the latest updates. This might fix the Print Screen Not Working issue.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Click the Windows icon in the taskbar
• Type Windows Update in start search box and then press Enter
• 
• Click Check for Updates
• Windows will see if there are any updates to download
• If yes, download and install them
• Reboot windows

What if none of these solutions work? In that case we suggest you to press Alt+Fn+PrtScn or Alt+PrtScn or Fn+PrtSCn keys. This trick might work when everything fails.

If the problem persists, you might consider using snipping tool for taking screen shots. To access it, follow these steps:

• Click the Windows icon in the taskbar
• Type ‘snipping tool’ in the start search box and then press Enter
• Click snipping tool under programs.