How to edit a screenshot: crop, mark up and hide details
October 31, 2026 · 2 min read
To edit a screenshot, open it in the tool that took it. On Windows, the Snipping Tool lets you crop, draw with a pen or highlighter and erase marks. On a Mac, click the thumbnail that appears after a screenshot to open the editor. On iPhone, tap the thumbnail to crop and use Markup. For blurring or pixelating private details, a free tool such as ShareX on Windows adds those effects.
How to edit a screenshot: built-in tools
| System | Open the editor | Main tools |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Click the snip notification, or open the Snipping Tool | Image crop, Pen, Highlighter, Eraser, Shapes, Text actions |
| Mac | Click the thumbnail in the corner | Editing window before saving |
| iPhone | Tap the thumbnail after the screenshot | Crop handles, Markup |
Windows: Snipping Tool
Microsoft’s guide lists the editing tools:
- Image crop to cut the snip down to what matters.
- Pen and Highlighter to draw or mark text, and Eraser to remove marks.
- Shapes, plus Undo and Redo.
- Text actions to pick out and copy text from the image.
Save the edited snip with Ctrl + S or copy it with Ctrl + C.
Mac: the screenshot thumbnail
After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the corner. Click it to edit before it’s saved, as Apple’s guide describes. If you missed it, open the file in Preview.
iPhone: crop and Markup
Tap the thumbnail right after the screenshot. Drag the handles to crop, and tap Markup to draw or add text, according to Apple’s iPhone guide.
Hide private details before you share
Names, email addresses, order numbers and faces can end up in screenshots by accident.
- Crop them out if they’re near the edge: nothing is left behind.
- Cover them with a solid shape. A thick pen stroke works in a pinch.
- Blur or pixelate with a tool that supports it. ShareX, free for Windows, includes Blur and Pixelate among its annotation tools.
Then send it: see how to send a screenshot.
Full page screenshot captures whole web pages in Chrome but doesn’t edit images. Save the capture as PNG and open it in one of the editors above.
Questions people ask
How do I crop a screenshot on Windows?
Open it in the Snipping Tool and select Image crop, then drag the edges.
How do I blur part of a screenshot?
Microsoft’s list of Snipping Tool features doesn’t include a blur. Use a tool with a blur or pixelate effect, such as ShareX, or cover the area with a solid shape.
Can I edit a screenshot after saving it?
Yes. Open the file in the Snipping Tool on Windows, Preview on a Mac or Photos on iPhone.