Windows Snip & Sketch Colored Bar Artifact: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
The Windows Snipping Tool Colored Border Artifact
If you’ve taken screenshots using Windows+Shift+S and noticed a thin colored bar—usually greenish or yellowish—appearing at the edge of your screenshot, you’ve encountered a well-known bug in Windows’ built-in Snipping Tool. This artifact typically appears on one edge of the screen and can be frustrating when you need clean, professional screenshots.
Why This Happens
The colored border artifact occurs when the Snipping Tool (Snip & Sketch) fails to properly render the screenshot interface or when there’s a timing issue between the screenshot capture and the system’s display rendering. This is not related to your image editing or display settings—it’s a known glitch in the Snipping Tool application itself that Microsoft has documented in various support forums.
Quick Workarounds
The simplest solution is to try taking the screenshot again immediately. Often the second attempt completes cleanly without any artifact. If the issue persists across multiple attempts, try these approaches:
- Use Alt+Print Screen instead: This Windows keyboard shortcut captures only the active window and bypasses the Snipping Tool interface entirely, avoiding the artifact entirely.
- Close and reopen the Snipping Tool: Force close the Snip & Sketch app and try again. A fresh application instance often resolves the glitch.
- Check for Windows updates: Ensure your operating system is fully updated, as Microsoft regularly patches issues in system applications.
- Try third-party screenshot tools: Apps like Greenshot, ShareX, or Snagit offer more reliable artifact-free captures and additional features for annotating and editing screenshots.
When to Report It
If you encounter this bug consistently, you can report it directly to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub app (press Windows+I, then search for Feedback Hub). Include a screenshot of the artifact and details about your system configuration. Bug reports help Microsoft prioritize fixes for the Snipping Tool.
Prevention Tips
While you can’t completely prevent this artifact, keeping Windows and all system apps updated reduces the likelihood. Additionally, avoiding heavy background processes while taking screenshots can sometimes help, as the artifact may be more likely to appear when system resources are strained.