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When taking screen shots for use in tutorials, it would be really helpful to include the mouse cursor in the picture, but I've found that most screenshot tools (including those that ship with Windows) hide the cursor from the screenshot.

How can I take a screenshot on Windows which includes the mouse cursor?

Sam
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14 Answers14

71

IrfanView has an option to include the cursor while taking screenshots. Press C to configure options and the hotkey. It is free for private, educational, and non-commercial use.

InfanView Options

ccpizza
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I've been very happy with Greenshot - you can turn on/off if mouse is captured or not + it has nice capability of adding notes and lines/arrows diretcly on the image after taking the shot. Great if you're creating user manuals or similar stuff. It's also free and open source.

http://getgreenshot.org/

(I'm not in any way affiliated with this product or it's author - just a satisfied user).

14

In Windows 7 you can also search 'psr' in the Start Search:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/problem-steps-recorder.htm

This produces a .mht and images you can use in a tutorial.

sterlingalston
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4

Hypersnap is another good one.

CGA
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3

On windows 7 through 11, you can use the built in "Steps Recorder" application. This application shows the cursor as it is, and doesnt require installing a program (which may require admin access). The big disadvantage is resolution.

Unfortunately, you cannot copy the taken screenshots directly, but you can either use Win + Shift + S to then take a screenshot of that screenshot, or use this tutorial to extract the images.

Here are a couple of examples:

The screenshot of steps recorder that I got my target image from: A screenshot shown in steps recorder overlaid over the webpage the screenshot is of

A couple of screenshots taken this way:

screenshot with cursor

screenshot with "not allowed" cursor

The resolution problem can be partially mitigated by enlarging the screen if the area required is small, example:

screenshot with "not allowed" cursor, taken magnified for better resolution

DarkDiamond
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3

ShareX is a good free tool to capture screen with cursor

Olga
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1

You can use Steps Recorder.

Press Start Record when you have it open, do what you have to, then press Stop Record.

oofman
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1

XnView is another option. Go to Tools | Capture screen... and select Include mouse cursor:

enter image description here

XnView is provided as FREEWARE (NO Adware, NO Spyware) for private or educational use (including non-profit organizations).

Stef
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Snagit has the option includes the mouse cursor. Plus it includes a REALLY good editor for screenshots. If you are not a computer expert, it is the best tool.

Drew Noakes
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1

Screenshot Captor has the option to capture the cursor. It's my screenshot tool of choice.

pbr
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0

Modern versions of GIMP can also take screenshots with cursor. Added bonus is easy editing after the capture.

0

Screen Hunter should do the trick.

Draco
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0

PicPick...

http://www.picpick.org/en/

great tool -- plus has little utilities that the rest of the suggestions don't.

kflo411
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When the mouse pointer is enlarged (large mouse pointer) on Windows 10, the only screen capture app I find can capture it is ScreenHunter 7. It has a free version.