How to screenshot on a Lenovo laptop

ThinkPads are the one major range that moved Print Screen out of the function row entirely. If you're hunting the top row, you're looking in the wrong place.

Updated 14 September 2026

Lenovo laptops run Windows, so the Windows methods apply. The Lenovo-specific issue is almost always finding the key.

ThinkPad moved the key#

On most modern ThinkPads, Print Screen is not in the function row. Lenovo relocated it to the bottom-right of the keyboard, in the cluster around the arrow keys — typically between the right Alt and the right Ctrl, or immediately above the arrows.

This confuses nearly everyone coming from another brand. It also means it often needs no Fn at all, because it isn't part of the dual-purpose function row. A single press works.

IdeaPad, Yoga, Legion and ThinkBook#

These use a conventional layout with Print Screen in the top row, right-hand end, labelled PrtSc. The function-row behaviour applies here, so Fn may be needed.

Some Yoga models double the key up with Insert on one cap. On Legion gaming models, expect vendor and GPU overlays to intercept it.

Fn Lock on the Esc key#

Look for a padlock printed on Esc. Press Fn+Esc and the function row flips which layer is primary. The Fn key itself lights up on many ThinkPads to show the lock is active.

One press, no restart, survives reboots. Try this before anything else.

Lenovo Vantage is worth opening once#

Lenovo's system app, preinstalled on most models, has a keyboard section with two settings that affect this:

• Fn and Ctrl swap. ThinkPad puts Fn in the bottom-left corner where nearly every other keyboard puts Ctrl. If you're switching from another brand, swapping them here is the difference between fighting the keyboard and forgetting about it. It also changes which corner key you hold for Ctrl+V when pasting a capture.
• Fn Lock state. The same toggle as Fn+Esc, settable from Windows rather than by keypress.

Vantage has no screenshot feature of its own. It's the keyboard settings that matter here.

Firmware, if you want it permanent#

Restart and tap F1 during the ThinkPad logo — Lenovo uses F1 where most brands use F2. Under Config › Keyboard/Mouse, set F1–F12 as Primary Function to Enabled. On IdeaPad and Legion the key is usually F2 and the setting sits under Configuration as Hotkey Mode.

TrackPoint and the middle button#

Unrelated to capture, but worth knowing when annotating: the TrackPoint's middle button scrolls by default, and Lenovo's utility can reassign it. Some users map it to a paste action, which speeds up dropping captures into chat considerably.