To hide data in a Windows 11 screenshot, use Snipping Tool’s Text actions to redact detected email addresses and phone numbers automatically, or select other recognized text and redact it yourself. Review the whole image, then check the exact file you plan to share.
Redact text in a screenshot
- Press Windows key + Shift + S and capture the part of the screen you want to share.
- In Snipping Tool, select Text actions. It uses optical character recognition (OCR) to identify text in the screenshot.
- Select Quick redact to conceal detected email addresses and phone numbers.
- For other text the tool recognizes, select the text, right-click, and choose Redact Text.
- Inspect the entire screenshot before sharing. A Computer Hoy tutorial cautions that automatic detection can miss sensitive information.
- Save the redacted result and open the specific file you intend to share. Microsoft says captured snips are automatically saved in the Screenshots folder and Save as creates an additional copy, so check the folder and confirm you have the intended version.
Where text recognition runs
Microsoft says Text actions’ text-recognition processes run locally on the device. Quick redact and manual redaction apply to text the tool recognizes, so a careful visual review remains important before you send the screenshot.
