How To Create GIFs Using Snipping Tool in Windows 11

Learn how to quickly and easily create GIFs using the built-in Snipping Tool on Windows 11.

The built-in Snipping Tool in Windows 11 allows you to take screenshots and record your screen with just a few clicks. When needed, you can even extract text from an image. However, one of the newer and lesser-known features of Snipping Tool is the ability to create GIFs from screen recordings. That way, you don’t have to use a third-party tool or service to convert the video recordings into GIFs. Simply click the button, select the quality, and you are done. Snipping Tool does the job for you.

In this quick and straightforward guide, let me show you the steps to create a GIF using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. Let’s get started.

Before You Start

• The Snipping Tool’s GIF option is a new feature, and it is only available in Windows 11 build 26200 or higher. If you don’t know your current build number, follow these steps: check the Windows 11 version and build number.

Create GIFs Using the Snipping Tool

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the “Windows” key.
2. Search for “Snipping Tool” and click “Open“.
3. Click the “Record” icon and click “New“.
4. Select the section where you want to record and click “Start“.
5. Once done, click the “Stop” icon.
6. Click the “GIF” icon in the edit window.
7. Select the GIF quality and click “Export“.
8. Select a destination and click “Save“.
9. Snipping Tool exports the recording as a GIF file.
10. Once done, you can open it using the File Explorer.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, we must open the Snipping Tool. To do that, open the Start menu by pressing the “Windows key” on your keyboard. Once it opens, search for “Snipping Tool” and click “Open” on the right panel.

Once the Snipping Tool app opens, select the “Record” icon (looks like a video camera) and then click the “New” button.

The above action opens the recording dialog. To start recording, select the portion of your screen you wish to record using your mouse, then click the “Start” button.

Snipping Tool starts recording the screen. Once done, click the “Stop” icon.

As soon as you click the “Stop” icon, the recording opens in the editor window. Here, click the “GIF” icon on the top command bar.

In this window, select the quality of your choice. Typically, choosing high quality means more frames per second and an increased file size. Click the “Export” button.

You will see the “Save As” dialog. Here, select a folder where you want to save the GIF, type a name of your choice in the “File Name” field, and click “Save“.

Snipping Tool will now start exporting your recording as a GIF. Depending on the recording length, quality, and resolution, it will take a few minutes to complete. Once done, you can open the GIF from File Explorer.

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As you can see, while the need to create GIFs from recording is a pretty niche use case, if you ever need it, the Snipping Tool has it. The best thing is that it’s also pretty easy. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

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