Open source
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Free · Open source · Windows
ShareX — the screenshot app
power users trust
ShareX captures screens, records GIFs and video, runs OCR, uploads to dozens of hosts, and automates everything with workflows — with no ads and years of steady updates.
Latest stable release referenced on this page: 19.0.2.
- Scrolling capture
- Custom uploaders
- Hotkeys & actions
Screenshots from ShareX · visuals from GitHub
Why it matters
Why ShareX
One tray icon replaces a pile of tools — capture, annotate, host, automate. Trusted for 18+ years of development, no adware.
Workflow engine
Chain after capture / after upload tasks: OCR, beautify, copy links, open folders.
Destinations
Custom uploaders for APIs, S3, and self-hosted stacks.
Real pixels, not mockups
This page uses official ShareX UI shots so you see the actual product — menus, settings, and editor.
01 — Capture
Capture methods
Fullscreen, active window, region, scrolling capture, screen recording, GIF, auto capture — tuned for how people really ship screenshots. Scrolling guide.
- After capture: quick task menu, editor, effects, pin, OCR, QR.
- Recording: video or GIF with workflow upload.
- Automation: timed auto capture for UI monitoring.
02 — Region
Region & annotations
Rectangle, ellipse, freehand — then arrows, steps, blur, stickers. Built for bug reports and tutorials without leaving ShareX.
Practical tip
Step annotations cut Slack back-and-forth on repro steps.
Privacy
Blur & smart eraser before you paste tokens into tickets.
03 — Upload
Upload & share
Files, folders, clipboard, text, URLs — then shorten links, QR, copy to clipboard. Docs: S3, GCS, R2, custom uploader.
04 — Tools
Productivity tools
Color picker, ruler, OCR, hash, clipboard viewer, image combiner — from one icon. OCR docs · Keybinds · Actions.
Guides & workflows
Patterns from Discord & Reddit — not a substitute for official docs, but a fast on-ramp.
“Link in two seconds after I crop”
After capture → upload → copy URL. Map region to a hotkey you won’t fight with.
Long pages
Scrolling capture; if a SPA misbehaves, try shorter segments or another scroll method.
Portable vs installer
ZIP for USB / locked PCs; setup for shell integration & typical updates.
Official docs
- CLI arguments
- Dev builds
- Image effects
- Translation
Troubleshooting
Cross-check with the changelog. Hotkey issues? That’s what this screen is for:
Hotkeys vs games
Remap in Hotkey settings; borderless fullscreen often behaves better for region capture.
Upload 403 / auth
Rotate API keys; validate custom uploader JSON; test tiny PNG first; check S3 clock & region.
Scrolling capture stops early
Try another scroll method; disable smooth scroll briefly; shorter segments on heavy GPU pages.
Antivirus blocks ShareX
Verify hashes from GitHub releases; exclude install folder if appropriate.
Download ShareX
Below: 19.0.2 assets.
Independent fan site · Privacy · Brand assets
Use cases by role
Concrete ways teams adopt ShareX — each block is independent; mix workflows to match how you work.
Developers
Capture stack traces, repro steps, and API responses. Pair region capture with copy file path after save so tickets reference exact artifacts. Use dev builds when testing bleeding-edge fixes.
Designers
Pin references, sample colors with the color picker, and export consistent crops. Combine image effects with the editor for quick markup without opening Figma for trivial annotations.
Support
Standardize on one hotkey for “ticket screenshot” workflows: upload → paste URL into Zendesk or email. OCR helps when users send photos of error text.
Teachers
Scrolling capture for long readings; GIF recorder for short UI demos. Keep a folder of reusable “clean” captures with blur applied to student names.
QA testers
Auto capture on interval for flaky UI states. History helps compare builds; combine with hash checker when verifying file outputs.
Writers & editors
Article-length scrolling shots, citation-friendly file names, and quick URL shortening when sharing drafts on social.
Data & finance
Redact account numbers before upload; use region + blur first. Directory indexer can catalog export folders when auditing screenshots.
Streamers
GIF clips for highlights; avoid hotkey clashes with OBS by moving ShareX binds to a modifier-heavy chord. Borderless window capture often plays nicer with overlays.
Glossary
Terms you will see in menus, forums, and official docs.
- After capture task
- Steps ShareX runs immediately when a capture finishes — e.g. save file, open editor, upload.
- After upload task
- Actions once a host returns a URL: shorten, copy link, open browser.
- Custom uploader
- JSON/XML definition that maps ShareX fields to your API — for self-hosted or niche hosts.
- Destination
- Configured host or service that receives uploads (Imgur, S3, FTP, etc.).
- Hotkey profile
- A set of keyboard shortcuts bound to capture types and tools.
- Quick task menu
- On-screen menu to pick what happens right after capture without opening full settings.
- Region (Light)
- Lighter-weight region selection mode for specific workflows.
- Scrolling capture
- Stitches content while auto-scrolling — ideal for long web pages or documents.
- Watch folder
- Monitors a directory and uploads new files automatically.
- Task settings
- Per-workflow overrides for capture, image, upload, and notifications.
- Tray menu
- Right-click the notification area icon for capture, upload, and tools.
- Workflow
- End-to-end chain from trigger → capture → tasks → optional upload.
Workflow recipes
- 1Instant share link
Region hotkey → after capture: upload → copy URL. Default destination set to your preferred host.
- 2Local-only archive
After capture: save to dated folder with pattern %y-%mo-%d; disable upload for sensitive projects.
- 3Bug report packet
Fullscreen → open editor → step numbers → blur secrets → save as PNG → attach to issue tracker.
- 4GIF micro-demo
Screen recorder (GIF) with tight crop; after capture upload to host used by your team chat.
- 5OCR pipeline
After capture: perform OCR → copy text — useful for serial numbers in remote desktop sessions.
- 6Dual destination
Use separate workflows: one for public Imgur links, one for private S3 with different credentials.
Upload destination ideas
| Scenario | Typical setup | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Quick anonymous image | Built-in image host presets | Custom uploader |
| Private company bucket | S3 or R2 with least-privilege IAM | S3 · R2 |
| Google-centric org | GCS bucket + service account | GCS |
| Self-hosted API | Custom JSON response mapping | Custom uploader |
Keyboard & automation angles
ShareX does not ship one global shortcut for everyone — you choose chords that avoid conflicts. Common patterns:
- Modifier-heavy — e.g. Ctrl+Shift+Alt+R for region to reduce game conflicts.
- Print Screen replacement — remap system keys only if no other tool claims them.
- CLI — script installs using command-line arguments for silent capture in automation.
Screen recording & GIF notes
GIF trade-offs
Smaller than video for chat, but palette limits and size caps matter. Trim duration in task settings when uploads must stay under host limits.
Video codec
Prefer settings your editors accept downstream. Re-encode with the built-in video converter if a platform rejects your default container.
Audio
Confirm Windows privacy settings allow microphone/desktop audio when capturing tutorials.
FPS vs CPU
High FPS screen recording can contend with games; lower FPS often suffices for UI captures.
Multi-monitor
- Active monitor vs fullscreen — pick the mode that matches how your desk is arranged.
- Region capture remembers “last region” — handy when iterating on the same window corner.
- Per-monitor DPI scaling can shift coordinates; recapture after display topology changes.
Clipboard power
- Upload from clipboard when a colleague pastes an image in chat — no file save step.
- Clipboard viewer helps debug “what ShareX thinks is in the buffer” before upload.
- Combine with “copy file” after capture when you need a path for scripts.
Security & privacy checklist
- Blur or erase tokens, credit cards, and medical IDs before any upload.
- Use separate destinations for personal vs work to avoid cross-leakage.
- Rotate API keys when staff leave; audit custom uploader JSON into version control.
- Prefer HTTPS hosts; verify certificate issues are not silently ignored.
- Portable ZIP on encrypted USB for field work; don’t leave history on shared PCs.
- Read host privacy policies — “public” image hosts may index uploads.
Performance tips
ShareX is light, but heavy image effects, huge scrolling captures, and simultaneous recording can spike disk and CPU. Close unneeded “after capture” steps on low-end laptops; store outputs on fast SSDs when recording long sessions; reduce history retention if disk space is tight.
More answers
Does ShareX work on ARM Windows?
Follow release notes and community reports for your build; prefer official installers from GitHub or Store for supported platforms.
Can I run multiple workflows?
Yes — different hotkeys can trigger different task settings and destinations.
Why is my history huge?
Thumbnail and entry retention settings; trim or clear periodically on small disks.
Steam vs standalone?
Same core app; update channel and install location differ — pick what fits your update policy.
Translation?
See translation docs to help localize.
Community tips
“Document your hotkeys in a team wiki — onboarding is faster when everyone uses the same chord scheme.”
“When scrolling capture fails on one browser, try another engine or capture in two passes — it’s often the site, not ShareX.”
“Export your ShareX settings before reinstalling Windows — backup saves hours of re-tuning destinations.”
Myths vs facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “ShareX is only for gamers.” | It’s a general Windows capture suite — enterprises, schools, and dev shops use it daily. |
| “Upload means everyone sees my screen.” | Upload only happens when your workflow includes it; local-only paths are common. |
| “Scrolling capture works on every site.” | Complex SPAs and canvas-heavy pages may need alternate methods or multiple captures. |
| “Portable never touches the registry.” | Behavior depends on options you enable; treat portable media as sensitive if history is stored. |
33 quick tips
Short ideas — combine with official docs. Numbered for easy reference in tickets or wikis.
- Name files with timestamps when debugging intermittent UI.
- Use separate hotkeys for “annotate” vs “raw” captures.
- Pin reference images while writing long docs.
- Test uploaders with 1×1 PNG before production creds.
- Disable sound notifications in quiet offices.
- Export settings JSON before Windows upgrades.
- Use step tool for handoffs between time zones.
- Crop in editor before upload to save bandwidth.
- Hash checker for verifying installer integrity.
- Ruler tool for spacing critiques in design reviews.
- Screen color picker for brand compliance checks.
- Watch folder for CI artifacts dropped by scripts.
- Shorten URLs only when the host supports your privacy policy.
- GIF cap duration to keep chat hosts happy.
- Use borderless games when region capture misbehaves.
- Image combiner for before/after comparisons.
- Splitter when exporting sprite sheets.
- Metadata inspector before posting screenshots with EXIF.
- Directory indexer for quarterly screenshot audits.
- Clipboard viewer when paste looks wrong in Teams.
- Video thumbnailer for quick episode previews.
- QR scan from after-capture when linking mobile flows.
- Beautify for consistent padding on social cards.
- Custom theme in application settings for dark rooms.
- Notification mute during screen shares.
- Task categories for “work” vs “personal” workflows.
- Retry upload with patience — avoid hammering APIs.
- Log dev build issues with exact build number in screenshots.
- Teach interns the tray icon first — faster than menus.
- Pair OCR with spell-check in your editor of choice.
- Use consistent aspect ratio presets in task settings.
- Archive yearly captures to cold storage for compliance.
- Thank maintainers — open source depends on contributors.
More glossary
- Beautify
- Adds padding/shadow styling to screenshots for cleaner sharing.
- Image history
- Browse past captures without digging through Explorer.
- History
- Upload and action history — useful for finding old links.
- Pin to screen
- Keeps a capture floating as reference while you work.
- Screen recorder
- Video or GIF capture of a region or monitor.
- Application settings
- Global preferences: paths, proxy, theme, integration.
- Task
- Named bundle of capture + task settings you can assign to hotkeys.
- FTP / SFTP
- Classic upload targets for self-hosted servers.
- Dev build
- Pre-release binaries for testing fixes early.
Ethics & attribution
Screenshots may contain third-party UI, personal data, or copyrighted content. Obtain consent when capturing people or sensitive workflows; blur by default in regulated industries. When publishing tutorials, credit ShareX and link to the ShareX project on GitHub so readers get authentic downloads. This site (share-x.dev) is an independent reference and is not affiliated with the ShareX core team — always verify security-sensitive instructions against official documentation.
Windows environment
ShareX runs on Windows desktop contexts. Display scaling, HDR, and virtual desktops can change how regions align — recalibrate after you move laptops between docks. Game overlays and GPU drivers sometimes intercept the same shortcuts; prefer unique chords for capture when streaming or benchmarking.
DPI awareness
Mixed scaling across monitors may shift coordinates — verify captures after changing resolution presets.
Remote desktop
Latency affects scrolling capture; OCR on fuzzy RDP text may need a second attempt with higher contrast.
Power plans
Battery saver can throttle screen recording — plug in for long GIF or video sessions.
Enterprise-style checklist
- Standardize installer vs portable policy per department.
- Document approved upload destinations in the security register.
- Export and store baseline ShareX settings per role (support vs dev).
- Block unknown custom uploaders until reviewed by IT.
- Schedule quarterly cleanup of local history on shared machines.
- Map hotkeys to avoid overlap with assistive tech or ERP shortcuts.
- Include ShareX in onboarding docs with screenshot retention rules.
Files & naming
Patterns that age well
%y-%mo-%d_%h-%mi-%sfor sortable archives.- Prefix with ticket IDs: JIRA-1024_... for traceability.
- Use subfolders per project rather than one flat dump.
Cleanup habits
- Monthly purge of superseded UI mock captures.
- Move finalized assets to DAM or git LFS if your org uses them.
- Compress old PNG folders with lossless zip for cold storage only.
Image formats (when it matters)
| Format | Strength | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Lossless, sharp UI text | Larger files for photos |
| JPEG | Smaller for photos | Artifacts on crisp UI edges |
| GIF | Motion in chat apps | Palette limits, file size spikes |
| WebP | Good compression when supported | Downstream tools may lack support |
Deeper troubleshooting
Black screen in some fullscreen apps
Try windowed or borderless mode; disable exclusive fullscreen if the game allows; update GPU drivers.
Clipboard upload fails silently
Confirm clipboard actually holds an image; some apps put private formats first — copy again from Paint to test.
Custom uploader returns HTML error page
Parse rules may expect JSON; inspect response body and adjust regex or JSON path in uploader config.
Slow startup after many captures
Large history databases — prune entries or relocate storage to faster disk.
Wrong monitor captured
Re-select active monitor mode or specify region; check “remember region” targets.
Proxy or corporate SSL inspection
Uploads may fail if MITM certs aren’t trusted — align with IT root store policy.
OCR wrong language
Set OCR language pack availability in Windows and match task settings to your content.
GIF colors look washed out
GIF palette constraints — shorten clip or use MP4 workflow if your host allows.
Short case vignettes
Support desk
A tier-1 team replaced ad-hoc phone photos with ShareX region + blur for ticket attachments; mean time to attach a clear repro dropped because URLs pasted straight into the CRM.
Indie dev
GIF screen captures for patch notes replaced heavy video files; players on slow connections could still see ability rotations without loading a full trailer.
Compliance review
Auditors requested evidence of UI controls; scrolling captures of policy pages plus local-only storage satisfied reviewers without exposing customer data to public hosts.
Tools that pair well
ShareX is not a replacement for every creative suite — combine with editors, git clients, and ticket systems you already use. No endorsement implied; pick what fits your stack.
- Vector editors — refine icons after raster capture.
- Video editors — trim ShareX screen recordings before YouTube.
- Password managers — paste secure links without retyping.
- Clipboard managers — when you juggle multiple captures per minute.
- Static site generators — drop optimized PNGs into `/assets`.
- CI artifacts — watch-folder upload for build screenshots.
Did you know?
- You can keep multiple destination configs and switch by workflow, not just globally.
- Pinning references on ultra-wide monitors is popular for translation work.
- Hash tools help prove a screenshot file wasn’t swapped after an incident.
- Some teams mirror release notes captures into internal wikis automatically.
- OCR quality varies by font smoothing — try toggling ClearType for edge cases.
- GIF length caps differ per chat platform — test with your actual workspace.
- Portable mode is common on conference room PCs with locked-down installers.
- Night-shift users often darken themes to match IDE setups.
- Custom uploaders can log to your own analytics endpoint if you parse responses.
- Step annotations are frequently used in accessibility audits.
- Steam builds track updates differently — read Valve + GitHub notes before mixing channels.
- Some hosts strip metadata — keep originals locally if EXIF matters.
- Scrolling capture of PDFs may rasterize differently per viewer.
- QR tool can bridge mobile bug reports to desktop tickets quickly.
- Community translators keep UI strings accurate — contribute if you’re bilingual.
Open-source context
ShareX evolved over many years of community feedback. Releases combine stability fixes with new capture and upload features. Reading the changelog before upgrading helps you anticipate UI moves or default changes. Star the GitHub repo to signal appreciation and watch releases without noise from unrelated projects.
- Security-sensitive bugs belong in responsible disclosure channels per repository guidance.
- Feature requests compete with maintenance — concise repros get faster attention.
- Documentation PRs help newcomers more than repeated forum answers.
Light comparison (Windows)
Informal summary — features change over time; verify in your Windows build.
| Aspect | Snipping Tool | ShareX |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow automation | Basic | Extensive |
| Custom uploaders | Limited / varies | Strong |
| Scrolling web capture | Varies by OS build | Dedicated tools |
| Learning curve | Lower | Higher payoff |
Closing micro-practices
End each week with a 60-second history cleanup if disk is tight.
Snapshot settings before major Windows feature updates.
Teach “blur before upload” as muscle memory for interns.
Keep one offline backup of your favorite custom uploader JSON.