Taking screenshots inside a Virtual Private Server (VPS) while connected through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) can sometimes be tricky — especially if your Print Screen button seems to capture your local PC instead of the VPS.
This guide walks you through how to properly configure both your RDP client and Windows Server settings so that screenshot functionality works inside your VPS environment.
Step #1: Adjust Remote Desktop Keyboard Settings
Before connecting to your VPS:
Open the Remote Desktop Connection app (Search: mstsc)
Click Show Options
Go to the Local Resources tab
Under Keyboard, set:
Apply Windows key combinations → On the remote computer
Also make sure Clipboard is checked
Connect to your VPS as usual
This ensures that keyboard shortcuts like Print Screen are passed directly to the VPS instead of triggering on your local machine.
Step #2: Enable the PrtScn Shortcut Inside Windows Server
Once inside your VPS:
Open Settings
Navigate to:
Accessibility (or Ease of Access) → Keyboard
Scroll down to the Print Screen shortcut section
Toggle Use the PrtScn button to open screen snipping to On
This step ensures the VPS recognizes your Print Screen key as a screenshot trigger.
Step #3: Use the Correct Screenshot Shortcut
Now that everything is configured, you can take screenshots directly inside your VPS using the following shortcuts:
Windows key + PrtSc
→ Captures the entire screen and saves it to:
Pictures → Screenshots (inside the VPS)
Alt + PrtSc
→ Captures only the currently active window. Paste it using Ctrl + V into Paint, Word, or any image editor.
Shift + Windows key + S
→ Opens the Snipping Tool. You can select a region and save using the Snipping Tool.
Troubleshooting Tips
If the screenshot captures your local desktop instead of the VPS, double-check that:
You're running RDP in fullscreen mode
Keyboard redirection is set to "On the remote computer" as described in Step 1
Some VPS environments may have group policy restrictions that affect screen capture tools. If you've followed all steps and it still doesn't work, contact QuantVPS Support for help.
Need Assistance?
Our support team is available 24/7. If you have any questions or run into issues, open a support ticket from your QuantVPS dashboard and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.