How to Resolve Lightshot Issues on Windows 11
Honestly, troubleshooting Lightshot on Windows 11 can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. Sometimes it just decides to stop working, leaving you scratching your head. I’ve been there myself and found that it often comes down to permissions, background apps, or settings that are a bit wonky. If Lightshot refuses to open, capture, or save, don’t worry — there are a few fixes worth trying. Some steps took me a couple of goes to get right, so hang in there.
Run Lightshot with Administrator Rights
This tip finally made a difference for me. If Lightshot isn’t behaving, it might be because Windows is blocking some actions it needs, especially when it comes to screen capturing. So, the first thing to try is running it as an administrator. It took some digging on my end, but here’s what finally worked:
Open Task Manager (Control + Shift + Escape). Find Lightshot in the list — probably under Apps or Background processes. Right-click it and select End Task. Then, press the Windows key, type Lightshot. Instead of clicking on it directly, right-click the search result and choose Run as administrator. There may be a User Account Control (UAC) prompt — click Yes. Elevating its permissions like this often unlocks what Lightshot needs to operate properly, like capturing the screen or uploading screenshots.
And if you want Lightshot to always run as administrator, right-click the shortcut, go to Properties, then the Compatibility tab. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator. It’s a bit of a hassle the first time, but it saves you from the extra steps each time.
The Print Screen Key: Is It Working?
After running Lightshot as an administrator, I hit another snag — pressing Print Screen didn’t do a thing. Sometimes, the key gets remapped or disabled — especially if you’ve got gaming keyboards or software that tinkers with shortcuts — which can interfere with Lightshot. When I pressed the key, nothing happened, and I wondered if Lightshot was broken.
Toggle the Print Screen Function in Windows Settings
Turns out, Windows 11 has some settings that might be messing with things. Head to Settings (Windows + I), then go to Accessibility on the sidebar. Scroll down to Interaction, then click on Keyboard. Look for Use the Print Screen key to open Screen Snipping. If it’s turned on, try toggling it off for a minute, then back on. This can reset how Windows handles the key, especially if it’s linked to the new Snipping Tool or other shortcut mappers or overlays you might have.
If your keyboard or third-party software like Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, or similar are remapping or hijacking the Print Screen key, you’ll want to disable those overlays temporarily. They often interfere with default key behaviour, which can stop Lightshot from launching its capture window.
Other Troubleshooting Tips
If none of the above works, try rebooting your PC — it sounds simple, but lingering background conflicts can cause weird issues. Also, make sure your Windows is up to date — head to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates. Microsoft often releases patches that fix bugs which might impact hardware or software compatibility, including screen capture tools.
Updating your BIOS can sometimes help too, especially if your hardware interface has been a bit stubborn. Not everyone’s BIOS updates regularly, but if yours does, it’s worth a check. Also, keep your graphics card drivers and firmware current, as GPU overlays or driver issues can mess with hotkey-based tools like Lightshot.
If all else fails, reinstalling Lightshot might do the trick. Remove the app, restart your PC, then download the latest version from their official website and set it up fresh. Sometimes, configs get corrupted or permissions get tangled, and a clean install sorts it out.
And don’t forget to check if other screenshot tools are running — ShareX, Greenshot, or even Windows’ built-in Snipping Tool — multiple overlay apps can conflict. Disabling or uninstalling other options temporarily can help identify if they’re part of the problem.
Hopefully, these tips help. It took me a fair bit of trial and error to sort out the permissions and get the Print Screen key working correctly. Once everything was set properly, Lightshot started behaving beautifully. Best of luck, and don’t lose heart!