The tip touches the target
End the arrow on the button, the field or the number. If it stops halfway, the person on the other end still has to guess.
Guide · Windows 10 & 11
How to add an arrow to a screenshot.
One arrow to the right button saves a paragraph of explanation. Here is how to draw it in the Snipping Tool, in Paint and straight on screen before you capture.
Download free for WindowsSee the stepsWindows 10 & 11 · capture and annotation are free, with no limits
Sales dashboard · 2026
Sales by region — September
Monthly revenue compared with August
Total
$1.25M
+4.2% vs. August
$412K
East
$296K
South
$262K
West
$198K
Central
$77K
North
down 41% here
Draw here
Hold Shift for a straight line, Ctrl for a rectangle and Ctrl + Shift for an arrow.
Guide · Windows 10 & 11
How do you add an arrow to a screenshot on Windows?
On Windows 11, open the capture in the Snipping Tool (Win + Shift + S, then click the notification), select the Shapes button, choose the arrow and drag from the starting point to the target. Until you click away, you can move it, resize it and change its color.
In Paint, arrows live under Shapes. They are block arrows pointing up, down, left or right, with an outline or a solid fill.
In Sincron Screen Tools you draw the arrow on screen: press Ctrl + Shift + D, hold Ctrl + Shift and drag. The arrowhead lands where you release the mouse. Then Ctrl + Shift + C captures the region with the arrow and opens the Screenshot Studio.
Reviewed on October 3, 2026
Step by step
How to add an arrow to a screenshot with Sincron
The shortest workflow: the arrow goes on the live screen and the capture comes out with it. Works over any app.
Open the drawing layer
Press Ctrl + Shift + D. A toolbar appears and the whole screen becomes a canvas. The app underneath stays exactly as it was.
Pick a color and thickness
Press R for red, O for orange, Y for yellow, G for green or B for blue. Set the thickness in the toolbar: a thin arrow for a chat screenshot, a thick one for a slide.
Hold Ctrl + Shift and drag
Start where there is empty space and finish on the target. The arrowhead appears where you release the mouse. Made a mistake? Ctrl + Z undoes the last mark.
Capture with the arrow
Press Ctrl + Shift + C and drag over the region. The crop keeps your drawings and opens in the Screenshot Studio, where you can add a background, padding and shadow.
Copy and paste
Click Copy image and paste with Ctrl + V into a chat, an email or a ticket. To keep a file, use Save PNG.
Comparison
Arrows on a screenshot: Snipping Tool, Paint or Sincron
| Option | How you make the arrow | Can you adjust it later? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snipping Tool | Shapes > arrow, dragged over the capture | Yes, until you click away; then it merges into the image | A quick arrow on a capture you already took |
| Paint | Shapes > block arrow in one of 4 directions | Yes, while the shape is still selected | A big, bold arrow next to a text label |
| Sincron | Hold Ctrl + Shift while dragging the pen, on screen | No; Ctrl + Z undoes it and you draw again | Pointing live and capturing with the arrow in place |
Snipping Tool and Paint features per Microsoft, checked on 2026-10-03.
Try it now
Draw an arrow on the panel
This panel works like the app's drawing layer. Hold Ctrl + Shift, drag to a number on the dashboard and let go.
Sales dashboard · 2026
Sales by region — September
Monthly revenue compared with August
Total
$1.25M
+4.2% vs. August
$412K
East
$296K
South
$262K
West
$198K
Central
$77K
North
down 41% here
Draw here
Hold Shift for a straight line, Ctrl for a rectangle and Ctrl + Shift for an arrow.
Tips
How to draw an arrow that helps
Come in from empty space
Start the arrow in an area with no text so it doesn't cover anything important. Diagonal arrows stand out more than straight horizontal ones.
Arrow plus label
When the reason isn't obvious, write two or three words at the tail of the arrow. In Sincron, press T, click and type; Enter confirms.
Real limits
What to know before you pick one
Straight arrows only
Sincron's arrow is always straight. For a curved arrow, draw it freehand with the pen or use another editor.
No moving it afterwards
In Sincron, an arrow can't be moved or resized once drawn. In the Snipping Tool and Paint, that only works while the shape is still selected.
No step numbers
For tutorials with numbered steps (1, 2, 3), Sincron has no ready-made marker. Type the number with the text tool or use an editor that has one, such as ShareX.
Paint's four directions
Paint's ready-made arrows only point up, down, left and right. A diagonal arrow means drawing lines by hand.
Common questions about arrows on screenshots
Does the Snipping Tool have an arrow?
Yes. On Windows 11, the Snipping Tool's Shapes button draws arrows, rectangles, ovals and lines with an outline or fill color. It arrived in a 2024 update; if you don't see it, update the app from the Microsoft Store. In 2025 Microsoft also announced draw and hold for Windows Insiders, which turns a pen stroke into a clean arrow when you pause at the end.
How do I draw a straight arrow on a screenshot?
Use a shape tool instead of the freehand pen. In the Snipping Tool, go to Shapes > arrow. In Sincron, hold Ctrl + Shift while you drag and the arrow comes out straight from start to end.
Can you add arrows in Paint?
Yes. Paint's Shapes include block arrows pointing up, down, left and right. Set the fill to a solid color if you want a filled arrow.
What color should a screenshot arrow be?
Whatever contrasts most with the screen. Red works on most light interfaces; on a red or dark screen, use yellow or blue.
Can I add an arrow to a screenshot online?
Yes. Sincron's Annotate Screenshot Online tool runs in the browser. On Windows, the app draws the arrow on screen with no file to open.
See also
How to annotate a screenshot
Three ways to mark up a screenshot on Windows 11: Snipping Tool, Paint and Sincron.
Annotate a screenshot online
A free screenshot editor in the browser: arrow, box, text and a solid box to hide data. Nothing is uploaded.
Screenshots for documentation
How to take consistent screenshots for manuals, tutorials and training on Windows.
Your next screenshot can point the way.
Install Sincron Screen Tools: Ctrl + Shift + D, hold Ctrl + Shift and drag. Then Ctrl + Shift + C captures with the arrow. Free with no limits for capture and annotation.