How do I fix screenshot errors in MSFS 2020?

Screenshot errors in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 usually come from the wrong capture shortcut, a disabled overlay, a display-mode conflict, or checking the wrong save folder. Switch MSFS to Windowed mode, test Xbox Game Bar, and verify its capture folder; use Steam F12 only when the Steam overlay is running.

MSFS 2020 does not manage every screenshot method itself. Steam, Windows, Xbox Game Bar and the Snipping Tool each capture and store images differently, so the first task is identifying which tool produced the error.

How do I isolate the screenshot error?

Use one capture tool in Windowed mode to determine whether the problem belongs to MSFS, Windows or an overlay.

1. Switch MSFS to Windowed mode. Change Display Mode in the graphics options, or use the normal Windows full-screen toggle. This bypasses many capture conflicts without changing the simulator installation.
2. Open Xbox Game Bar. Press Windows + G while MSFS has focus, then use the camera button in the Capture widget.
3. Check the capture folder. Game Bar normally writes screenshots under Videos\Captures. If the Videos library was moved to another drive or redirected to cloud storage, the files will follow that location.
4. Test the Snipping Tool. Press Windows + Shift + S and capture part of the MSFS window. If this works while Game Bar does not, the simulator is rendering correctly and the capture app needs attention.
5. Return to full-screen mode. Once screenshots work, restore the preferred display mode and test again. If the fault returns, continue using Windowed mode for captures or troubleshoot the affected overlay.

For the differences between capture methods, key combinations and storage locations, see our guide to screenshot shortcuts and save folders.

Why are my MSFS 2020 screenshots not saving?

Most missing screenshots were copied to the clipboard, saved by a different app, or written to a redirected Pictures or Videos folder.

On compact keyboards, PrtScn may also require the Fn key. A mistake we see constantly is pressing Print Screen and then searching for a file even though the image exists only on the clipboard.

What if Xbox Game Bar reports an error?

If Game Bar opens but cannot save a screenshot, check its capture settings, storage location and Windows app health.

1. Confirm Xbox Game Bar is enabled under the Windows Gaming settings.
2. Make sure the capture drive has free space and its folder is available.
3. Open the app's Advanced options in Windows and use Repair. Use Reset only if Repair fails, because Reset removes the app's preferences.
4. If Controlled folder access blocked the capture, permit the capture app rather than disabling Windows security completely.

Why does Steam F12 do nothing?

Steam F12 works only when MSFS is launched through Steam and the Steam overlay is active.

1. Enable the overlay in Steam's general in-game settings and in the properties for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
2. Check that the screenshot binding is still F12 and is not being intercepted by an Fn layer or keyboard utility.
3. Avoid running MSFS as administrator while Steam runs normally; different privilege levels can prevent the overlay from attaching.
4. Open Steam's screenshot manager after taking the image instead of assuming it was written to the Windows Pictures folder.

The Microsoft Store and Xbox app editions do not use Steam's F12 capture system. Use Game Bar, the Snipping Tool or another Windows shortcut with those editions.

Why is my MSFS screenshot black or blank?

A black capture usually indicates a display-mode, overlay, HDR or graphics-driver conflict rather than a damaged MSFS installation.

1. Capture MSFS in Windowed mode. If the result appears normally, the original display mode was the trigger.
2. Disable extra performance, recording and graphics overlays one at a time. Two tools trying to hook the same frame can produce a blank image.
3. Turn HDR off temporarily in Windows and repeat the capture. If the image returns, the capture or viewing app is mishandling HDR output.
4. If the problem began after changing graphics APIs, return to the previous API and restart MSFS before testing again.
5. Install a clean, stable GPU driver using our graphics-driver update procedure for flight simulators.

If MSFS itself is black, rather than only the saved image, follow the broader checks for repairing a black Microsoft Flight Simulator display. That is a rendering or loading fault, not simply a screenshot problem.

Why do MSFS screenshots look blurry or washed out?

A blurry screenshot normally records softness already present in the rendered frame, while washed-out colours often point to an HDR viewing mismatch.

• Use native resolution: set MSFS to the monitor's native resolution and use a render scale of 100 as a diagnostic. A low render scale or aggressive upscaling mode cannot be repaired by the screenshot tool.
• Inspect the original: open the saved file at 100 percent rather than judging a compressed preview, message attachment or cloud thumbnail.
• Reduce motion: pause the aircraft or disable motion blur for still images. Fast camera movement can create temporal softness even when the file resolution is correct.
• Check what is actually blurry: if menus and cockpit lettering are sharp but the terrain is soft, the problem is scenery detail, data streaming or graphics settings rather than capture resolution.
• Test without HDR: if colours become normal with HDR disabled, use an HDR-capable viewer or make the capture in SDR.

How do I remove the toolbar and HUD from screenshots?

Hide assistance overlays, labels and the toolbar before capturing, then move the pointer away from the top edge so the interface does not reappear.

The Showcase camera gives a cleaner external view, but it does not automatically remove every label or tooltip. Our instructions for removing the MSFS 2020 toolbar, labels and other UI cover the relevant interface settings without changing aircraft or scenery files.

Should I reinstall MSFS 2020 for screenshot errors?

No, reinstalling MSFS 2020 is rarely justified for a screenshot fault because the capture function normally belongs to Windows or Steam.

Try the same capture tool on the desktop or in another game. If it fails there too, repair the capture app, storage path or graphics driver. Consider repairing the simulator only when the rendered image is also corrupted inside MSFS and the problem remains with overlays and Community add-ons removed.