How to Install Snipping Tool in Windows 11 Using PowerShell

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To install Snipping Tool in Windows 11 using PowerShell, install it from the Microsoft Store with winget. Snipping Tool’s Store ID is 9MZ95KL8MR0L:

winget install --id 9MZ95KL8MR0L --source msstore

Windows 11 already includes Snipping Tool, so check first. Below I show how to find it, re-register it when it’s broken, reset it and reinstall it, tested in PowerShell 7.6 and Windows PowerShell 5.1.

Check if Snipping Tool is installed

The modern Snipping Tool is a Store app with the package name Microsoft.ScreenSketch. Get-AppxPackage shows its version and status:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch |
    Select-Object -Property Name, Version, Status, SignatureKind |
    Format-List

Output:

Name          : Microsoft.ScreenSketch
Version       : 11.2607.23.0
Status        : Ok
SignatureKind : Store
PowerShell check if Snipping Tool is installed with Get-AppxPackage
Snipping Tool (Microsoft.ScreenSketch) is installed, and its status is Ok (PowerShell 7)

Status Ok means the app is healthy. If the command returns nothing, Snipping Tool isn’t installed for your account.

Search for ScreenSketch, not SnippingTool

Many guides search for *snippingtool*, which finds nothing because that isn’t the package name:

"Matches for *snippingtool*:  $(@(Get-AppxPackage -Name *snippingtool*).Count)"
"Matches for *ScreenSketch*: $(@(Get-AppxPackage -Name *ScreenSketch*).Count)"

Output:

Matches for *snippingtool*:  0
Matches for *ScreenSketch*: 1
PowerShell Snipping Tool package name is Microsoft.ScreenSketch
The snippingtool wildcard finds no package, while ScreenSketch finds it (Windows PowerShell 5.1)

This mix-up makes people think Snipping Tool is missing when it’s actually installed.

Install Snipping Tool with winget

If it’s missing, winget installs it straight from the Store. The first time you use the msstore source, winget asks you to accept the Store terms:

winget install --id 9MZ95KL8MR0L --source msstore

You don’t need an elevated window, because Store apps install for your account. Installing winget helps if the winget command isn’t found.

Install it from the Microsoft Store app

Without winget, open the Microsoft Store, search for Snipping Tool and select Get. On PCs where the Store is blocked by policy, ask your IT team, because they control which Store apps you can install.

Re-register Snipping Tool when it won’t open

If Snipping Tool is installed but won’t start, re-register it from its own manifest. First confirm where it’s installed:

$package = Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch
$manifest = Join-Path -Path $package.InstallLocation -ChildPath AppxManifest.xml

"Installed in: $($package.InstallLocation)"
"Manifest found: $(Test-Path -Path $manifest)"
Get-StartApps | Where-Object Name -Like '*Snip*' | ForEach-Object { "Start menu: $($_.Name) ($($_.AppID))" }

Output:

Installed in: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2607.23.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Manifest found: True
Start menu: Snipping Tool (Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App)
PowerShell Snipping Tool install location and AppxManifest.xml
The install folder, its manifest and the Start menu entry (PowerShell 7)

Then run Add-AppxPackage with -Register on that manifest. It repairs the registration for your account without downloading anything:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch | ForEach-Object {
    Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"
}

Don’t hard-code the version in the path, as older guides did. The version changes with every Store update.

Reset Snipping Tool

Reset-AppxPackage returns the app to its original settings, the same as Reset in Settings. Preview it with -WhatIf first:

$package = Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch
Reset-AppxPackage -Package $package.PackageFullName -WhatIf

Output:

What if: Performing the operation "Reset package" on target "Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2607.23.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe".

Remove -WhatIf to reset it for real. Microsoft documents it in the Reset-AppxPackage reference.

Uninstall and reinstall Snipping Tool

As a last resort, remove the package and install it again with winget:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch | Remove-AppxPackage
winget install --id 9MZ95KL8MR0L --source msstore

Microsoft’s Get-AppxPackage and Add-AppxPackage references cover the other options. Uninstalling programs with PowerShell covers desktop apps.

Open Snipping Tool quickly

Press Windows logo key + Shift + S to start a snip right away. To open the full app from PowerShell, run this:

Start-Process -FilePath explorer.exe -ArgumentList 'shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App'

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Snipping Tool with PowerShell?

Run winget install --id 9MZ95KL8MR0L --source msstore. It installs Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store.

What is the package name of Snipping Tool?

Microsoft.ScreenSketch. Check it with Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.ScreenSketch.

Why does Get-AppxPackage *snippingtool* return nothing?

The package isn’t named SnippingTool. Search for *ScreenSketch* instead.

How do I fix Snipping Tool not opening in Windows 11?

Re-register it with Add-AppxPackage -Register on its AppxManifest.xml, or reset it with Reset-AppxPackage.

Do I need admin rights to install Snipping Tool?

No. It’s a Store app that installs for your account, unless your organization blocks the Store.

Other app management guides: