Forum Discussion
Dropdown config option to save screenshots as JPEG/WEBP (as default) in the Snipping Tool
Description of the new feature / enhancement
Currently, the Snipping Tool saves images only in PNG by default. This format is great for transparency, but it results in very large files in common note-taking and documentation scenarios.
Problem:
PNG takes up a lot of disk space, especially for simple graphics, diagrams or screenshots.
Users who take a lot of notes (e.g., in Obsidian) see their vaults quickly grow to hundreds of MB.
There is no built-in option to choose a different default format.
Proposal:
Add a setting to choose the default save format (e.g., JPEG).
Alternatively, allow PowerToys to offer a complementary screenshot tool with this flexibility.
Benefits:
Significant reduction in file size.
Better integration with productivity workflows (e.g., note-taking, documentation).
More user control over quality versus file size.
Scenario when this would be used?
Practical example:
A PNG screenshot can be 1 MB, while in JPEG it drops to ~200 KB with no noticeable loss of quality. In a vault with hundreds of images, this can save hundreds of MB.
Supporting information
The JPEG format can be lighter and still functional for saving simple diagrams and charts, where high image quality is generally not required. This feature can be useful for learners, students, and knowledge workers who work with visual documentation.
1 Reply
The main advantage of Snipping Tool is the speed: I capture and immediately paste into apps like Obsidian using the clipboard. I am aware of the Mark-up interface that allows to save jpeg from there, but it adds extra steps and breaks that quick copy‑paste flow.
That’s why I suggested a setting to change the default save format directly in Snipping Tool’s options. It would let users choose JPEG (or WEBP) as the default, while still keeping the clipboard behavior intact. This would make the tool much more convenient for note‑taking and documentation scenarios where PNG files quickly become too heavy.
