As Windows 10 continues to evolve, certain features are ditched
or made optional with new feature updates. Way back in 2018,
Microsoft confirmed that the Snipping Tool is going away and
the modern ‘Snip & Sketch’ would be the default app for all
your screenshots.
In Windows 10 October 2020 Update or later, the legacy Snipping
Tool still comes pre-installed and it cannot be removed.
However, in a new preview update, Microsoft has finally made
‘Snipping Tool’ optional, which means it can be uninstalled if
users wish.
This can be done through the Settings app or by directly
navigating to the Optional Features page, as shown in the
screenshot below.
Once the tool is uninstalled, the program will be removed from
Windows and you won’t be able to see it in Windows Search
results or Start Menu. Likewise, Windows 10 won’t prompt you to
reinstall the Snipping Tool and you’ll be asked to use the
modern Snip & Sketch app instead.
Snipping Tool was first introduced with Windows Vista and it
was once of the most high-profile features on Windows 7. This
tool basically allows you to capture a screenshot of the entire
screen or portions highlighted by the user.
Snip & Sketch, a modern replacement based on Microsoft’s UWP
principles, also lets you capture screenshots, which means you
won’t be missing anything. With the Snip & Sketch app, you can
take screenshots of the open window, entire screen, rectangular
areas, and a free-form area.
It’s likely that Microsoft will eventually stop including the
legacy tools in the default installation of Windows 10 and
users will be required to enable those tools manually from the
Settings if they wish to use them.
By allowing users to remove these legacy tools, Microsoft is
also making it easier for them to install third-party
alternatives.
For those unaware, Microsoft has also
made Connect (Screencasting tool), Paint, WordPad and Notepad
optional in Windows 10 May 2020 Update or newer.
