Windows 11’s Snipping Tool has quietly become one of the most improved built-in apps in the operating system. What was once a simple screenshot utility is now evolving into a lightweight image editor, complete with AI-powered text extraction, color picking tools, and more.
Over the past few months, Microsoft has been expanding the Snipping Tool’s capabilities, and the pace of updates suggests the company wants it to become a more capable alternative to basic third-party editors.
And now, a brand-new feature is on the way — text insertion directly inside the Snipping Tool’s image editor. This means you will soon be able to take a screenshot and immediately add formatted text to it without relying on Paint, Photos, or third-party programs like Snagit.
Let’s explore what this update brings, how it works, why it’s useful, and when you can expect it to reach the stable version of Windows 11.
1. 📸 A Quick Recap: Recent Snipping Tool Improvements
Before we jump to the newest feature, let’s revisit what Microsoft recently added. Understanding these updates helps clarify why text insertion is the logical next step.
• Copy Text from Screen (OCR Extraction)
This feature introduced optical character recognition (OCR) inside the Snipping Tool. You can select Copy Text and extract written content directly from screenshots. This works well for:
- Emails
- Error messages
- Documents
- Website text
- App interfaces
It saves time by removing the need to retype copied content manually.
• New Color Picker Tool
Microsoft also added a built-in color picker to help users:
- Identify exact color codes
- Match UI colors
- Reproduce design schemes
- Capture colors directly from screenshots
This tool is useful for designers, students, content creators, and anyone working with color consistency.
So far, Microsoft has shown a strong focus on making Snipping Tool a more capable visual utility. Now, let’s move to the newest addition in that lineup.
2. ✏️ New Feature: Add Text Directly to Screenshots
Microsoft appears to be testing a brand-new text formatting feature inside the Snipping Tool. This was first spotted in early development builds by the reliable Windows enthusiast PhantomOfEarth, who shared evidence that the feature is already functional in preview versions.
Before examining how the feature works, let’s discuss why this upgrade matters.
Why adding text is a meaningful improvement
Many users rely on screenshots for communication — reporting bugs, submitting support queries, documenting work, creating tutorials, or sharing visual feedback.
Adding text directly inside the Snipping Tool allows you to:
- Label areas of a screenshot
- Add comments
- Highlight instructions
- Create quick annotated visuals
- Avoid switching between apps
- Speed up documentation tasks
This makes the Snipping Tool much closer to a basic markup editor, something Windows 11 has lacked natively.
Let’s now explore how the new feature works based on early tests.
3. 🛠️ How the New Text Tool Works
From the previews shared, the Snipping Tool now features a new “T” icon in the top toolbar. When you click this button, the Snipping Tool opens a secondary formatting toolbar designed specifically for text editing.
Let’s go step-by-step through everything shown in the preview.
3.1 The New Text Button Appears in the Toolbar
The main editor now includes a T-shaped button, signaling the activation of text mode. Clicking it reveals all formatting options available for inserted text.
This is similar to markup tools in mobile screenshot editors, but with more control over style and formatting.
3.2 A Dedicated Text Formatting Panel
Once the Text mode is activated, a new editor row appears with these options:
• Font Selection
Users can choose from multiple system fonts. This is helpful if you want text that:
- Matches your document style
- Looks professional
- Matches UI guidelines
- Is readable on different backgrounds
• Font Size
Adjustable to create anything from a small annotation to a large title.
• Basic Formatting Tools
The preview shows three formatting choices:
- Bold
- Italic
- Underline
These options allow users to emphasize important labels or headings.
• Text Color Selection
You can choose different colors for your text. This is useful when labeling different sections of a screenshot or when working on darker backgrounds.
Once formatting is selected, users simply drag to create a text box on the image.
3.3 Insert the Text Box Wherever You Want
You can click and draw a rectangular text area on the screenshot. Inside this box, you can type anything you want — instructions, notes, labels, arrows-to-text descriptions, etc.
This feature behaves like a simplified version of what apps like Paint.NET or Photoshop offer, but designed for quick, everyday usage.
So far, it appears Microsoft wants to make Snipping Tool a one-stop tool for screenshot editing.
Let’s move to the next part — where this feature is currently available.
4. 🧪 Where Is This Feature Being Tested?
Based on the findings reported publicly, the new Snipping Tool feature was discovered in the latest Windows 11 Dev and Beta Channel builds — specifically build 26220.7070.
Users in these Insider channels are the first to try experimental Windows features such as:
- Updated Snipping Tool
- New desktop features
- UI experiments
- Settings redesigns
- Early Microsoft Copilot integrations
Since the tool is appearing in these early builds, it means Microsoft is actively validating the feature’s performance and usability before shipping it to general users.
Let’s discuss whether this feature will make it to everyone.
5. 🟢 Will the Text Tool Come to the Stable Version of Windows 11?
So far, nothing suggests Microsoft will keep this feature exclusive to Insider channels. In fact, considering:
- The usefulness of text insertion
- The trend of Snipping Tool upgrades
- How widely screenshots are used
- The simplicity of implementation
…it seems extremely likely that the feature will roll out to stable builds of Windows 11 in the coming months.
Microsoft has so far delivered every new Snipping Tool improvement to the stable branch, so this text-editing feature should follow the same path.
But until then, only Insider build users will see it.
Let’s now move toward some more practical insights for users.
6. 📌 Why Microsoft Is Investing More in the Snipping Tool
This is an interesting shift from Microsoft. The Snipping Tool has long been considered a simple utility — nothing fancy. But the recent upgrades show a clear strategic direction.
Here’s why Microsoft is focusing on it:
• Rising demand for built-in editing
People increasingly need tools to annotate, explain, or modify screenshots for work, school, and communication.
• Reducing reliance on third-party apps
Windows users often install extra software like Snagit, ShareX, or Paint.NET just to add text or shapes to screenshots. Microsoft wants to offer enough built-in functionality to reduce that need.
• AI and productivity trends
With Windows 11 integrating more AI features, the Snipping Tool could eventually evolve into a smart visual assistant capable of:
- Automatic explanations
- Visual detection
- Smart redaction
- AI-generated annotations
The current update could be laying the groundwork for more powerful features.
Let’s now anticipate what else could be coming next.
7. 🔮 Future Possibilities for Snipping Tool
Based on the direction of recent updates, here are some realistic upgrades we may see soon:
• Shape drawing tools (arrows, boxes, circles)
Perfect for tutorials and bug reporting.
• Blur and redaction tools
To hide sensitive information.
• AI-powered enhancements
Such as auto-labeling or automatic text highlighting.
• Multi-layer editing
Allowing users to move individual elements freely.
• Animated GIF capture
A highly requested feature for years.
The text insertion feature is likely only the beginning of a much larger visual-editing overhaul.
Now, let’s address some common questions.
8. 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Will this text-editing feature replace Paint?
No. Paint offers more sophisticated tools. The Snipping Tool is meant for quick edits.
Q2: Is this feature available on Windows 10?
Not currently. Microsoft is focusing Snipping Tool upgrades on Windows 11.
Q3: Can I use custom fonts?
As of now, only system fonts appear available, but this may expand in future builds.
Q4: Do I need to join the Insider Program to try this?
Yes, until the feature rolls out to stable channels.
Q5: Will AI editing features be added next?
Considering Google and Apple’s strategies, it is very likely Microsoft will implement more AI-driven enhancements in Snipping Tool.
9. 🧭 Final Thoughts
The Snipping Tool has come a long way from being a basic screenshot utility. With new features like text extraction, color picking, and now text insertion, it is becoming a genuinely useful editing tool for everyday tasks.
Adding formatted text directly inside the Snipping Tool will save users time, reduce the need for additional apps, and make quick annotation work far more convenient. Microsoft’s fast-paced updates clearly show that the Snipping Tool is now a priority feature of the Windows 11 ecosystem.
As this feature rolls out more widely, users can expect smoother workflows, better editing capabilities, and more powerful screenshot tools built right into the OS.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This feature is currently available only in Windows Insider preview builds. Availability in stable Windows 11 may vary based on region, device compatibility, and update rollout schedules.
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